He's traded away whatever stars he had on the roster. What's left is a bunch of up-and-comers, scrappers, journeymen veterans and undrafted pick-ups. He even hired a coach without any NBA experience.
BUT that coach is proving that he's got some chops, that he's picking up the nuances of the NBA game. That coach has got his team playing hard - even through the seismic roster changes. That coach has got his team on an improbable playoff hunt, just off the playoff spots in a deplorable Eastern conference.
And last night the Boston Celtics beat the Memphis Grizzlies.
Granted, the NBA is a 82-game grind and there are bound to be some shocks purely based on schedule and the volume of games. Still, the Grizzlies have legitimate hopes for the NBA title.
And just like the pre-2008 teams, watching the process (and Danny Ainge at work) is FASCINATING. It's a different feeling from when the Celtics were contending for the NBA title but watching Ainge stockpile draft picks, trade exceptions and free up salary cap space is really rather interesting. I'm in Finance, so sue me.
And convincing Brad Stevens to coach the Celtics through the rebuild ... WoW!
Not as straightforward as it seems since roughly half the successful college coaches couldn't cut it in the NBA...
Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies after the game :
"as far as their future, they’re going to be pretty good, man. Danny Ainge knows what he’s doing. He’s a wizard. He knows what he’s doing."
“Just look back at the 2004 class when he drafted me, Al Jefferson, Justin Reed, Delonte West. He got some good draft picks that year, so I know that’s what he plans on doing. And then before you know it, he’ll make a blockbuster trade. I know it’s in him.”
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