Dr. Chestnutt on Rondo

[Andy]

> Andy wrote:
>
> >I thought this might be an appropriate moment to quote Dr. Chestnutt
> >who on June 29th had some pointed words to say about the Rondo
> >acquisition shortly after it was made:
> >http://www.celticsdoom.blogspot.com/
> >
> >
> >"The Small Exceedingly Stupid Trade
> >
> >The Rondo pick for next year's #1 was inexcusable and embarrassing.
> >This is Ainge at his absolute worst – fixated on obscure talent he
> >finds singular, unable to let it go. See Robert Swift, Marcus Banks,
> >and Telfair.  (snip)
> >
> >Rondo equals Orien Greene with a better college pedigree. That is it.
> >For a f—ing #1 pick."
> >
> >
> >
> >cough...
> >
> >
> >That was the Cleveland pick acquired in the Jiri Welsch deal.  In
> >other words Jiri Welsch was essentially traded for Rajon Rondo.
> >Cleveland's pick will no doubt be in the 20s.
>

> >--Andy
>
> >
> The lesson in this is,  Ainge is a great drafter, and Dr. Chestnutt is
> occasionally wrong (I was inclined to agree with him on Rondo, but
> should've known better).  That's why Ainge should've drafted someone
> with the #7 rather than trading it for Telfair.
> Kestas
>
>

If he was absolutely committed to getting a point guard, Ainge  
couldn't have called off the Telfair trade since he didn't know Rondo  
would be there later. (Though yeah in hindsight that probably would  
have been better.   I'm not and never was crazy about Telfair myself.)

Though two points are better than one.

Ainge had Rondo pegged well before the season even began.  Chad Ford  
reported as much.  Rondo was the mystery guy that everyone else had  
rated much lower.

Meanwhile Dr. Chestnutt?  There's nothing wrong with being wrong;  
everyone is wrong sometimes.  But if you speak in his petty arrogant   
tone, in a way that no decent human being would do face to face with  
another, you have to expect to get called on it.

--Andy