Brad Stevens is a genius, but Danny Ainge deserves a Celtics championship ring, too

Danny Ainge started it, and Brad Stevens finished the job.

Years ago, while writing for this very website, I delivered an extremely cold take.

Back in 2019, I wondered if then-Celtics GM Danny Ainge ultimately botched the now-infamous Nets trade that built what is now an NBA title-winning team.

Obviously, he didn’t. But you had to wonder back then if the Celtics should have traded one of their young centerpieces for, say, Paul George as an all-in move.

But sometimes, it’s the moves you DON’T make that win championships. And Ainge refused to deal Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, sticking with a long-term plan that banked on both of them becoming stars (and maybe even superstars).

Sure, the Kyrie Irving trade didn’t work out before Ainge left for the Utah Jazz, but then came Brad Stevens moving from the bench to the front office, where he brought back Al Horford, dealt for Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and the rest is history.

But let’s give Ainge his flowers too. I’m not the only one who feels that way:

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