EIGHT THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER AS CELTICS ENTER CRUCIAL, 'BIGGER' OFFSEASON

MIKE PETRAGLIA

WEEI

Thu, 05/05/2016 - 3:20pm

Danny Ainge is looking toward a busy summer. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

WALTHAM - Now the real work begins for Danny Ainge.

With three picks in the first round, eight overall, a lottery pick and more money to spend on free agents than ever before, the Celtics president of basketball operations is in a great spot. But to get from 48 wins to contending for an NBA title next year is probably going to mean spending a lot less time on the golf course and a lot more time on the practice court and in his practice facility office.

"We look forward to every offseason," Ainge said this week as pre-draft workouts began in Waltham. "This offseason is bigger. My expectations are high this offseason, and yet I also know that it takes good fortune. We need the ping-pong balls to bounce our way to give us the best opportunity."

As would-be NBA hopefuls stroll into the Celtics' practice facility to work out and try to impress Ainge, son Austin and coach Brad Stevens, there's plenty to keep in mind this spring and summer. Specifically, the Celtics have a lot on their plate to address to get to that next level Brad Stevens was talking about when they lost Game 6 to the Hawks.

Ainge will no doubt thumb through his notes from 2007 when he executed a draft night deal that landed him Ray Allen. A month later, he finished a deal with old pal Kevin McHale to bring Kevin Garnett to town. Both were executed without signing a big free agent. The difference this year is that Ainge has the money and flexibility to add a big free agent.

With the help of the Celtics president of basketball operations, here's a guide to what's on the mind of the team executives who hope to put together a team that will have a chance at Banner 18 next June.

First things, first, what to do with all the draft picks?

The Celtics have eight picks in the two-round draft on June 23. They have three first-round picks, including Brooklyn's lottery pick. With Isaiah Thomas trying to work his magic in New York as the team's leprechaun, there's a 15.6 percent chance Boston winds up with the first pick. Overall, the Celtics have a better than 50 percent chance of landing in the top three spots in the draft.

Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke), Jamaal Murray (Kentucky), Dragan Bender (Croatia) and Buddy Hield (Oklahoma). Those are all names high at the top of Danny Ainge's wish-list.

How might that change if Ainge thinks he has a shot at Kevin Durant?

"The problem with the draft is we don't know what's gonna happen in free agency," Ainge said when meeting with the media for a pre-draft workout session. "So we can't start free agency until after the draft and so we have to just plan and see what our team needs first. We need to sort of first set our sights on trades and drafting is very important. We'll be looking at all the possibilities."

Should the Celtics consider trading their lottery pick for talent that can help them more now?

That's a serious question to consider if Ainge feels a 19-year-old Simmons, an 18-year-old Ingram or an 18-year-old Bender is not ready to play a major role on an NBA contender.

"It's always deep," Ainge said of the top of the first round. "I think the challenge is always finding the ones that separate themselves. But there's a lot of kids that are on the bubble of making it or not making it in the NBA. So we're looking for guys that are a fit for what we need, a fit for how we play and for those players that have a chance to be special.

"Whether we use that pick or whether we trade that pick, and in free agency, we have opportunities. And that's all we have. We have no guarantees of great things happening. We just have a lot of hope. And so we have a lot of work ahead of us, and we have to have plan A through Z. Usually it's more A through G, but we have A through Z this year just (something) to have an opportunity to upgrade our team."

After two playoff seasons and a jump from 40 to 48 wins in Brad Stevens' third season, are the Celtics really ahead of schedule?

"I don't know I don't really keep a schedule," Ainge said. "I just think we had a fun year. We didn't accomplish what we wanted to accomplish. I was a little bit disappointed in the last couple games of the playoffs but I thought it was a really fun year, a really exciting year. I enjoyed it and I think our fans enjoyed the spirit of our team, but we all want to be playing for more important things and go deeper in the playoffs and that's what we're still on a path to."

How different might the team look next fall?

Obviously, Ainge needs to seriously consider what to do with his own roster. Is there any scenario where he might be tempted to trade Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart or even Isaiah Thomas? With Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner all looking at potential free agency, might he bring back one or possibly all three?

"I have no sense of that. I have hope but I have no sense," Ainge said. "There are scenarios where our team could be better and significantly better and there are scenarios where we have younger players that are maybe not as good from a win record standpoint but with a development standpoint, with a much higher ceiling."

