Can Danny?

Looking at the roster of today's Boston Celtics, I can't really say that Danny has put us in a much better situation than M.L. Carr did.

Raef Lafrentz = Pervis Ellison: Raef is definitely better than Pervis but they are both overpaid big men who aren't helping the Celtics out very much. The craziest part of it all is that Raef will make more money in 2008/9 than Pervis' entire contract was worth (6 years, 12 million). Inflation's a bitch, and so are these two. Neither could really help the C's get banner 17 but neither could really go anywhere because of their contracts.

Brian Scalabrine = Greg Minor: I really liked Minor but he was a flawed player. He seemed like he was about to turn a corner but suffered a debilitating injury from which he never recovered. I know some people like Veal but he just doesn't add anything to the team and is a waste on our roster. He should send Jason Kidd a Mother's day card because Kidd weaned him to the contract he signed with us.

Dan Dickau = Dana Barros: Barros was coming off an All-Star season but wasn't worth the money that he made. He had a great season because the 'Sixers were terrible and their offense was entirely comprised of setting pick after pick for Dana until he either got an open three or spotted an open man on a missed defensive switch. Dickau isn't really what this team needs either. While he is more of a point guard than anyone we have, he can't play a lick of defense and, like Dana, made his money off of being good for a bad team. In his short time in Boston, he came back to reality and got his pre-New Orleans stats.

Delonte West = David Wesley: Solid guards who were brought in on the cheap. West was a late first round pick. Wesley was a free agent signing. Both guys are very solid but both have their weaknesses. While some people may get upset about this comparison, they forget how good Wesley was, especially during his years in Charlotte.

Tony Allen = Rick Fox: Defensive minded players with solid offensive games. M.L. inherited Fox but resigned him, something that Rick Pitino was not wise-enough to do when the time came. Also like Fox, Allen could be gone next season as he seems like our most likely trade bait this offseason.

Kendrick Perkins = Eric Williams: Solid role players who help most on the defensive end. Williams actually had a better post game than Perkins when he arrived but Perk is developing nicely. While Perk's value is much higher because he is a center, like E-Will, I don't see Perk becoming more than a role player.

Marcus Banks = Eric Montross: The "mistake" of their drafts, Ainge dumped Banks while M.L. used Montross to steal away a lotto pick from the Dallas Mavericks. Also, Banks actually played well once he was shipped off while Montross was what he was which was not very good.

Gerald Green and #7 = the #3 and #6: Ainge lucked out having a lotto talent fall in his lap in Gerald Green while M.L. lucked out that the Mavericks were complete morons and were willing to move down in the draft AND give up a future unprotected pick for Eric Montross.

Ryan Gomes = Dee Brown: Fan favorites who are talented but are best off the bench and even then have their weaknesses.

Orien Greene = Marty Conlon Neither had any business getting as much playing time as they did. Orien has some potential but will he be around long enough to realize it?

Dwayne Jones = Steve Hamer : Big men nobody is really expecting much out.

Al Jefferson = Antoine Walker: Talented young power forwards with major question marks surrounding them. Can Al mature? Can he stay healthy and in shape? Could Antoine play the post? Could the C's win with a three point chucking 4?

Wally Sczcerbiak = Todd Day Both were prolific shooters. Unfortunately, Todd wasn't as prolific when it came to getting his shots to go in. Still, his contract was short term and while we're stuck with Wally, Todd was a free agent after 1997.

Pierce = Dino Radja: There's really no comparison but that's the point. Dino was the franchise player that M.L. inherited. He was not very good and by 1997 wasn't even starting every game. The Celtics let him go, opening even more cap space. Pierce is doing his best but right now his best is just keeping up from better lottery picks.

MLE/LLE = Cap Space: M.L. left the Celtics with a ton of cap space which Rick Pitino immediately used in a somewhat Danny Ainge like manner, signing guys like Andrew Declerq, Travis Knight, Bruce Bowen and Chris Mills. I say it is only a "somewhat Danny Ainge" manner because Chris Wallace did hip Ricky onto the talent on Bruce Bowen, whom they also brought in that offseason. Ainge has yet to sign someone that good nor has he signed anyone who actually played defense.

In hindsight, people will look at the current Celtics and say there is one big difference: potential. But, honestly, how high is the ceiling of our young players. Is Delonte that much more than a rich man's David Wesley? Can Big Al become an impact player like Antoine? Will Gerald be Chauncey or Mercer? The funny thing is that while people will take this comparison as a slight, Ainge's best move right now is to remain M.L. Carr. The worst thing that Danny could do is follow Celtics history and make Pitino-like moves, dealing our youth for veterans. While people like to mention names like Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Garnett, it's more likely that we'll be getting guys like Kenyon Martin, Carlos Boozer, or (shudder) Stephon Marbury. The type of guy that will end any hope of cap flexibility while not making us true title contenders.
So where are we? Back where we started about a decade ago. We have a piece or two but need patience and good management to turn the potential and promise into playoff glory. Can Danny do it? Only time will tell but I'm not holding my breath.