A reason Danny Ainge is widely regarded as one of the top executives in the industry is his exceptional talent for uncovering hidden gems and identifying promising players. Throughout his storied tenure as the Boston Celtics ' front office president, he landed notable names like Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard who went on to become integral members of the franchise's success for years.
But like all other decision-makers, there were times that Ainge fumbled plenty of opportunities. And during his time in Beantown, he couldn't help but wonder if only he drafted Jimmy Butler 13 years ago.
Ainge missed drafting Jimmy
In his appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Ainge revealed that his biggest regret as the Celtics' top executive is how he passed up the golden opportunity to pick Jimmy Butler in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Holding the 25th overall pick of the draft, Ainge and the Celtics opted to choose Providence prospect MarShon Brooks. On the other hand, the Marquette star in Jimmy landed in the hands of the Chicago Bulls with the 30th pick.
Brooks’s time in the possession of the Celtics was short-lived as he was subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He only remained for five years in the league wherein he last played for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018-19. As for Butler, he became one of the NBA’s most inspiring stories who took the grind in becoming a six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA member, and a future Hall of Famer.
“Jimmy Butler is the first one that comes to my mind. As you know, he was a late first-round pick. He was seriously in our thoughts of drafting and we went in another direction, and Jimmy turned out to be a great player,” Ainge confessed . “That’s probably the one I regret the most.”
Related: “If it were him, he, too, would be upset” - Jordan apologized to Scottie Pippen over 'The Last Dance' controversial scene
Celtics' top villain
As it is, Ainge could only imagine what could have happened if Jimbo had been at their side starting in 2011. Yet although Butler was a special one, there's still no guarantee that he'd achieve that same success if he began his career in Boston. He may have helped the C's contend during the post-Big 3 era, but it is uncertain whether the franchise would still be able to land both Brown and Tatum for the next couple of years if Butler was on their roster.
In the end, Butler and the Celtics were destined to become arch-enemies. Butler has been a major thorn in Boston's side with his Miami Heat team, creating one of the league's biggest rivalries. Both teams have clashed in the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, with more battles likely in the future.
Related: “I think it’s easier to become a better shooter than it is to learn to become an intense player“ - Danny Ainge names the two favorite players he drafted
Local Boston, MA
Most Popular
Comments / 0