He knew full well when he traded Kendrick Perkins last month that if the move didn't pay off, he'd be crucified for it. He knew he couldn't unload a starting center from a championship team quietly. He knew there'd be uproar, and he knew he'd have to answer to everyone in Boston if the deal didn't work out.
But he made the deal anyway, and that should tell you something. Danny Ainge is confident he's doing what's best for the Celtics, both short-term and long.
Ainge did an interview with Sports Illustrated on Monday, revealing some of his reasons behind making the blockbuster trade. He said the team was stronger both offensively and defensively, he defended the oft-injured Shaquille O'Neal, and he said although that he loves Perk, the center is "not irreplaceable."
Then came the most interesting part of all — in closing, when told that he'd be blamed if the Celtics didn't win a championship, he had a comeback ready:
"I'm all right with that. Blame me all you want. Do I get all the credit if we win?"
Good question, Danny.
While "all the credit" is obviously an exaggeration, Ainge has a very good point here — if the Celtics do manage to win a championship this spring without Perkins in the mix, then Ainge certainly deserves praise making a bold move when everyone doubted him.
It's hard to see that now. Boston is still stinging a little bit from losing a guy that spent eight long years here. The town's still in mourning, and it may take a while for that to blow over.
But a few months from now, if Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic help the Celtics capture their 18th banner, and at least one center with the last name "O'Neal" plays a part as well, then we all have to give Ainge his hard-earned props.
Ainge has never been afraid to make a controversial move. In 2003, he traded away Antoine Walker when he was 27 years old, in the prime of his career. Walker and Paul Pierce had just made the Eastern Conference finals a year earlier, and Ainge tore them apart.
In '07, he dealt away a high lottery pick on draft night, stubbornly refusing to go into rebuilding mode after a 58-loss season. He ended up getting Ray Allen, and later Kevin Garnett.
Then in 2011, Ainge traded away Perkins.
He's always been bold — and often he's right, too. Ainge brought a title to Boston in 2008 when no one thought it possible. He turned a miserable failure of a team into a champion overnight. He earned Boston's trust, didn't he?
Now he's putting that trust on the line again. It's a big gamble. If he loses, he can lose a ton — but if he wins, he deserves all the praise in the world.
What do you think? How will the Perkins trade affect Danny Ainge's legacy? Share your thoughts below.
