It likely will be a few years before the Boston Celtics see the fruits of the myriad deals president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has pulled this season.
The Celtics’ former coach, however, believes they are well on their way toward regaining their status as a championship contender.
Doc Rivers, who took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers last season after nearly a decade in Boston, praised Ainge’s efforts ahead of Monday’s Celtics-Clippers matchup in L.A.
“It takes time. It’s hard,” Rivers said, via the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett. “I’ve been through it with Danny. It’s not a one- or two-year build. I knew that when they decided to do it, and Danny did, too. But I think it’s a city that can handle it, because they’ve done it before and people there know the game. You do have to get a little lucky, but, man, they have so many picks.
“I think they’ve done a masterful job with the way they’re doing it. Danny has put himself into a position to take the risk he wants to take at some point — to gather enough assets to go get that one guy that then gets the second guy that then gets the third guy. Eventually Danny’s going to get that one piece and then that second piece. But they’re set up to do it. Look at all the rebuilding teams, the Celtics are so far ahead of the game than everyone else, in my opinion, from what they’ve done.”
How Rivers’ Clippers fare this season will have a direct impact on said rebuilding plan. Boston netted L.A.’s first-round pick in the 2015 NBA draft as part of a rare coaching trade involving Rivers, meaning a disappointing Clippers finish (they entered Monday with the sixth-best record in the Western Conference) would benefit the C’s come draft night.
