Danny Ainge Stays On Script

by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 21, 2009 9:58 AM EDT in News/Links Comment 23 comments

Celtics president Danny Ainge said yesterday that he doesn’t expect to make a trade during Thursday’s draft, and any roster additions will likely come via free agency, which starts in July. The Celtics have only the 58th pick in the draft, in the second round. "We have nothing close to happening,’’ Ainge said. "I would guess that there would not be anything [on draft night]. We like the free agent market of veteran players much more than we like the draft.’’ On the wild trade rumors concerning some Celtics, Ainge said, "I just assume all of them are jokes when I read some of the junk out there and some of the things involving us that seem invented out of the blue sky.’’

That sounds convincing and fairly unequivocal, right? Well, let's remember Danny's words immediately prior to the Ray Allen deal:

"I'm expecting to make our pick," said Ainge. "I'm excited about the fifth pick. I think the fifth pick can be an exciting part of our team this year and an important piece of our future."

When asked why he did not expect to trade the pick, Ainge added, "I felt that way from the beginning, that trades are hard to come by. We value our fifth pick. We value the players on the team. There's nothing that we're close to doing."

(June 28, 2007 Boston Herald)

... Ainge said the Celts aren't close to anything major right now, and their plate is certainly not as full as some reports would have you believe.

``The only annoying thing is that you guys all have to think that they're true and try to track me down and find out my opinions on them,'' he said of the alleged trade scenarios involving the Celts. ``Other than that, I think they're fun. What I think is really fun is that you guys actually believe them and the fans actually believe them.

(June 28, 2007 Boston Globe)

So, there you have it.

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I bet Danny cleans Wyc's clock in poker too.

by clover on Jun 21, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

AINGE, AS ALWAYS,

is full of crap. He might make and deal and he might not, but to believe him is naive.

by correcttitle on Jun 21, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Danny's words definitely make a lot of sense...

I whole-heartedly agree that the best way to improve the team this season is via free agency. However, I’m not going to be shocked at all if he buys a mid- to late first rounder.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 21, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ditto.

by CoachBo on Jun 21, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tritto

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Jun 22, 2009 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The one thing

I don’t believe, is Danny will do nothing.

by Little D on Jun 21, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so, we wait and see. danny is shrewd and has some cards to play, but who wants to play with him?

by nazzbo on Jun 21, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Buying a Pick

I see us buying a pick, late first maybe early second. Possibly picking someone who can stay in Europe like Calathes or Beaubois.

by Evantime34 on Jun 21, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There’s really two elements involved this summer:

1. Making the team right for a run this coming year – hence Free Agency.
2. Get a pick in the draft that can develop (buy a pick, or package a player or players to move up).

The first point is a given. Danny is definitely going to go after free agents to fill holes.

The second point is for the future. Whomever we draft will have ZERO impact on this team this year.

Now there might be some team that will result in a huge trade, but I doubt it. We cannot get back in value what we give up in the starting five.

by amenhotep04 on Jun 21, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Those stubborn Leopard spots

The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others.

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jun 21, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW - That grin on his face pretty much tells The Truth about Danny anyway

Ask Toine

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jun 21, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You can’t be a “media-friendly” general manager, and not be disingenuous – not if you’re going to truly represent your team’s best interests. The only alternative is to say nothing, and be portrayed as an arrogant tight-lipped son of a gun by the press. Take your pick.

by no kidding on Jun 21, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Bill Bellichick might select both!

by clover on Jun 21, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tight lipped

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jun 21, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bellichick is so tight-lipped

I’m not even sure he has lips—they’re more like mouth edges.

by clover on Jun 21, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last time he did this, he got an all star

Must mean he as a trade in place for Lebron.

by Wide Load on Jun 21, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or Chris Bosh!

by VtCeltics on Jun 21, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Bosh???

If he got Chris Bosh, I’d fall out of the couch and spill my wing sauce.

by correcttitle on Jun 21, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deja Vu All Over Again

I still think Ainge’s target is Chris Paul. Probably won’t happen, but you never know.

I agree, though, that the free agent market is stronger than this year’s draft after you get past the first two picks.

by Brickowski on Jun 21, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chris Paul

makes sense as the “max contact” player that Wyc was alluding to also. Hard to believe that the Hornets would ever, ever move him but one never knows.

by celty86 on Jun 22, 2009 6:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Danny is full of crap and thinks the fans are idiots. Thank god he is friends with Kevin McHale.

by Raef on Jun 22, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eh...

I don’t buy the “friends with Kevin McHale” thing. Danny made the Twolves a heck of an offer, which seems to be working out okay for both teams.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 22, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, and IMHO if Jefferson had not gone down with a season-ending injury, McHale would still be coaching the Wolves. They were playing very well until that happened.

by Brickowski on Jun 22, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs