Can Ainge pull off what Trader Bob couldn't?

If we were guaranteed a championship I'd prefer to build.  My logic is fairly simple on that: I think half of the fun is building it and watching the players get there.  I also suspect that building it, if the championship were 2-4 years out (as this post assumes, which frankly is fast, but I'll go with it) that we would have a younger group that could likely sustain contention for a decent spell beyond.  When a team buys championship contention I figure they are spending a whole lot of money to have severely aging players in a few seasons, and that can cripple a long run.

As a Massachusetts native I probably take more interest in the Celtics than any team other than the Blazers and I think that the moves Ainge made were predictable wishes, and frankly I'm impressed that he pulled them off.  What I mean by that is that a short while ago I'd say Ainge's job was on the line, the guy was desperate to regain some support in Boston, and I think he didn't / doesn't have a guaranteed contract, or it's running out quickly.  He was (BlazerEdge-ism) Pritchslapped badly just over a year ago, and his record this last season was atrocious (though I and many Bostonians think that part of that was because they let Pierce "recover" for longer than he really had to in hopes to land the #1 or #2 pick, like them trading for everyone's picks when Duncan was up for grabs, this plan really backfired on them.  I think Ainge is now much more respected as a GM in Boston than he was going into this summer, and he has accomplished one of his missions.

I really don't know how I ultimately feel about the team though.  This is one we'll have to wait out and see, their bench is soooo bad, but the talent truly is there.  I think they will do fairly well, but don't know that they'll be able to actually walk away with a title, but moving from the slums into mid-upper half of playoff contention will make people very happy there.  However, long-term, they did mortgage their future.  I think Al Jefferson is a real talent, as is Ryan Gomes, and I think there is hope for Gerald Green.  Finally,  is probably going to work out very, very well.  In addition Jeff Green is probably going to end up being a stud.  Even Telfair might eventually turn into a respectable role player, but the boy needs some serious ego boosting, head straightening, etc... I think it's been a very tough couple of years for him.  Finally, they gave away near term salary relief in Ratliff, who when healthy is a defensive asset.  Basically, thats a whole lot of future to move, but if Ainge's job is on the line, times a ticking, I think what he pulled off was admirable, even if it was a move that was partially selfish, partially about getting fans back.

anyone who can pull his chestnuts out of the fire like Danny has done. Turning his apathetic and angry fan base into YES with a couple of improbable moves is the best part. Never mind that in 5 years the broken hulk of the Celtics team will again be at the bottom of the league. Danny will have the job for at least 3 more years and a conference finals level is attainable. As the USA team is proving in the Pan American games, team depth can destroy teams without that depth (and that is only 40 minute games). Lose a Dwight Howard and Amare comes in and doesn't miss a beat. Yes, the talent level of USA is ridiculously good but we have said that before and failed to use our depth. Thank you Coach Brown. So the Celtics are so shallow behind the three (no point in saying 'big three' because they are the only three) that local high schools might need to help out.

I like whats going on now and watching this team build and grow together is already starting to remind me of the early 90's when we all started to grow with the team. They will all become part of our culture here in Rip City and the roots from that will be what we latch on to.

By pulling the trade cards Ainge has pulled, yes he has some good talent on the team right now, but to me its kind of like putting a cheat code into a game and making your way to the end unfairly. It ruins the experience. What if Boston takes the championship? Whats the story behind that? "Ainge puts together a championship roster in a town that had a burning desire to win at any cost."

I would take the story line behind what we have now over that one any day of the year. And yes, I expect us to have quite a few stumbling blocks in front of us to get over... but thats the fun of the journey.

I look forward to the games where it is down to the wire (starting to get flashbacks of games with LA in the 90's) and we are down by 1 against a top seeded team and both teams are on pins and needles as the seconds tick down. Those are the games I miss watching. The ones where the last 2 minutes of the game takes 30 minutes to play out due to the time outs and fouls... an there is no clear cut winner. Once we get that on a consistant basis against teams like Boston, NY, SA, Miami... etc etc... I will be in heaven.

What Boston has right now are three guys who can pull out wins in situations like that and no one would bat an eye otherwise because thats just how it should be. Congrats Ainge, if you dont make it to the finals this year, your chestnuts are back in the fire. We have a bit of time where we get to prove what we are made of.

I'd rather "grow" with the team over the course of some years to be honest.  The connection with the team and the memories generated seem to be more impressionable.

That being said, if I were a Boston fan, I'd be willing to take an immediate push to gloryland in lieu of a rebuilding process. And for Ainge's own sake, he had to do something NOW or else he'd be out.