That’s fair re Butler/Richardson. For Fultz, you’re probably right.Covington/Josh Richardson bit is somewhat unfair - he turned Covington into Jimmy Butler, but that situation went sideways much the same way as Kyrie, and then he salvaged it by getting Richardson. I get we grade things by results mostly, but the process there was fine. Butler was a good basketball fit, and they came within a legendary Kawhi shot of taking down the eventually champs.
Horford is a hard-to-trade deal, but what was he going to do with that cap space? It couldn't be rolled over due to the Simmons extension anyway. What's the opportunity cost there?
And I'm not sure how low they really sold on Fultz. What do you think Orlando could get for Fultz now? A high 2nd rounder? I think a team would be nuts to trade a 1st for him, so that's roughly the return Philly got anyway.
The one move I think was a mistake at the time was Tobias Harris. The rest looks like competently executed moves and making the best of a bit of a mess of a roster. It looks like it may not work out, but I'm not seeing the obvious alternatives. I'd grade his tenure at a B so far.
Harris was an asset overpay at the time, and looks worse now.
Re Horford: if the reasoning for a signing is “the space is going away anyway”, the last thing you do is tie it up in a heavily depreciating asset. Even Reddick, while also old, would have been a shorter team deal that doubles as a matching salary. Horford’s salary can’t be used to upgrade in that slot, because he’s such an albatross. Which isn’t shocking for a 34 yo who had already started to have issues staying fresh/healthy with the Celtics.