<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ainge in China, has much to do at homeBy Shira Springer, Globe Staff | March 21, 2007No word on whom Danny Ainge sat beside during his latest scouting assignment. But it is probably safe to assume that the Celtics executive director of basketball operations didn't strike up a conversation. Not for fear of another $30,000 fine from the NBA, but because of a language barrier.Ainge returned to China Sunday for a second up-close-and-personal look at Yi Jianlian. He also evaluated the progress made by Wang ZhiZhi. While college stars Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are drawing all the attention stateside, Ainge watched Yi play for the Guangdong Tigers against ZhiZhi's Bayi team in the Chinese Basketball Association championship series.Scouts regard the 7-foot Yi as the best Chinese prospect since Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, and his stock keeps rising. If he enters this year's NBA draft as widely expected, Yi could become the second Chinese player taken in the first round after Yao. Most mock drafts list Yi among the top 10. Although he has the height of a center, scouts consider Yi more of a power forward and generally praise his shooting and shot-blocking ability.As Ainge continues to scout Yi, the most challenging part will be figuring out just how talented and skilled the big man is against competition that doesn't measure up to other leagues. When Ainge returns to the US, he'll have the equally challenging (and ongoing) task of evaluating talent on the Celtics.There will be some tough choices for the organization in the months ahead.Asked if this was the point in the season when personnel decisions were made, coach Doc Rivers said, "Yeah, for us, it's been all season."One of the goals coming into the season, that I said the first day, was we wanted to be able to identify who we wanted, who we thought were going to be core guys, and who to build this team around. I think that's kind of playing itself out."Some players have stepped up and impressed on the floor recently. Al Jefferson and Rajon Rondo come to mind.During the final few weeks of the season, Rivers plans to try a few different strategies (though "nothing big," he said). The most noticeable will be putting players at different positions. For example, Allan Ray has seen some time at point guard recently.The bigger changes will take place during the offseason.</div>Jesus, all this guy cares about is drafting. I would rather see an article about Ainge looking to bring in some veterans instead of scouting WANG ZHI ZHI for christ sake. What progress is that guy going to make, he was out of shape, about as tough as an 8th grader on a CYO team, and the only thing he could do was stroke 3's. As far as Yi Jianlian, he seems like an interesting prospect but he's clearly going to be a project and probably spend some time in the D-League. Stick to the sates Ainge, we have two gems in this draft in Duran/Oden. Stay away from zhizhi wang, please Danny, please.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What the hell? You are mad because Ainge is scouting good talent? Man... what an ***hole he is, huh?</div>He's checking out a 19 year old Chinese kid that will be good, if he develops, in like 3-4 years. Aren't Celtics fans sick of the draft, sick of potential, sick of upside? I know drafting and scouting is a part of every organization but my god I just want to hear something about Ainge expressing interest in something other than the draft. That's all this guy cares about. We have enough young players right now the next thing we need is some other huge project. We're clearly going to have a top 2 pick, if not top 3, is he going to take Yi Jiliani over a Greg Oden? Why is he out there scouting him right now? It seems like this guy spends more time "scouting" then he does managing. Danny Ainge is a terrific scout, but he's done enough of that, he needs to start working on managing the team. This guy has an insane amount of big decisions to make here and I don't want to see us in this position in 5 years. Think about it...rookie contracts are running out soon, Paul Pierce has given everything he has to this orginzation and he signs him to a long-term extension and has shown NO efforts to make this team a contender unless it's trading Mark Blount and Ricky Davis for Wally Sczcerbiak. His drafting has been tremendous but we are in year #4 of this "rebuilding" process. He's been flip flopping all over the place since he's got here cleaning up mistake after mistake. I just want to see this guy make some moves and atleast attempt to bring in some help, not bringing in Yi Jialini who might be good in 4 years.
whatever you guys don't understand my point. Let's just keep getting 7 foot chinese guys and brian scalabrine and more high schoolers. We'll be good in 25 years. Then we get Antoine Walker back and trade him for a bag of potatoe chips like we did last time. I don't know if all you guys are like 13 or something but I have been watching this basketball team SUCK for a long time. There has been so much garbage assosciated with the Boston Celtics and if you guys haven't noticed we are the 2nd to worst team in the NBA. Young players don't make younger players better. There are so many Danny Ainge apologists that are Celtics fans. His rebuilding is going to take a decade at the rate he's going right now.
