Danny Ainge is the top guru currently employed by any team, being vastly superior even to the likes of Lil Taiwan and future hall of famer Sam Henkie. The greatest example of his ability to perceive what others cannot was when Ainge prioritized Jayson Tatum over Markelle Fultz in the 2017 NBA Draft, because everyone else thought that Fultz was a better player and would fit with Embiid + Simmons. Now people are like 'imagine if they drafted Tatum instead?'
Last season the Jazz, who had been a dominant regular-season team yet again, faltered in the playoffs. So it became obvious that something needed to be done, since on the surface they were looked like contenders. You know what I mean? Like if you're looking at the shit and know there's a problem but can't see the problem, still, it's like something must be done.
What I initially suggested was at least trading Rudy Gobert, which the Jazz did. Afterwards there was a bit of confusion, but dudes were like 'okay, we got Danny Ainge and a shitload of draft picks, so we're going to build around Mitchell.' In other words, they were going to give him the Michael Jordan treatment, being the undeniable alpha dog into the foreseeable future, with all new additions coming in under his leadership. Mitchell is now in his sixth season, which is arguably late to commence an initiative like that. But still it wasn't the worst idea, like you know what I mean? The Jazz drafted dude, and with Rudy gone he was their sole perennial all-star, and he's also a very excitable player. So building around him would, if nothing else, entertaining. And it would also finally solve the speculation of if he could be better without Gobert.
But instead, you know what I mean? That's the first time you f*cked up, Danny. If an anonymous guru like myself is able to sit behind a computer somewhere and know that building around Mitchell isn't a bad idea, then that means Ainge definitely knew that shit.
What that means, at least to me, is that they had some kind of personal beef. That's what I hate about today's NBA. The entire Last Dance was themed around this internal beef Jordan had with the Bulls. Yes, the Bulls' braintrust totally dropped the ball on that one. But at least at the end of the day, everyone walked away a champion.
These days, the NBA feels like some high school Clueless type shit. You know, like 'I swear I'll get you back, Lebron' type shit. That's the kind of stuff that fans like myself hate more than anything, like teams being unable to focus. That's the kinda shit that be fucking up my predictions. You make a gazillion dollars, and the other dude makes a gazillion plus. So what is it you're fighting about anyway?
So now what's happened is that Mitchell was traded to a team that wasn't built around him but still a perfect complement of talents and personalities for his own. The Cavs made the mistake of trading when they didn't have to have any palpable reason to do so last season, and they may well replicate the asininity this year. But as it currently stands, it's like Cleveland and Mitchell were made for each other.
So now the question becomes do the Cavs too have faith in their boy, or will they also outsmart themselves like the Jazz did? Unless you can get Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard or some shit, at least see how far he can take the team as is.
And as for the Jazz, now the question is like what if they had kept Mitchell? The roster did not instantly approve after the Gobert trade, and I'm sure at times, Ainge doubts how smart he himself actually is. So it would have been a test to both the organization's and Donovan's patience if they had kept him. But like if he was down with that idea, even for a second, they should have just rode the wave.
CONCLUSION
Wisdom is always wiser in hindsight, or however that saying goes. Ainge orchestrated the grouping of Garnett + Allen + Pierce (not to mention Rondo), the only superteam since the Showtime Lakers to have instantly won a championship. Then shortly after that, he kept the Celtics contenders for like a decade straight. Then he put togehter this current Utah squad who everyone, including myself, had written off but instead look like they can at least get to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
But if Mitchell proceeds to become MVP or even NBA champion, then by all means some people are going to say Ainge and the gang dumbed out. Lauri Markannen, all-star he may be, is not in that conversation. And the reason it looks bad for the Jazz is because they are on record as actually knowing at first that keeping him was a better idea. So it's like Ainge, for whatever reason, went against his own gut instinct. And it can be hard maintaining a guruship acting like that.
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