The Boston Celtics are doing a great job in accumulating assets while at the same time, having a team that can compete with the best in the NBA. GM Danny Ainge said over the summer that the more assets they have at hand, more opportunities will arrive later.
Quoting Ainge from last summer via ESPN: "We've tried to put ourselves in the game -- to have those options and to have some opportunities to make big moves. So I guess that if they're big moves that we like, we do them. If they're big moves that we're not in love with, then we hold off and we wait."
Fast forward, they are in a position to land a big name like DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings, or even acquire a potential franchise player in next year's draft in Ben Simmons.
Ainge, as of the moment, is looking at every opportunity that comes their way and is closely examining if the offers are worthy of giving away their valuable assets.
"Listen, we consider all talented players, but what is the price?" Ainge said. "Who are the players that we have around to support? All of that is [discussed] when we have trade talks."
"I think everybody knows who you are talking about. The bottom line is I can't talk about any players, but I can assure you that we're familiar with every player in the league and every player's background and their character. We consider it all."
In a poll conducted by ESPN, they asked the fans if they would prefer a deep run in this year's playoffs (which would mean trading for a bonafide star) or get the projected top three pick in next year's draft and get the chance to get Louisiana State's phenom, Ben Simmons.
The result was a whopping 73 percent in favor of getting the chance to draft Simmons.