What is the urgency facing the Celtics this summer? How many fall back positions will Ainge need?

"There's plenty of urgency. Believe me we have plenty of urgency to try to do what our Plan A and our Plan B and our Plan C, but you really have to be careful if those don't come about in what you do with those assets. So it doesn't do any good to put a noose around our neck and say there's all this urgency. Brad wants to win, Isaiah wants to win, Avery wants to win. We all want to win and we all want to be contenders. That's everyone's objective, but we also have to be patient and do good deals and not do bad deals."

There's going to be plenty of chances to do deals. Here's just some of the potential free agents about to hit the market with the cap going from $70 million to $89 million: Kevin Durant, LeBron James (likely headed back to Cleveland), Andre Drummond, Hassan Whiteside, DeMar DeRozan and Al Horford. The Celtics have just over $27 million committed to their payroll next season. That gives them roughly $62 million to play with.

Does Ainge remember a time when he had this much flexibility, cap space, ability to have so many options?

"No, I don't think we've ever had cap space so this is a unique opportunity. And we have to be patient too. There's a lot of money around the league. A lot of teams have cap space with the new TV contracts kicking in. So we're looking forward to that opportunity in July."

As Thursday reminded us, the coaching carousel is a constant one in the NBA and even the very good coaches move on from teams. When Larry Bird opted not to bring Frank Vogel back, it was an interesting move to say the least. Six years with one team and a .560 winning percentage. He didn't get to the NBA finals and that's apparently the gold standard for Bird in Indy.

The Celtics don't have to worry about the coaching spot now with Brad Stevens, who will be entering the fourth season of a six-year, $22 million deal in Boston.

"He's done a magnificent job and I think that we've seen the development of a lot of our guys, especially Avery and Marcus have really developed," Ainge said. "We saw Terry late in the year, we saw some things that he can do. I think that he still has a lot more that he can do. I think that that's always a delicate balance, even in Brad's mind. It's tough. Veterans help you win, but I think that he did a really good job of picking the right spots and the right time to get guys real opportunities this year."

"I love Brad. You guys know how much I support him and enjoy being around him. He's been great for our franchise. I think he has a chance to be one of the best coaches ever if he decides to be an NBA coach for the rest of his life. I'm a big big fan. I think he's continuing to learn the game and learn the players and we're very very fortunate to have him as our coach."

112288

"I love Brad. You guys know how much I support him and enjoy being around him. He's been great for our franchise. I think he has a chance to be one of the best coaches ever if he decides to be an NBA coach for the rest of his life. I'm a big big fan. I think he's continuing to learn the game and learn the players and we're very very fortunate to have him as our coach."

what the heck is that?

kdp59 wrote:"I love Brad. You guys know how much I support him and enjoy being around him. He's been great for our franchise. I think he has a chance to be one of the best coaches ever if he decides to be an NBA coach for the rest of his life. I'm a big big fan. I think he's continuing to learn the game and learn the players and we're very very fortunate to have him as our coach."

what the heck is that?

It could be a thing called reality. People change, they look out for their own interests, they don't always do what you would like them to do, they may aspire for more. Some of that or none of that.

Maybe Brad thinks that being a NBA coach isn't the end goal, it is just a way station on the path of life. Brad has run an entire program in college, what's to say he doesn't want to do the same in the pros.

Of course, that is a lot of reading between the lines on my part.

gyso

I think this would fit into this thread.


Translating Danny Ainge's GM speak


http://www.celticsblog.com/2016/5/5/11605262/translating-danny-ainges-gm-speak

Jeff Clark wrote:

Danny Ainge is the master of using lots and lots of words without really saying much. So a writing gimmick I like to use is to translate his GM speak into words that fans can understand better.

Disclaimer: the block-quote words are actual quotes from him. My translations are (obviously) satire. Please don't sue me.

Expectations, urgency figure in Danny Ainge’s Celtics plans | Boston Herald

"My expectations are high this offseason, and yet I also know that it takes good fortune. We need the (draft lottery) ping-pong balls to bounce our way to give us the best opportunity, whether we use that pick or whether we trade that pick. And in free agency, we have opportunities, and that’s all we have. We have no guarantees of great things happening. We just have a lot of hope. And so we have a lot of work ahead of us, and we have to have plan A through Z. Usually it’s more A through G, but we have A through Z this year to have an opportunity to upgrade our team."

