Ainge trade

[lenthall@sas.upenn.edu (Bruce K. Lenthall)]

Yes, the Danny Ainge trade was lousy for the Celtics and us fans, both 
because Ainge was a better player than Kline and Pinkney together and 
because we lost the chance to root for Ainge in green and see him retire 
a Celtic. But is it the worst Celtic trade ever? I don't know: the Celts, 
after all, did need frontcourt help so it was vaguely justifiable. 
Besides, what about Paul Westphal for Charlie Scott? Scott was a fine 
player, as I recall, but Westphal went on the be about the best guard in 
the NBA for half a dozen years in Phoenix. (Of course, later Westphal was 
traded for D.J. and then the Celts got D.J. for Robey so if you count 
that trade as Westphal and Robey for D.J. and Scott it looks much better, 
but no matter.) Anyway, since folks always muse about the greatest trade 
Auerbach and/or the Celts ever pulled off, it's interesting to consider the 
worst one as well.