Let's give our organization the benefit of the doubt. If Brad didn't want him in the locker room, and I'm sure they talked to IT4 about him, I'm sure they had good reason to not give up on their assets.
I wouldn't fault a team for believing in their highest draft pick in 20 years and their top pick in a loaded draft the next two seasons.
Cousins is a good talent. But, he's shooting 45% with 4 turnovers a game on a team that hasn't made the playoffs since he arrived there. He is a nuisance in the locker room, constantly picks up technicals, and basically loses as many games with his temper/actions/suspensions as he wins with his talent.
I like him and wish we got him. But I'll trust the organization that built our treasure chest to not unload it on someone they didn't love.
Gosh, I hate to be that guy, but we're never going to unload it. #keepallourpicksandassetsforever
Yeah maybe he will keep them all. Maybe he won't. It's a question that may be answered in 4 days. Or this summer. Or next February. Or next June/July. We won't know until it happens.
Ainge has done a good job thus far. I don't think he was asleep at the wheel tonight.
I think he squandered an incredible opportunity to add a seminal talent to the roster. Won't have another chance to add an All-NBA big at such a low cost anytime soon.
All-NBA talent, D-League mind.
The mental part of the game is real. He clearly lacks it.
Perhaps. But that's why Brad gets paid millions of dollars. His job goes far beyond neat out of bounds plays, and crafting cute motivational phrases. It's to tap into players like Cousins; help them develop some semblance of composure and discipline. A number of coaches have tried with Cousins, and they've all failed ( to varying degrees). But [dang]it someone, at some point, is going to reach this kid, and when they do, that team will be unstoppable.
Maybe. But maybe not. The Celtics are clearly building something good here. They have a well-respected coach. They have a GM whose colleagues take his calls trepedaciously because of his reputation. We have an emerging MVP candidate. We brought in our biggest FA acquisition in franchise history. Or trajectory is upwards and this move could have made us plateau as a very good team.
Or, if we strike out in free agency next summer, we're a pretty good team with one All-Star and only one reliable big man who is on the wrong side of 30. After paying IT, Smart, Bradley and Crowder, we could be a capped out mediocre team.
I'm fine with going over the cap to resign all those guys, or trading one for vucavic, AND having prospects like Brown, Fultz, Ayton behind them.
We are in a very unique position as an already talented team with 3 consecutive great lottery picks.
Boogie is too risky a move. Love his talent, but his character issues are legit and I don't fault Ainge (or many other GM's who actually need to make a move) for not pulling the trigger on him.