Jazz hire Celtics Assistant GM Austin Ainge as new President of Basketball Operations

[SoberasHotRod]

I just have a hard time taking the "nepo baby" thing seriously when it comes to Austin Ainge.

This isnt an Atlanta Hawks Ressler situation where someone who has absolutely no basketball experience is making decisions because of their dad.

Ainge put the work in as a rotation player for a good college team, coached at the college level, and has been a part of a successful NBA franchise for over a decade.

If he was completely incompetent he would have been out of Boston as soon as Danny was out of Boston.

I don't think we have any idea if he is good, but we can at least say he isn't completely incompetent.

 

[KqWIN]

This is the second time someone has been hired over JZ.

 

[LogGrad98]

Nepo Baby, sure, but the Celtics have been a great run team and Austin Ainge was a legit college lever player.

Being a good player does not automatically make you a good team manager. He has admittedly been involved in some decent moves, and brought in another ring to Boston recently, so he has a pedigree and resume that supports this move. But leaning on his playing days as a measure of management ability is a false equivalency.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

This is the second time someone has been hired over JZ.

They probably hired AA because of JZ. I doubt JZ, with his health scare, wants a huge burden on his plate.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Being a good player does not automatically make you a good team manager. He has admittedly been involved in some decent moves, and brought in another ring to Boston recently, so he has a pedigree. But leaning on his playing days as a measure of management ability is a false equivalency.

I dont think it is. It's being around the game at a high level. Yes, it doesnt make you a good manager, but it gives you a base of basketball experience that non-players dont have.

 

[Elizah Huge]

View: https://x.com/noadalzell/status/1929554747578519808?s=46

 

[Elizah Huge]

View: https://x.com/celticsblog/status/1929546418152222935?s=46

 

[HermanG]

Had he followed Danny immediately, I would get the "nepo baby" arguments better.

DA retired from his role in Boston in June 2021 and Austin stayed there with Brad Stevens for 4 years and was part of the FO finalizing the team that won the championship last season. He was probably a candidate for other current GM openings, which may have prompted this move (timing-wise).

 

[HermanG]

Dont know how legit and connected this guy is... but this is funny if true:


View: https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1929537006461218853

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

Had he followed Danny immediately, I would get the "nepo baby" arguments better.

DA retired from his role in Boston in June 2021 and Austin stayed there with Brad Stevens for 4 years and was part of the FO finalizing the team that won the championship last season. He was probably a candidate for other current GM openings, which may have prompted this move (timing-wise).

Or the Celtics' window is closed and now he wants a zero risk job with his dad where he has infinite job protection.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Dont know how legit and connected this guy is... but this is funny if true:


View: https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1929537006461218853

He's one of the bigger college basketball names in the reporting/commentating space.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Or the Celtics' window is closed and now he wants a zero risk job with his dad where he has infinite job protection.

Or he's a Mormon who wants to live in Mormon country where he played college basketball...

Celtics also sold their franchise this summer, so they are going to change things up and cut cost due to the cost of their team.