Shooting From the Hip

On the draft—I'm disappointed. So was Danny! Takes two to trade and I like Danny's comment about how he recognized that his offer was getting ridiculous. I found myself grudgingly accepting . . . until the 45^th pick—that one threw me. Couldn't Ainge find a tall draft and stash rather than another PG?

I don't see any superstars, even with development, but I do see possibilities of above average starters at most positions. The Piston's-style contender seems reachable—especially with Brad Stevens weaving the fabric (spell).

While we once again seem to have half a roster's worth of power forwards, I do love the idea that Sully and Olly are on notice—get better (shape, skills, commitment) or get lost in the shuffle. Improve or fade out of the picture. Sully could find himself going from starter to deep bench in the time it takes to fry a doughnut.

While Ainge hasn't been able to pull off the mega-trade (for player or high draft pick), it still amazes me how he has spun golden thread from straw. He has shuffled assets so adroitly that the entire league is leery of making a deal with him for fear they will look foolish within months. His use of Traded Player Exceptions, a modicum of cap room, and fading starters to leverage picks and improving youth out of frantic franchises has been masterful. About the only albatross he has taken back in these flotsam-for-savings-bonds deals, and there have been several, that he hasn't been able to exchange for better chips is Gerald Wallace.

There is not a single player on the roster who is not expendable in a trade to upgrade. In fact, could Rozier's development make Smart or Thomas available to centerpiece a trade. How about Amir, Jerebko, and Jordan Mickey's development making Sully or Olynyk available to build a trade around?  Will Jae Crowder's progress make Turner a trade piece?

How happy am I that this band of youngsters (outside of Wallace, 32, the “oldsters” are Jerebko and Johnson at 28) is being guided/developed by Brad Stevens rather than the youth-averse Doc Rivers?

Amidst all the doom and gloom following this non-splash of a draft and free agency, take heart in some feel-good reading.

http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/30/5563322/amir-johnson-raptors-feature-sunday-shootaround

Note that I find myself a couple of hours behind FLCeltsFan in a stream of thoughts posting.  As always her Random Thoughts are jewels, and fortunately we didn't overlap too, too much.  

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