I don't label Danny Ainge taking Giannis Antetokounmpo 15th in the 2013 NBA draft as a blunder, or even bad judgement. No NBA coach, GM or analyst could envision what the now-League Champion and Finals MVP could be. So lets call it unfortunate that we won't be seeing a starting-5 of The Greek Freak alongside The Jay team, Marcus Smart and Al Horford this coming season.
The Celtics slipping to number-3 in the 1997 draft and missing out on Tim Duncan won't be included in this rating. The Evil Emperor of Beantown, Rick Pitino, was in charge and would most-likely would have butchered his handling of such a fundamentally-sound talent.
So the greatest misfortune in Celtics history has to be the early deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis, taken in successive (1986 & 87) NBA drafts. I lump the two players together since, had they lived, they would have paired to possibly prolong the careers of Bird, Parish and McHale in Boston, and perhaps add a couple of banners to the Garden rafters.
So The Greek Freak not coming to Boston has to rank second in misfortunes suffered by The Green. But don't blame Danny. He went with Kelly Olynyk as somewhat of a sure thing. In 2013, Giannis was not the 6'11", 245-lb. menace we saw last night, scoring 50 points to clinch the Title for the Bucks.. Back then, he was a few inches shorter - skinny as a rial - and only showed hints of what he was to become. Still, can you envision that starting-5 of Giannis, Jaylen, Jayson, Marcus and Al?
Well said Tom but damn he could have been in the proper green uniform!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't he have fit right in with Brad's all-wing lineup.
ReplyDeleteHe would have fit like a glove!
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