TOM CREAN FIRED

[BGleas]

Outside of whoever lands Durant, and the Golden State Warriors, the Celtics might be set up better over the next 5-10 years than any team in the league. They have the best young coach in basketball and they have a GM who knows what he's doing (rare in the NBA), and both of these guys have the full support of ownership. Knowing the Celtics ownership, they stick with their coaches and GM's, and don't make knee jerk decisions. Unless something goes terribly wrong, Stevens will be there as long as he wants, they love him. 

 

The Celtics not only have Brooklyn's 1st rounder unprotected this year, they also have 1st rounders from Dallas, Minnesota (protected so they won't get it) and their own. The other kicker is that in 2017 the Celtics have the right to swap 1st round picks with Brooklyn and they also own Brooklyn's 2018 1st rounder. So essentially the Celtics are going to get high lottery picks in each of the next three drafts from Brooklyn. Danny Ainge absolutely undressed Billy King in the Pierce/Garnett trade. 

 

Ainge will do the same thing he did when building the '08 Celtics. He'll either hit the jackpot in the draft (which didn't happen between 06-08, he was hoping for Oden or Durant) or he'll do what he did then and flip those selections or picks into superstars. His entire strategy has always been to accumulate assets to later flip into proven comodities. He said that when he first got to Boston and executed it perfectly by flipping Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Gerald Green and the Randy Foye pick into Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. 

 

With all that said, it doesn't mean I think IU has no shot at Stevens. But the shot they have is mainly based on his personal pull to IU/Indiana in general, how he/his family likes Boston and his feelings between college/NBA. 

[8bucks]

Well considering there's a lot of recent chatter that Ingram should be considered for the #1 pick, yes. Overall this class is weaker, yes, but last years draft class is stacked. The Celtics tried to trade the house to the Hornets to move up and get Winslow, but MJ is an idiot and passed.

Ainge is a magician and will get Stevens the pieces he needs to be competitive for a title. Boston is a better job than IU.

Is it easier to build a powerhouse in the NBA or in College? I would argue the latter assuming you are deciding between a top program in each.

In college you can stock pile talent, in the NBA you have to fit under a salary cap.

In the NBA, a bad contract is very hard to overcome, in college you encourage a kid to transfer.

In the NBA you have a GM or President who chooses your talent whereas in college you choose your talent. Granted Ainge seems to fit well with BS but that may not always be the case.

Not saying IU is better than Boston or that he would leave for here but I think a great coach can build s powerhouse in College easier than in the NBA.

[BGleas]

Agree. While I mentioned all the assets the Celtics own that have them so well positioned, there's still a lot of luck, hope and variables that have to come together for them. In college if you're at a Blue Blood and can recruit you can turn it around really fast. Plus, as you alluded too these guys like to buy their own groceries. While Ainge is very collaborative with his coaches and gives them a lot of input on roster decisions, it's still not picking your players yourself. Stevens might tire of not being in control. 

 

Is it easier to build a powerhouse in the NBA or in College? I would argue the latter assuming you are deciding between a top program in each.

In college you can stock pile talent, in the NBA you have to fit under a salary cap.

In the NBA, a bad contract is very hard to overcome, in college you encourage a kid to transfer.

In the NBA you have a GM or President who chooses your talent whereas in college you choose your talent. Granted Ainge seems to fit well with BS but that may not always be the case.

Not saying IU is better than Boston or that he would leave for here but I think a great coach can build s powerhouse in College easier than in the NBA.

[ALASKA HOOSIER]

If.....MSB declares and signs on with the Celtics, we are doomed!

[Hovadipo]

@MikeMillerHT: Crean says Cody Zeller was shocked how short IU's walkthrough was prior to Iowa.
"He wishes he had a few of those."



....ATTACK

[southsidehoosier]

@MikeMillerHT: Crean says Cody Zeller was shocked how short IU's walkthrough was prior to Iowa.
"He wishes he had a few of those."



....ATTACK

All this does is bring up nightmares of our losses and 2012 and 2013 in the Sweet 16. [emoji22]

[LIHoosier]

@MikeMillerHT: Crean says Cody Zeller was shocked how short IU's walkthrough was prior to Iowa.
"He wishes he had a few of those."