Translation: I have no idea what's going to happen. I do know that expectations are really high though. So if we succeed, I'm a genius. If we fail, I'm just going to have to say that things just didn't bounce our way, but we're going to be in great position to make a move next time ...and the next time, and the next...

Boston Celtics rumors 2016: Danny Ainge wants shot blocker, would be open to pleasing star target with other moves | masslive.com

"It was pretty incredible that we were the fourth-rated defense in the NBA without a shot blocker, really," Ainge said. "I mean, Amir (Johnson) does a pretty good job, but he's the only one that really provides length at the rim. And that's a real testament to our perimeter defenders. But that is one thing in the offseason that we will be looking for is somebody who can be more of a rim protector. At least a specialist."

Translation: It is pretty incredible that I've gone 3 years without landing a rim protector. I'm totally going to overspend for someone. Maybe even a knucklehead like Hassan Whiteside. Or maybe I'll roll the dice on Roy Hibbert on a reclamation project deal. That worked out with David Lee, right? Everything will be fine. Brad Stevens fixes everything. Except Boogie. Brad has threatened to quit and succeed Coach K at Duke if I trade for Boogie.

Celtics Head into Offseason with High Hopes | Boston Celtics

"Often when you're in the middle or the latter part of the first round, you don't get to evaluate fully the top players in the Draft," said Ainge. "But with eight picks in this year's draft, we have a full range of players that we have the opportunity to see. So our draft workouts will be much busier this year than ever before."

Translation: Hey GMs! Did you notice all the picks we have? Have I mentioned that I'm available by phone, text, email, DMs, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Google+, AOL IM, ICQ, and self-addressed, stamped envelopes? Let's chat!

Seriously, call me. I don't know what I'm going to do with all these picks. I was organizing my sock drawer (by day of the week) the other day and I found a couple second rounders in there. I tried to trade one to Hinkie the day after he quit, but Adam Silver wouldn't play along. Stern would have done it. Adam's no fun.

Green Street " Danny Ainge could be very busy this summer building:

‘We have a lot more things to trade, a lot more things to move’

"I’m not sure we have a Paul Pierce on our roster," Ainge said. "But I do think we have a lot more things to trade, a lot more things to move."

Translation: Call Paul Pierce. I miss having him on our roster. If he doesn't play a minute he'll still be a million times more valuable than James Young. Speaking of which, call the Sixers. We need need to move James Young.

Maybe we can put Young on Jared Sullinger's shoulders and put a really big overcoat on them like they do in cartoons. The Kings would totally trade for Jamed Sullyoung if I told them he was a unique international prospect.

Tweet:

Ainge: "We want to take the next step. The next step is the most challenging in our business... We're in position to do something."

Translation: I will overpay. You better gird your loins because I'm going to splash the pot with first rounders. I'm going to overpay till it hurts. But you know what? It doesn't matter because I won every deal for the last 3 years and I'm paying Isaiah Thomas just $6.8M next year, so we can afford to overpay.

What's that you say? Larry Bird fired Frank Vogel? Quick, get him on the phone. I just need to convince him that blowing up the team is his best option and our package of picks and players is totally worth giving up Paul George. Pull out my McHale file. I'll bet I can use a lot of the same notes from 2007. Just cross out Garnett and Jefferson and replace with George and Bradley. [rubs hands together furiously]

(end scene)

Some of the comments are just as good as the article:

(same article as above)

http://www.celticsblog.com/2016/5/5/11605262/translating-danny-ainges-gm-speak



I really hope Brad made that statement about Boogie.

Haha so true! He speaks like a lawyer, if he ever had to go to court for robbing the Nets blind they wouldn't get a thing out of him.
Uses more disclaimers than a hair growth product

we will continue to wander the wilderness.
young players don’t care about Celtic history anymore than the young care about the Kennedy murders.

gyso wrote:the young care about the Kennedy murders.

[/i]

I was thinking as I read this "hey since I was a kid i was always been interested in both Kennedy assaination, but then I realized how long ago that was and though.. yeah that's prolly true. Many young couldn't even name a kennedy.

gyso wrote:I think this would fit into this thread.


Translating Danny Ainge's GM speak


http://www.celticsblog.com/2016/5/5/11605262/translating-danny-ainges-gm-speak

Danny Ainge is the master of using lots and lots of words without really saying much. So a writing gimmick I like to use is to translate his GM speak into words that fans can understand better.

