BOSTON — Danny Ainge’s infatuation with Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant goes all the way to the March before 2007's NBA draft. At the time, Boston's GM was fined $30,000 by the NBA for sitting alongside Durant’s mother during the 2007 Big 12 Tournament while scouting the Texas prospect.
The Celtics finished with the NBA's second-worst recordback in 2006-07, putting them in prime position to land the 6'10'' forward or Ohio State big man Greg Oden in the months leading up to the NBA lottery. Oden was the consensus No. 1 pick in the eyes of most draft experts, but not Ainge, according to his son and Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge.
"I was in the draft room, and they would have taken Durant [over Oden],” Ainge said last June about Boston’s draft board in 2007. “I did have some inside information there."
Armed with just the No. 5 overall pick after the ping-pong balls failed to fall their way in the draft lottery, the Celtics missed their chance to add the prized scorer. Instead, Durant was taken second by the Seattle SuperSonics.
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Article written by Brian Robb
Boston Celtics’ Pitch for Kevin Durant in Free Agency Is Stronger Than You Think
March 31st, 2016 by Brian Robb Leave a reply »
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