Report: Boston Went 'Full Throttle' to Trade Up For Justise Winslow
The Miami Heat walked away with their heads held high after securing the rights to Duke's Justise Winslow with the 10th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Today we learn if Celtics President Danny Ainge had his way, Winslow would be in Boston, as the team reportedly offered a "major haul" to the Charlotte Hornets to move up to No. 9.
But Michael Jordan and the Hornets didn't budge and selected Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky. According to ESPN, the Celts "made a strong push to multiple teams" in the 4-9 slots on draft day for Winslow, and their offer would eventually become a loaded one.
It culminated with an all-in effort in attempt to get Charlotte to deliver the No. 9 pick with Boston lusting for Duke forward Justise Winslow (the same player they coveted while trying to shuffle higher).
According to sources, the Celtics' final offer to the Hornets was a package that could have featured as many as six draft picks, including four potential first-round selections (a combination of picks from this draft and in the future). But the Hornets could not be swayed and turned down multiple offers to select Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky.
SIX draft picks including four potential first-rounders, is Michael Jordan entering the inevitable life stage of senility?
"In hindsight, the next day, it's probably a good thing," Ainge said on Toucher and Rich Friday. "We were probably going to spend too much to do what we needed to do... This morning I wake up, and I'm refreshed that we got guys that we like
but also that we didn't overspend for some of the players that were in the draft — actually just basically one player we were chasing that we thought we had a realistic chance at."
Pat Riley, a man who has been rubbed the wrong way by Ainge in the past, has to be grinning a little wider this morning.
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