Taking Michael Smith over Tim Hardaway or Shawn Kemp hurt! In retrospace, I would have rather than Anthony Mason over Brian Shaw too.
You know who really shot themselves in the foot even more than the Celtics, especially through the draft? Portland. They drafted guys like Drazen Petrovic, Kevin Gamble, and Anthony Mason all in the 3rd round
from 86-88, and yet, they either released them (Gamble and Mason), or stupidly didn't give guys (Petrovic) enough playing time. That Blazers team was already loaded - why not make Drazen the 6th man once he came stateside? Forget Ainge, lol.
For Boston, yeah, okay, Brian Shaw was a pretty good player, but he really only became a factor as a key role player later on in his career. Even at his peak (if he had one, haha), he couldn't hold Hardaway's jockstrap
The Lakers wanted him anyway, so use that to your advantage and get a pick down the road from them, regardless if it's a late 1st rounder or not. I really don't think that Brian Shaw would have been the difference in their attempt to 3-peat in 89, but I could be wrong (as is often the case, lol). He could play 1-3, and along with Cooper, could have kept Magic and Scott's minutes down. It's too bad that Byron couldn't play in the Finals that year, because that Lakers team was just annihilating the opposition, and even with mostly subs in game 2, they could have won, and probably would have had Magic not injured his hamstring. I know that the Pistons were loaded, but with Scott (and Shaw, who knows?) and the way they were clicking in the playoffs that year, homecourt or not, I think that LA wins the title.
Sorry for the tangent. Back to Shaw. Did he sign with the Italian club after the draft or before it? Either way, Hardaway was a clear upgrade, imo, and it would have been fun seeing Mason go at Rodman lol. What a unique player. 6'7" with the quickness of a small forward and the size of a power forward with excellent passing skills. He's probably the only guy who could have defended Aguirre in that 91 series, which was already incredibly close despite injuries on both sides.
Hardaway, Lewis, Mason, Bird, and Parish, vs. Thomas, Dumars, Rodman, Edwards, and Laimbeer? I like our chances, especially with Ainge. The benches would have been equal, imo, and, the 86 Celtics aside, those Pistons teams had the best bench of all time in their first 3 guys
VJ, Salley, and Aguirre (wow), vs. Ainge, McHale, Gamble, and Lohaus, in addition to Mario Elie, perhaps? Again, I like our chances. Homecourt or not. Just have McHale teach Mason post moves to get Rodman in foul trouble and watch out. That team could have made the Finals, at least. I mean, if Dee Brown could kill the Pistons and Bulls in the regular season and playoffs, imagine what Hardaway could have done. WOW!
Elie, btw, was drafted in the 7th round by Milwaukee in 86. He could have been a big time help on that 87 team, Bias or not. Sigh. Our scouts sucked lol.