I somewhat agree. I'm sick of him not having a direction and sh*t. But this kid Jianlin is supposedly one of the top prospects, and we're going to have a good pick, so I think he almost needs to be scouted. I wouldn't necessarily say we should pick him (I really don't think we should), but I think he needs to be scouted and compared with among the other top players in the top of the draft. But you're right WTTJ, I'm sick of this draft for upside and potential stuff. I want to see this team improve so badly, that I'd probably get really pissed if we got another project.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But you're right WTTJ, I'm sick of this draft for upside and potential stuff. I want to see this team improve so badly, that I'd probably get really pissed if we got another project.</div>Thank you
I think Ainge has to check out all prospects as they are going to have a high draft pick (Please dear Lord let it be #1 or 2). He'd be foolish to assume they won't get bumped out of one of the two top picks as has happened just about every year and therefore has to cover all angles.Last year he traded the C's pick and it was a mess. He's catching flack for passing up on Brandon Roy. Now everyone is saying don't go young get experience. Well that's what he did last year! He did it rather poorly mind you, but he did try and now is getting murdered by the fans.Ainge is fairly good at drafting talent, but he's proven that he sucks at making trades.Would you really want him to sign/trade for other team's talent??The C's do need to grow and this year Al, Rondo, West and Allen (before the injury) have been growing and showing what they may become. Green, well he still has a ways to go beyond looking like Harold Miner.Getting an experienced player to help Paul would be nice, but Ainge over values his talent and no one is meeting the asking price. Besides do you want him to trade away someone who could be the nextJoe Johnson for 30 cents on the dollar? me neither!Give Ainge credit for scouting all possibilities and PRAY he doesn't make another trade.. he's not very good at them.
CelticFan you make some good points. And nobody on this board is discrediting Ainge's ability to draft. He's probably one of the best GM's in the league at drafting talent. But I don't want him to trade the pick if we get a #1,#2 pick. That would be crazy, because those two guys would be impact players and could develop into two of the best players in the league some day. With that said I just think there are some Celtics fans that are beginning to run out of patience. He's never really chosen a direct direction to take this team. He said he wanted to go with the youth movement and build the team up from there. That's fine, but his 2nd season he gets Gary Payton, then trades for Antoine Walker right before the playoffs and does a horendus job of getting rid of Antoine. He pulls a sign and trade to get two 2nd rounders, Qyntel Woods(never even reported to Boston), Curtis Borchardt (no longer in the league), and the draft rights to Albert Mirrales who will never even sniff the pine of an NBA bench. Then he trades a 2nd rounder to get Dan freakin Dickau? I mean c'mon. A year before Dallas traded Antoine Walker and got Jason Terry. I mean, Did anyone think in year 4 of Danny's rebuilding process that we would be the 2nd worst team in the NBA? I know Ainge has done some good things and he's brought in some great young talent, I'll give credit where credit is due. But this guy needs to step up here. We're the ones paying money to watch this team and I love our young guys but I'm sick of getting excited because we beat the Atlanta Hawks to make our record 20-47. People may think I'm being impatient but I am really not. This is year #4 for Danny, we should be better than this.He has to do something with this insanely young roster. And yes, he does overvalue some of the talent but there are definately some interest in some of our young guys. People are definately interested in Gerald Green and Tony Allen was playing great before he went down with that god awful injury. He said he wanted to have some chips to work with. He definately has them, I just think he needs to bring in some veterans. I'm not saying go out and trade all our young guys for Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner or something but some veterans on this team would be great combined with a Durant/Oden and keeping some of the young guys for role players could really shape up this team for the better. Because otherwise this guy is just going around and around in circles and it's leading us nowhere.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WELCOMEtotheJUNGLE @ Mar 22 2007, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>CelticFan you make some good points. And nobody on this board is discrediting Ainge's ability to draft. He's probably one of the best GM's in the league at drafting talent. But I don't want him to trade the pick if we get a #1,#2 pick. That would be crazy, because those two guys would be impact players and could develop into two of the best players in the league some day. With that said I just think there are some Celtics fans that are beginning to run out of patience. He's never really chosen a direct direction to take this team. He said he wanted to go with the youth movement and build the team up from there. That's fine, but his 2nd season he gets Gary Payton, then trades for Antoine Walker right before the playoffs and does a horendus job of getting rid of Antoine. He pulls a sign and trade to get two 2nd rounders, Qyntel Woods(never even reported to Boston), Curtis Borchardt (no longer in the league), and the draft rights to Albert Mirrales who will never even sniff the pine of an NBA bench. Then he trades a 2nd rounder to get Dan freakin Dickau? I mean c'mon. A year before Dallas traded Antoine Walker and got Jason Terry. I mean, Did anyone think in year 4 of Danny's rebuilding process that we would be the 2nd worst team in the NBA? I know Ainge has done some good things and he's brought in some great young talent, I'll give credit where credit is due. But this guy needs to step up