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2017 NBA Trade Deadline: Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 22, 2017; Metairie, LA, USA; Omri Casspi (18) and DeMarcus Cousins (0) were introduced by the New Orleans Pelicans at a press conference at the New Orleans Pelicans Practice Facility. They came to the Pelicans in a trade from the Sacramento Kings. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Metairie, LA, USA; Omri Casspi (18) and DeMarcus Cousins (0) were introduced by the New Orleans Pelicans at a press conference at the New Orleans Pelicans Practice Facility. They came to the Pelicans in a trade from the Sacramento Kings. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Trade Deadline
Dec 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Paul George (13) is guarded by Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Boston defeats Indiana 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics: Put Those Assets To Use

You had one job, Danny Ainge: Put all those assets to good use and finally land that long-awaited blockbuster trade. Unfortunately for the Boston Celtics, they may have to live with being the second- or third-best team in the Eastern Conference for the time being.

On the one hand, it’s easy to get upset about Ainge’s hesitance to include those valuable first round picks from the Brooklyn Nets in a deal until the end. It’s also understandable to wonder what happens when Boston gets the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s guard-heavy draft despite already having Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart in the backcourt.

However, Ainge can still either use that pick or turn it and his assets into something good on draft day, and there’s no denying the Celtics are a team on the rise. Adding Paul George would’ve made Boston serious contenders this year, but according to reports, it was Larry Bird who wouldn’t accept Ainge’s best offers in the end.

It’s still a disappointing trade deadline for the Celtics, who couldn’t even settle for a lesser addition like P.J. Tucker, but even as the value of his players continues to depreciate, Boston is still — for now, at least — dealing from a comfortable position.

Just don’t expect them to go knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers anytime soon.

Grade: C-