Boston Celtics: Danny Ainge’s last run isn’t how he should be remembered

Danny Ainge’s Boston Celtics title winners

Having a combination of moves such as the two that brought Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to Boston are the things General Managers build legacies on. It was time to capitalize on the overwhelming potential of Paul Pierce. First, on draft night 2007, the Celtics traded the draft rights to Jeff Green, a future second-round pick, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to the Seattle Supersonics for Ray Allen, the draft rights to Glen Davis and a trade exception.

Following that up weeks later came the trade for Kevin Garnett, sending out Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, two conditional first-round picks and a trade exception. These two trades propelled the Celtics all the way to the top, winning one championship and would have pushed for two more without ill-timed injuries.

The Garnett trade can be attributed to the friendship Ainge had from playing with Kevin McHale decades previous but the trade for Allen was just as lopsided. Bringing in two future Hall of Famers to pair with their in-house one was a masterstroke. Garnett will go down as one of the greatest Celtics of all time, even if he only played six seasons there.