here. We're the ones paying money to watch this team and I love our young guys but I'm sick of getting excited because we beat the Atlanta Hawks to make our record 20-47. People may think I'm being impatient but I am really not. This is year #4 for Danny, we should be better than this. He has to do something with this insanely young roster. And yes, he does overvalue some of the talent but there are definately some interest in some of our young guys. People are definately interested in Gerald Green and Tony Allen was playing great before he went down with that god awful injury. He said he wanted to have some chips to work with. He definately has them, I just think he needs to bring in some veterans. I'm not saying go out and trade all our young guys for Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner or something but some veterans on this team would be great combined with a Durant/Oden and keeping some of the young guys for role players could really shape up this team for the better. Because otherwise this guy is just going around and around in circles and it's leading us nowhere.</div> WTJ, if we get a #1 or 2 pick, we won't trade it. Ainge isn't that dumb, he'd obviously keep it and we'd all be happy as hell. But yes, if we don't get a top 2 pick, we should trade it. Whether that means ditch the draft altogether or trade down and get a good veteran and a lower pick (since Ainge is so good at finding steals). Who knows? This is what I'm so excited about, we have SO MANY options this summer. We all know what they are and we've all talked about those options in other threads, so I'm not going to list them all again, but I am so excited for the offseason. I can't wait to see what's going to happen. SOMETHING will. Even with that said (me agreeing with you that if we don't get a top 2 pick, we should trade it), you can't blame Ainge for scouting other talent. I think it would be dumb for him NOT to check everybody out. This is why Ainge is so good at evaluating talent, he spends a LOT... and I mean a LOT of time scouting and watching game film. I personally think Danny Ainge is the best scouting GM in the business, and I'd trust him with my pick in any spot. And yes, I am also with you 100% about Ainge never picking a direction. I'm sure you seen me vent about that on plenty of occasions. It's time to pick one NOW. In fact, he should have had one in mind in 2003, but it's too late for that now. Pick a direction NOW, Danny. Right after the draft lottery, he should have a plan in mind and he should stick to it. No more, well, I'll get an average young player and then get a veteran for 50 games.. then trade them all and see where we are. No, F*ck that. If we don't get Oden or Durant, you trade that pick. And even if we get Oden or Durant, you make a trade or two anyway. We need some veterans, we have WAY too many young players... and most of them play the same positions.
Yeah right on CelticsBalla, I hear you definately. And I'm not implying Ainge is bad or anything at drafting. He's amazing at drafting. I even remember hearing about him drafting Gomes with the 18th pick if Green wasn't available and other idiotic GM's passed up on a 4-year, great kid, solid role player in Ryan Gomes. Ainge ate that pick up with a spoon. He is absolutely outstanding at drafting. I'm only expressing anger about this Chinese trip because I would like to hear a journalist or media member do an article about Danny's plans for the off-season. I may have been a little harsh in my opening statement with this thread but I really hope Ainge has a plan up his sleeve. He's been doing a lot of flip flopping and he's made some really bad moves. His mistakes have been killing him. I just hope he makes some good moves this summer, because this is a huge off-season for this team. I really think Pierce might think of leaving if Ainge doesn't do something this off-season aside from trading Wally Sczcerbiak for Mike Dunleavy or some stupid move like that. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ya, F*ck scouting let's just over pay a bunch of old guys and win a few more games now!</div>And by the way D-Rob, I never said F*ck scouting and get a bunch of "old" guys. And win a few more games now? When the hell do you want to win games? In 15 years?
Bottom line, Danny Ainge has to scout these players and just because he's going to China doesn't mean he's not looking to trade or add veterans.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WELCOMEtotheJUNGLE @ Mar 22 2007, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah right on CelticsBalla, I hear you definately. And I'm not implying Ainge is bad or anything at drafting. He's amazing at drafting. I even remember hearing about him drafting Gomes with the 18th pick if Green wasn't available and other idiotic GM's passed up on a 4-year, great kid, solid role player in Ryan Gomes. Ainge ate that pick up with a spoon. He is absolutely outstanding at drafting. I'm only expressing anger about this Chinese trip because I would like to hear a journalist or media member do an article about Danny's plans for the off-season. I may have been a little harsh in my opening statement with this thread but I really hope Ainge has a plan up his sleeve. He's been doing a lot of flip flopping and he's made some really bad moves. His mistakes have been killing him. I just hope he makes some good moves this summer, because this is a huge off-season for this team. I really think Pierce might think of leaving if Ainge doesn't do something this off-season aside from trading Wally Sczcerbiak for Mike Dunleavy or some stupid move like that. And by the way D-Rob, I never said F*ck scouting and get a bunch of "old" guys. And win a few more games now? When the hell do you want to win games? In 15 years?</div> Yes! 15 years! It's all part of the PLAN they have been selling to us since 1996. Duh! About Pierce, I'm with you. There is no way I see Paul staying in Boston much longer at all if we don't make any significant moves or make some good progression. There is no way he stays in Boston as long as we are out of the playoffs, let alone being in the race for the #1 pick.
