Los Angeles Clippers president and head coach Doc Rivers parted ways with the Boston Celtics when it became clear they were going a different direction, but he's been paying attention his former team. Rivers is a big fan of what Celtics president Danny Ainge has done, via the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett:
“It takes time. It’s hard,” he says. “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.”
Boston has stockpiled so many draft picks that its media relations department put together a cheat sheet. It has all sorts of financial flexibility. Rivers is right in that Ainge has plenty of assets to play with, but are the Celtics really "ahead of the game?" That's debatable, especially if you look at it like this:
Boston's best young players/prospects: Marcus Smart, James Young, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, Phil Pressey
Philadelphia's young players/prospects: Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Tony Wroten
The Celtics certainly have a chance to turn things around after bottoming out, and Ainge was probably right to realize the future is more important than chasing a playoff spot. The most important things Rivers said about Boston's rebuilding plan, though, was that it will require time and luck. In the meantime, there will be growing pains. And losses. Lots of losses.
The obvious joke here is that Rivers could use some help with team-building himself.
Los Angeles hosts the Celtics at 3:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
