***2019 NBA OFF-SEASON***

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Originally posted by 4ML:
It's not about loyalty. IT had health issues because...he played thru injuries based on Celtics promising that they'll take care of him...they asked him to delay his contract signing so they can first add FAs...but they reneged and when it was discovered that he seriously aggravated his injury, they moved on.

I'm sure from a team's and a fan's perceptive - those are shrewd moves. From a player's perspective - it's not.

This is why I always believed that Kyrie will not stay in Boston.

Trading a player is not a problem. Every player and agent understands it's a business. Making them a promise and then now following thru will rub the agents and players a wrong way. You do that enough times - you'll build a bad reputation...and I've read that from many reporters now that players have said this about Boston.

Is there a link where this has come out as a known fact and not conjecture? If in fact that happened then Thomas and his agent are idiots for agreeing to this. But, I dont blame Ainge at all for not giving him a max deal. I always thought he was overrated since he didnt play any defense and giving him that kind of contract would have been really dumb.

I have heard that on TV from multiple reporters when this was happening. But, here's a link. I am sure there are more reports as time went on and Celtics didn't even make an offer to IT...

"We need the best possible player that's gonna help us win, and I'm with that," Thomas said. "Anything Danny [Ainge] and this organization need me to do to help bring even more talent to this city, I'm all for that. I want to win a championship, and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2712065-isaiah-thomas-willing-to-delay-contract-extension-to-let-celtics-add-free-agents

Now, of course they were idiots to agree to that...but that's not the point. It's like Aaron Baynes opting into his contract - and was told that he won't be traded. Ppl can say he was an idiot - but players don't appreciate that.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
Nothing in this article makes me think that Boston promised him a max deal if he delayed. Or for that matter, promised him anything. All it shows is that IT said he would be willing. Big difference.

Originally posted by 4ML:
He did whatever Ainge needed him to do. For me, there is a clear understanding between IT and Ainge that his contract will be taken care of. Why else would he delay his contract? They had his bird rights and they can go over the cap to sign him. That's why IT was so upset with Danny Ainge for trading him. He felt betrayed.

Anyway, Danny Ainge has that reputation. As Larry Bird once said - Danny Ainge even told Red Auerbach to trade Bird because he's old and doesn't have anything left.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Originally posted by 4ML:
He did whatever Ainge needed him to do. For me, there is a clear understanding between IT and Ainge that his contract will be taken care of. Why else would he delay his contract? They had his bird rights and they can go over the cap to sign him. That's why IT was so upset with Danny Ainge for trading him. He felt betrayed.

Anyway, Danny Ainge has that reputation. As Larry Bird once said - Danny Ainge even told Red Auerbach to trade Bird because he's old and doesn't have anything left.

You can speculate all you want but thats all this is.. speculation. The bottom line is that Ainge did the right thing in the end for the organization. He was able to get a superstar in Kyrie for a guy with huge limitations in his game.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

A little something to pass the time until free agency starts. This was titled "the best player for each jersey number in NBA history"





Any objections?

Originally posted by DaBum:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

A little something to pass the time until free agency starts. This was titled "the best player for each jersey number in NBA history"





Any objections?

No. 4 stood out to me. It's Webber which isn't bad but Bosh wore it in his Toronto years which is how long Webber wore it in Sac. Barkley also wore it in Houston.

But really, it should have been Joe Dumars. Wore it the longest with one team (it's a specific uni they have to use), made more All-Stars, more All-Defensive teams and was a Finals MVP wearing it.

Originally posted by DaBum:

Originally posted by DaBum:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

A little something to pass the time until free agency starts. This was titled "the best player for each jersey number in NBA history"





Any objections?

No. 4 stood out to me. It's Webber which isn't bad but Bosh wore it in his Toronto years which is how long Webber wore it in Sac. Barkley also wore it in Houston.

But really, it should have been Joe Dumars. Wore it the longest with one team (it's a specific uni they have to use), made more All-Stars, more All-Defensive teams and was a Finals MVP wearing it.

Oh wait, they really have Rondo for No. 9? That's a horrible choice. Hall of Famers have worn that number like Petit. I mean, he's a multi-year MVP.

Plus Tony Parker wore it and he's a no brainer better choice than Rondo.

Originally posted by DaBum:

I should have looked closer before responding. I just noticed Big O wasn't given 14. Can't think who in Boston was 14 but he's not better than Oscar Robertson. Very few in history are.

six NBA world championship titles in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963...Was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1957...Was a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection (1952 through 1961)...Was a 13-time NBA All-Star (tied with John Havlicek for the most in Celtics history)...Was the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1957...Named to the NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1970, 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980 and One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996...Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971...Is the Celtics all-time assists leader with 6,945.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

Originally posted by DaBum:

I should have looked closer before responding. I just noticed Big O wasn't given 14. Can't think who in Boston was 14 but he's not better than Oscar Robertson. Very few in history are.

Bob Cousy.

six NBA world championship titles in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963...Was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1957...Was a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection (1952 through 1961)...Was a 13-time NBA All-Star (tied with John Havlicek for the most in Celtics history)...Was the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1957...Named to the NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1970, 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980 and One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996...Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971...Is the Celtics all-time assists leader with 6,945.

Originally posted by DaBum:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

Originally posted by DaBum:

I should have looked closer before responding. I just noticed Big O wasn't given 14. Can't think who in Boston was 14 but he's not better than Oscar Robertson. Very few in history are.

Bob Cousy.

six NBA world championship titles in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963...Was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1957...Was a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection (1952 through 1961)...Was a 13-time NBA All-Star (tied with John Havlicek for the most in Celtics history)...Was the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1957...Named to the NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1970, 35th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1980 and One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996...Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971...Is the Celtics all-time assists leader with 6,945.

Big O still better. More points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, shooting percentage a full 11% higher (Cousy's was bad even for his time) and he didn't have Bill Russell helping him out.

He had more All-NBA nods too but I don't value them that much when going that far back. Wasn't a lot of info back then for voters to go on so it was heavily biased.

But that might be best duo in the same number as Cousy is certainly one of the best players of all time.