I do agree that Ainge is directionless with the team and most of the lack of direction has been due to his sh*tty trades. This scares me, he traded away the #6 pick last year for a young and underdeveloped PG who hasn't really grown since joining the league in Telfair. Lord knows what he'll trade the #3-5 pick in this years draft for. I know it has to be done in order to move this young team forward, but seriously who has faith that Ainge will make a good trade?The young talent is there and some of it will develop as we hoped, some will become serviceable and some will never be more than a promise of potential.Hopefully Paul realises that this year got sca-rewed due to him missing 22 games and others going down as well and sees the improvements Jefferson, Gomes, Rondo and West made and the talent Allen showed before going down.Hopefully this team jells next year and continues to improve and perhaps makes the playoffs next year either with Oden or Durant or a very good veteran attained in trade.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 22 2007, 04:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I do agree that Ainge is directionless with the team and most of the lack of direction has been due to his sh*tty trades.</div>Ya, I agree dumping salary and getting a former lottery pick instead of creating more of a long jam at the 2-3 when he wasn't sure he was gonna be able to get Rondo too was dumb Directionless? Ainge has been one of the few GM's who has had the balls to finally commit to rebuilding. You be a Celtic fan but you don't seem to know your stuff.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Mar 25 2007, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Directionless? Ainge has been one of the few GM's who has had the balls to finally commit to rebuilding. You be a Celtic fan but you don't seem to know your stuff.</div> No, he is right about Ainge failing to stick to a direction. He came in here saying he was going to blow it up and go young. Well, up until now, he's had a bunch of mediocre draft picks (not necessarily the players he got with the picks, but the draft positions - middle of the road). Then, he went out and traded for Gary Payton and Antoine Walker. Payton, I could see because of the leadership and veteran presence to help Delonte/Banks. But Walker for 20-25 games? Why? What's the point? Ainge only traded back for Walker because Philly went out and got Webber. So, what did Ainge do? He went out to get Walker to make sure we won the division. That happened, then he traded him for absolutely nothing. Ainge has even admitted publicly that he never envisioned having this many young players on the team at once. Well, who's fault is that? Danny's, and Danny's only. This offseason is the defining moment of the Danny Ainge era.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Mar 25 2007, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ya, I agree dumping salary and getting a former lottery pick instead of creating more of a long jam at the 2-3 when he wasn't sure he was gonna be able to get Rondo too was dumb </div>yes drafting or posistion or need is sooo much better than drafting for talent.Ask the Trailblazers about that when the drafted Sam Bowie.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Mar 25 2007, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Directionless? Ainge has been one of the few GM's who has had the balls to finally commit to rebuilding. You be a Celtic fan but you don't seem to know your stuff.</div>let's see.2001-02 record 49-332002-03 record 44-382003-04 record 36-462004-05 record 45-372005-06 record 33-492006-07 record 20-49 (so far)so what direction are we headed in? sure this year is worse than it should be thanks to injuries, but with Pierce healthy we were headed for another 7 or 8 seed and middle of the draft pick again. So, what was that gonna accomplish?right now the C's have a shot at a top 4 pick and hopefully Durant or Oden but Ainge shouldn't get any credit for that. It was injuries that have put the Celts in this posistion.I mean without one of those two players coming to the C's, what do you expect this team to do over the next few years?improve by 5-8 games, make the playoffs and get bounced over and over again, with perhaps a journey into the second round and Pierce either asking to be traded (and Ainge getting roll players in return and a draft pick) or Pierce being to old to play at a super-star level.as for Ainge having balls, so long as the team is young, he has an excuse and the promise of what could be to keep his job...so yeah, I think I know my stuff I just don't have rose coloured glasses on when looking at the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Mar 21 2007, 01:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>All teams go to China and other places....it's just an aspect of his job.</div>I been high on Yi for awhile. I'm glad hes getting some attention in Danny Ainges scouting reports. Even if hes the 3rd pick, I will be happy. He can be the next Pau Gasol not to mention more durable. I would even take this guy over Durant to be honest.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (meltinjohn @ Mar 29 2007, 01:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I would even take this guy over Durant to be honest.</div> :HAHAHA: What is it with these new Celtic fans here lacking basketball IQ? GMoftheFuture said Hawes is better than Oden, then this guy says he'd take Yi over Durant? Give me a break.
