The Boston Celtics have spent the last few weeks yo-yoing in and out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, but President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge isn’t focused on making the playoffs. Via Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald:
Ainge hasn’t told Stevens and the club anything other than the Bill Belichick mantra, “Do your job.”
His task, however, is a bit different. It has to be.
“It’s not my objective to be an eighth seed in the playoffs,” Ainge told the Herald. “My objective is to win championships, and we’re a long way from that.”
For context, the quote comes amidst Bulpett’s argument the Celtics are better off long-term not making the playoffs this season. While that viewpoint is debatable—is there a big difference between picking 14th or 15th?—it does underscore a fundamental problem for Boston: they aren’t supposed to be in this position.
The Celtics, as we know, are in the middle of an extensive rebuilding job. Following the mid-season trades of guard Rajon Rondo and forward Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass are the lone remaining veteran contributors from the past few seasons.
In place of the Celtics’ former stars, Ainge has assembled an impressive collection of young players on rookie contracts and future draft picks. Everyone on the roster, with the possible exception of rookie Marcus Smart, projects as a role player. Third-year forward Jared Sullinger is the only Celtics player to rank among the top-80 in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus standings, and he checks in at 78.
Such is the challenge of rebuilding in the Eastern Conference. You have to be really bad to sink to the bottom, and Ainge has been almost too good at his job to obtain a top draft pick on his own. The roster only lacks a superstar (or two) at the top from being very, very good, but Ainge might not be able to finish building through the draft.
It’s likely Ainge, as he did in 2007, will use his extensive assets to acquire a star via trade. If not, he can always fall back on the haul of unprotected draft picks the Brooklyn Nets sent over in the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade in 2013. Given Brooklyn’s bleak future, it’s probable at least one of those ends up in the high lottery.
Either way, Ainge knows earning the eighth seed in the playoffs and losing in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks does little to push his franchise forward. It’d be a nice week for the team, but not half as nice as picking up a superstar.
Photo: USA Today Sports