Disclaimer: the block-quote words are actual quotes from him. My translations are (obviously) satire. Please don't sue me.

Expectations, urgency figure in Danny Ainge’s Celtics plans | Boston Herald

"My expectations are high this offseason, and yet I also know that it takes good fortune. We need the (draft lottery) ping-pong balls to bounce our way to give us the best opportunity, whether we use that pick or whether we trade that pick. And in free agency, we have opportunities, and that’s all we have. We have no guarantees of great things happening. We just have a lot of hope. And so we have a lot of work ahead of us, and we have to have plan A through Z. Usually it’s more A through G, but we have A through Z this year to have an opportunity to upgrade our team."

Translation: I have no idea what's going to happen. I do know that expectations are really high though. So if we succeed, I'm a genius. If we fail, I'm just going to have to say that things just didn't bounce our way, but we're going to be in great position to make a move next time ...and the next time, and the next...

Boston Celtics rumors 2016: Danny Ainge wants shot blocker, would be open to pleasing star target with other moves | masslive.com

"It was pretty incredible that we were the fourth-rated defense in the NBA without a shot blocker, really," Ainge said. "I mean, Amir (Johnson) does a pretty good job, but he's the only one that really provides length at the rim. And that's a real testament to our perimeter defenders. But that is one thing in the offseason that we will be looking for is somebody who can be more of a rim protector. At least a specialist."

Translation: It is pretty incredible that I've gone 3 years without landing a rim protector. I'm totally going to overspend for someone. Maybe even a knucklehead like Hassan Whiteside. Or maybe I'll roll the dice on Roy Hibbert on a reclamation project deal. That worked out with David Lee, right? Everything will be fine. Brad Stevens fixes everything. Except Boogie. Brad has threatened to quit and succeed Coach K at Duke if I trade for Boogie.

Celtics Head into Offseason with High Hopes | Boston Celtics

"Often when you're in the middle or the latter part of the first round, you don't get to evaluate fully the top players in the Draft," said Ainge. "But with eight picks in this year's draft, we have a full range of players that we have the opportunity to see. So our draft workouts will be much busier this year than ever before."

Translation: Hey GMs! Did you notice all the picks we have? Have I mentioned that I'm available by phone, text, email, DMs, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Google+, AOL IM, ICQ, and self-addressed, stamped envelopes? Let's chat!

Seriously, call me. I don't know what I'm going to do with all these picks. I was organizing my sock drawer (by day of the week) the other day and I found a couple second rounders in there. I tried to trade one to Hinkie the day after he quit, but Adam Silver wouldn't play along. Stern would have done it. Adam's no fun.

Green Street " Danny Ainge could be very busy this summer building:

‘We have a lot more things to trade, a lot more things to move’

"I’m not sure we have a Paul Pierce on our roster," Ainge said. "But I do think we have a lot more things to trade, a lot more things to move."

Translation: Call Paul Pierce. I miss having him on our roster. If he doesn't play a minute he'll still be a million times more valuable than James Young. Speaking of which, call the Sixers. We need need to move James Young.

Maybe we can put Young on Jared Sullinger's shoulders and put a really big overcoat on them like they do in cartoons. The Kings would totally trade for Jamed Sullyoung if I told them he was a unique international prospect.

Tweet:

Ainge: "We want to take the next step. The next step is the most challenging in our business... We're in position to do something."

Translation: I will overpay. You better gird your loins because I'm going to splash the pot with first rounders. I'm going to overpay till it hurts. But you know what? It doesn't matter because I won every deal for the last 3 years and I'm paying Isaiah Thomas just $6.8M next year, so we can afford to overpay.

What's that you say? Larry Bird fired Frank Vogel? Quick, get him on the phone. I just need to convince him that blowing up the team is his best option and our package of picks and players is totally worth giving up Paul George. Pull out my McHale file. I'll bet I can use a lot of the same notes from 2007. Just cross out Garnett and Jefferson and replace with George and Bradley. [rubs hands together furiously]

(end scene)

gyso,

Did you write everything in bold?
I enjoyed the translations.
Very funny!

tjmakz wrote:gyso,

Did you write everything in bold?
I enjoyed the translations.
Very funny!

No, that was Jeff Clark over at CelticsBlog.com
I agree, it was funny.