<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BOSTON (AP) -- Celtics basketball operations director Danny Ainge received a three-year contract extension Friday following a season in which Boston won its first division title in 13 years. Ainge's contract had been scheduled to expire after next season, but the extension will keep him with the team through the 2008-09 season, Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said. Financial terms of the deal were not released. Ainge, a former Celtics guard who played on two championship teams in the 1980s, was hired in May 2003 as the team's executive director of basketball operations. His first season on the job saw the resignation of coach Jim O'Brien, who clashed with Ainge over the team's direction, and the trade of star Antoine Walker to Dallas. The team finished 10 games below .500 in 2003-2004 and was swept from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. </div> Source
why? I dont really like how hes handled the Celtics lately...hes basically had one good draft, and thats it...the team seems to lack direction, and nothing is in place yet even though ainge has been there 2 years...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shooter:</div><div class="quote_post">why? I dont really like how hes handled the Celtics lately...hes basically had one good draft, and thats it...the team seems to lack direction, and nothing is in place yet even though ainge has been there 2 years...</div>I think we can say that, out of the two of us, I'm the one that's most concerned about the way the Celtics are "handled". I think Danny has done a tremendous job as our DOBO. Not only did he have a great draft last year, but he also had a good one before that. I judge GMs by the talent that they bring in. As the roster is currently constructed, this is what Danny has given up in deals since he got here: Darius Songaila, Troy Bell, Dahntay Jones, Tony Delk, Eric Williams, Tony Battie, Kedrick Brown, Chris Mills, Mike James, Michael Stewart, Tom Gugliotta, and a 2005 First Rounder. Here's what we got in return: Sacramento's 2005 Second Rounder, Marcus Banks, Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West, 2007 1st round pick, Raef LaFrentz, Ricky Davis, a Conditional 1st Round pick, Tony Allen, and Gary Payton. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have the second group. So, in conclusion, I'm very happy about Ainge getting an extension. He's done a great job, and I trust him to continue on doing just that for 3+ years.
We can also talk about the Atlantic Division title he brought in, maybe more valuable than any of those players.
Well, I'm glad to seee that Danny is staying, if for no other reason than I want to see if he can finish what he started. We have a good, young nucleus, but the question now is whether danny can bring in the final pieces of the puzzle.
This is a very smart move by Celtics Brass. I'm not sold on all of Danny's moves, but Danny's ultimate goal is to win and I'm willing to let him tinker for a while to get there.