....ATTACK

Small detail left out. The walkthrough was 2 hrs, 28 minutes compared to 2 hrs, 30 minutes in Cody's time.  :lol:

[Bobman1]

With the 76ers and how atrocious they are. I can't see the Nets beat out the Sixers for the worst record in the league. I can see the Celtics having around the 4th or 5th pick in the Draft and missing out on a Simmons or Ingram. I also agree with JTreesh, no way the Celtics win the East while LeBron and Kyrie are still there. Even the Raptors could cause some fits. Let's hope Brad sees that and remembers IU is his true dream job and comes back to the MUCH BETTER college ranks.

[brandct]

With the 76ers and how atrocious they are. I can't see the Nets beat out the Sixers for the worst record in the league. I can see the Celtics having around the 4th or 5th pick in the Draft and missing out on a Simmons or Ingram. I also agree with JTreesh, no way the Celtics win the East while LeBron and Kyrie are still there. Even the Raptors could cause some fits. Let's hope Brad sees that and remembers IU is his true dream job and comes back to the MUCH BETTER college ranks.

 

Record just gives you more balls in the drawing in the NBA. It does not determine where you will draft. 

[Bobman1]

Record just gives you more balls in the drawing in the NBA. It does not determine where you will draft.

You're right, I completely forgot about that whole lottery thing lol.

[HoosierAloha]

You're right, I completely forgot about that whole lottery thing lol.

 

It's a "completely" random drawing.  I'd put a few bucks on the Lakers getting Simmons...

[mdn82]

Small detail left out. The walkthrough was 2 hrs, 28 minutes compared to 2 hrs, 30 minutes in Cody's time. :lol:

lmao now this was awesome!

[BGleas]

While it would be ideal to land Simmons or Ingram, it's not necessary. Ainge flipped Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and a pick into Kevin Garnett, and he flipped Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West into Ray Allen. It's about acquiring assets to trade. The Celtics have six first round picks (three high lottery) in the next three drafts and also a slew of 2nd rounders. They also have a lot of good role players on reasonable contracts. They'll either hit a grand slam in the draft, or flip these assets into a star or two.

A lot needs to fall into place, but the assets are there and Ainge has done it before.

With the 76ers and how atrocious they are. I can't see the Nets beat out the Sixers for the worst record in the league. I can see the Celtics having around the 4th or 5th pick in the Draft and missing out on a Simmons or Ingram. I also agree with JTreesh, no way the Celtics win the East while LeBron and Kyrie are still there. Even the Raptors could cause some fits. Let's hope Brad sees that and remembers IU is his true dream job and comes back to the MUCH BETTER college ranks.

[ALASKA HOOSIER]

Is it bad that I want him to fail in boston?

[BGleas]

Imagine my conundrum being both an IU and Celtics fan?

Is it bad that I want him to fail in boston?

[HoosierAloha]

Is it bad that I want him to fail in boston?

 

I want him to succeed in Boston and then hear him say "It IS Indiana.  There's no place like home."  The rest of the B1G craps their collective pants and he punks on them for decades to come.  He hangs banners and returns IU to a true blue blood program.

[MikeRoberts]

A little off topic but what are people's thoughts on Ainge/Florida marlins etcetera strategy of suck, build, win, suck, build, win...? That would be really difficult being a fan of a program that utilized that approach IMO

[ALASKA HOOSIER]

I want him to succeed in Boston and then hear him say "It IS Indiana. There's no place like home." The rest of the B1G craps their collective pants and he punks on them for decades to come. He hangs banners and returns IU to a true blue blood program.

that's not a tear, it's eye sweat

[BGleas]

I don't think that's really Ainge's strategy. Everyone knew when they acquired Garnett and Allen that it was going to be a 3-5 year window at most. But, Ainge had to decide if he was going to try to win with Pierce or move on and try to build around Al Jefferson, Rondo, Tony Allen and Gerald Green. He wisely decided to build around Pierce (though he did have some trades in place for Pierce but they thankfully didn't materialize).

He's kind of prepared for both scenarios, long term and quick fix.

A little off topic but what are people's thoughts on Ainge/Florida marlins etcetera strategy of suck, build, win, suck, build, win...? That would be really difficult being a fan of a program that utilized that approach IMO

[Bowhunter]

I think IU could be back in the hunt for one of the best destinations in the land. IF Stevens came back and took over, we could easily be in the discussion with UK, KU, AND DUKE for the best of the best in a matter of no time!