Danny Ainge hired as CEO of basketball operations

[Handlogten's Heros]

I absolutely hate this. Zanik did a great job and should have been kept in the driver’s seat for a guy most other GMs despise. Also bear in mind, Ainge’s record over the last couple years is pretty rough-it’s been a while since one of his draft picks has panned out.

But lots of the guys he almost drafted have been home runs!

 

[NAOS]

Looks really refreshing tbh

 

[infection]

But lots of the guys he almost drafted have been home runs!

And this is important because when DL left there was a huge vacuum that was left in finding guys that blow up that you almost drafted.

 

[NAOS]

The last team that skipped over Zanik won a championship. I’m assuming this was a factor.

 

[LogGrad98]

Looks really refreshing tbh

It'll clean every nook and cranny, no doubt. Inside and out.

 

[framer]

This better/worse than the DL quote? Not a great look for Ryan… have fun explaining that one to Don.

If we have to politics check everyone the Jazz do business with, we just need to trade Mitchell while he still has value. He's really not worth all that.

 

[framer]

Additionally, I would guarantee that Wade was in on this. Getting Ainge is a prestige move overall. Every NBA fan knows who Ainge is. Almost nobody knows JZ. Just because he isn't popular here due to the Haywood situation, doesn't mean he isn't respected around the league. I will guarantee that Ainge's rolodex dwarfs that of Zanik as well as well as his knowledge of all of the people in the different organizations. I think we saw with previous management that sometimes we just didn't have the juice to be players on the trade market because we didn't have keys to the back room. Ainge does.

The main thing is that, yeah, there probably are players that are not as safe as they were yesterday.

 

[KqWIN]

JZ hadn't been around long enough for me to have a real opinion on him. The moves he did make seemed to be fine, although the Gay signing probably had more to do with the players/Quin than being a good GM. Feel bad for him because this was the second GM in waiting position where he basically got demoted.

Danny Ainge had made some really good moves in the past (way in the past), but it seems like everyone in the league kinda hates him now...both players and other FO people for different reasons. Don't love this.

 

[gomretat]

Time will tell if Smith, Wade, Zanik, and Ainge can work together or self destruct

Unless JZ was part of this conversation starting months ago he is gone. This is a kick in the gut to a guy who has been loyal and done good work. I hope he was involved but Smith doesnt seem like the type who cares what others think.

 

[gomretat]

Additionally, I would guarantee that Wade was in on this. Getting Ainge is a prestige move overall. Every NBA fan knows who Ainge is. Almost nobody knows JZ. Just because he isn't popular here due to the Haywood situation, doesn't mean he isn't respected around the league. I will guarantee that Ainge's rolodex dwarfs that of Zanik as well as well as his knowledge of all of the people in the different organizations. I think we saw with previous management that sometimes we just didn't have the juice to be players on the trade market because we didn't have keys to the back room. Ainge does.

The main thing is that, yeah, there probably are players that are not as safe as they were yesterday.

Disagree. Ainge is not well thought of in many circles so making this about Hayward is way off base IMO. He was skewered on the IT thing and rightfully so. Do you remember when AD's dad said AD could not go to Boston because of Ainge? And JZ has been around long enough to know all of the players. I doubt the rolodex is any different for the two of them just because JZ has not been as public of a figure. You cant get to GM in this league without knowing the players.

 

[Gameface]

If we have to politics check everyone the Jazz do business with, we just need to trade Mitchell while he still has value. He's really not worth all that.

No, what the Jazz need to do is avoid people who say and do stupid things that make it clear that they are idiots and ***holes. Should be easy.

 

[infection]

Additionally, I would guarantee that Wade was in on this. Getting Ainge is a prestige move overall. Every NBA fan knows who Ainge is. Almost nobody knows JZ. Just because he isn't popular here due to the Haywood situation, doesn't mean he isn't respected around the league. I will guarantee that Ainge's rolodex dwarfs that of Zanik as well as well as his knowledge of all of the people in the different organizations. I think we saw with previous management that sometimes we just didn't have the juice to be players on the trade market because we didn't have keys to the back room. Ainge does.

The main thing is that, yeah, there probably are players that are not as safe as they were yesterday.

Some valid points in here. A lot of deals get done on relationship, and a lot of deals don't happen based on relationship. Even DL hinted at this that he makes moves with people he's familiar with (more on this later). But everyone knows who Ainge is. He's not the quiet guy in the group, whether you like him or not. And a lot of people may hate that loud obnoxious guy who is a narcissist and has some level of popularity, but they will still interact with him, still invite him to the parties, and still be there to slap his hand when he's giving high fives. You'll definitely know what that guy wants, and at times you may desire what he has to offer, and it won't be hard to get that conversation initiated if you've got something he wants. DL, on the other hand, was more the quiet guy that doesn't carry a strong presence but that, way after the fact, people will tell you how much they respect him, but not that many people are talking to him. Back to us making repeated Cleveland trades... the Cleveland GM was a guy who was like 30. DL isn't fitting in the all the hot shots at the party so he goes and finds the other quiet nerd who will give him attention. It's kind of a Michael Scott move where he is ignored and on the outside with the heavy hitters, but uses Dwight as his backup to pump himself up. That's the vibe I got from all those repeat Cleveland deals.