Mark Nilon of the Beale Street Bears, previously of Hardwood Houdini, argues that the Boston Celtics’ choice to trade the draft pick who turned out to be Desmond Bane will always “make the skin crawl” of fans and front-office personnel.
“Missing out (Bane’s) production would make almost any team in the league upset, especially one like the Celtics that actively worked to rid themselves of it before ever getting a real taste,” Nilon said before going on to say, “For both fans and members of the franchise, the ‘what could have been’ mentality when it comes to Bane is one that will undoubtedly make the skin crawl.”
Nilon was replying to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, who stated the Cs have “certainly been kicking themselves ever since” the game.
“Bane, the No. 30 pick, would have been the Celtics’ third player added to their first-round haul at the 2020 draft after previously selecting Aaron Nesmith (No. 14) and Payton Pritchard (No. 26),” Buckley said before adding, “He would also have pushed them closer to the luxury tax.”
“So, the Shamrocks flipped him for a pair of future second-round picks, and they’ve surely been kicking themselves ever since.”
Desmond Bane may have become the Boston Celtics’ Aaron Nesmith.
Missing Bane is a big if, but the Celtics have won enough games in the last three seasons to warrant the decision.
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Even if Bane had stayed, he’d most likely be on the bench right now. Perhaps he would have developed into another Aaron Nesmith, who thrived only after leaving Boston and being stuck behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Overall, things will most likely turn out well for Boston. The same cannot be said about the Memphis Grizzlies.
Even without Ja Morant, the Grizzlies value Bane as a No. 1 option. Their league-worst first week of the season is little compensation for the $207 million committed to him over the next five years, until 2028-29.
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