Let's Say We: Listened to me on draft day
Since this is a Can Danny site, I'll avoid the cringeworthy 2001 draft and only focus on the drafts that Danny has run. Has Danny been as great as everyone likes to say or has his draft day work been a bit overrated?
2003: The Last Year I Ever Listened to Chad Ford :
Danny took: Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins
I wanted: Leandrinho Barbosa and Maciej Lampe
Hindsight: Andy Katz actually nailed this in his mock draft as he had Mo Williams going to the C's at #20. He rationalized that he was a good young PG despite not having the best workouts. This insight elicited a simple "Huh?" from Chad Ford who proceeded to fill his draft board with names like Lampe, Malick Badianne, and Travis Hansen. Then again Katz also had us taking Sofaklis Schortsianides who has yet to even come to America (he's supposedly making it over next year and joining the Clippers). In hindsight, Perkins is still a great pick where we got him although you could argue for Mo Williams and Josh Howard would have been the best possible draft. It was a good draft for Ainge. Not so great for me. 2004: The Year We Didn't Take the Falling Star :
Danny took: Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Justin Reed
I wanted: Josh Smith, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, Ricky Paulding
Hindsight: I really wanted the Pierce for Livingston and Maggette rumor to be true but apparently Wilcox and Maggs was the best offer coming out of L.A. Still, I couldn't believe that Josh Smith, a supposed top five talent, fell to us at 15. I was even more stunned when we passed over Josh for another high schooler. I still think Josh would have been the better pick but we have to see what Big Al can do next season. West was an obvious choice. I didn't quite get why we drafted Tony Allen because I thought we were pretty set at the swing spots and could have used a big body like Varejao. While I'm a big fan of Tony, I still think we could use Sideshow Anderson, who's come alive in the conference semis, averaging 11 and 5 and seeminly always taking a crucial charge. Reed is better than Paulding but neither really mattered or was ever going to get that much time in Beantown. As for who should have been taken, you could argue Kevin Martin but right now it's hard to question either my or Danny's first round. The second round pick should have been used on Andres Nocioni who went undrafted. 2005: The Year We Did Take or Trade the Falling Star :
Danny took: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Orien Greene
I wanted: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Kennedy Winston
Hindsight: The biggest change in this draft is that I would have found a way to acquire Chris Paul. I was all for the Paul for Van Exel and #3 trade which didn't go down reportedly because we wanted Travis Outlaw and they were demanding our pick. I would have just gone with Pierce for the pick. Gerald and Gomes were no brainers although I was angling for a trade to get Monta Ellis or Aundray Blatche. I had never heard of Orien Greene as was hoping we took Kennedy Winston who is now in Spain. So What Say I Looking at it now, I'd say I'm close but Danny holds a slight edge due to his second round picks. Ainge has been steadier, shying away from a bust like Lampe but I think he really missed the boat with not taking Josh Smith. I also think we should have dealt Pierce but his career season put a damper on my saying that the deal was something we definitely should have done. It's hard to knock Danny's choices though and you can't really say his draft record is overrated. While there were better options on board, the choices he made have been solid and could definitely improve. It should be interesting to see what he does this season.
Danny took: Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins
I wanted: Leandrinho Barbosa and Maciej Lampe
Hindsight: Andy Katz actually nailed this in his mock draft as he had Mo Williams going to the C's at #20. He rationalized that he was a good young PG despite not having the best workouts. This insight elicited a simple "Huh?" from Chad Ford who proceeded to fill his draft board with names like Lampe, Malick Badianne, and Travis Hansen. Then again Katz also had us taking Sofaklis Schortsianides who has yet to even come to America (he's supposedly making it over next year and joining the Clippers). In hindsight, Perkins is still a great pick where we got him although you could argue for Mo Williams and Josh Howard would have been the best possible draft. It was a good draft for Ainge. Not so great for me. 2004: The Year We Didn't Take the Falling Star :
Danny took: Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Justin Reed
I wanted: Josh Smith, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, Ricky Paulding
Hindsight: I really wanted the Pierce for Livingston and Maggette rumor to be true but apparently Wilcox and Maggs was the best offer coming out of L.A. Still, I couldn't believe that Josh Smith, a supposed top five talent, fell to us at 15. I was even more stunned when we passed over Josh for another high schooler. I still think Josh would have been the better pick but we have to see what Big Al can do next season. West was an obvious choice. I didn't quite get why we drafted Tony Allen because I thought we were pretty set at the swing spots and could have used a big body like Varejao. While I'm a big fan of Tony, I still think we could use Sideshow Anderson, who's come alive in the conference semis, averaging 11 and 5 and seeminly always taking a crucial charge. Reed is better than Paulding but neither really mattered or was ever going to get that much time in Beantown. As for who should have been taken, you could argue Kevin Martin but right now it's hard to question either my or Danny's first round. The second round pick should have been used on Andres Nocioni who went undrafted. 2005: The Year We Did Take or Trade the Falling Star :
Danny took: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Orien Greene
I wanted: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Kennedy Winston
Hindsight: The biggest change in this draft is that I would have found a way to acquire Chris Paul. I was all for the Paul for Van Exel and #3 trade which didn't go down reportedly because we wanted Travis Outlaw and they were demanding our pick. I would have just gone with Pierce for the pick. Gerald and Gomes were no brainers although I was angling for a trade to get Monta Ellis or Aundray Blatche. I had never heard of Orien Greene as was hoping we took Kennedy Winston who is now in Spain. So What Say I Looking at it now, I'd say I'm close but Danny holds a slight edge due to his second round picks. Ainge has been steadier, shying away from a bust like Lampe but I think he really missed the boat with not taking Josh Smith. I also think we should have dealt Pierce but his career season put a damper on my saying that the deal was something we definitely should have done. It's hard to knock Danny's choices though and you can't really say his draft record is overrated. While there were better options on board, the choices he made have been solid and could definitely improve. It should be interesting to see what he does this season.
