Danny Ainge acknowledges trade chatter, says he's exploring all pathways

ESPNBOSTON
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge acknowledged Thursday that he’s actively involved in trade discussions and, while he wouldn’t talk specifically about rumors surrounding team captain Rajon Rondo, didn’t shy away from addressing topics like what he might be pursuing in trades and how his team might navigate a Rondo-less future.

Sources told ESPN.com Wednesday that the Celtics are engaged in substantive talks with the Dallas Mavericks about a potential Rondo trade, while also holding discussions with numerous other teams.

During his weekly call to Boston sports radio WBZ-FM, Ainge said Thursday that his philosophies on how to return the Celtics to contender status haven’t changed, even as Rondo's reemergence in trade rumors runs counter to Ainge’s insistence that the team sees Rondo in its long-term future.

“Listen, my job is to look at all the different ways and pathways for us to be a championship team,” Ainge told the Toucher & Rich morning show. “This is the time of the year that there’s a lot of talking and calling that’s going on. Part of my job is to explore the variety of ways there are to get us to our next championship, And that’s all we’re trying to do -- just build a winner.”

Ainge noted that talks typically pick up this time of year when players acquired in the offseason become eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. He expects the rumor mill to crank straight through the trade deadline in mid-February and said Boston is both receiving and making calls about ways to tinker with its roster.

“This is a hot rumor time, and there’s a hot rumor time that comes up in the middle of February,” said Ainge. “But from the middle of December to the middle of February, there’s a lot of discussion amongst teams that are trying to tweak their teams in whatever direction they sort of feel their team needs to go. Yeah, we’re having a lot of discussions just like we do every year."

Added Ainge: “When you receive calls, you might not find a partner and a deal that’s satisfactory, so you try to get two or three or four teams involved,” said Ainge. “That’s where a lot of the rumors get started, and misconstrued -- what the purposes of each team is -- so sometimes you’re calling on behalf of doing a deal that’s part of another deal. And so the accuracy of some of the rumors aren’t there. I expect a lot of trade rumors over the next couple months for sure.”

Ainge was asked what this year’s Celtics roster might be capable of if Rondo wasn’t on the team.

“I don’t know. That’s a good question,” said Ainge. “Rajon has been a big part of our team, not just this year but for the past years, as we know. We haven’t really seen what [rookie guard] Marcus Smart has been able to do yet because he hasn’t been healthy, he’s got such a shortage of minutes and opportunities to play with the ankle sprain. So it’s a good question. I don’t think any of us know the answer to that.”

So what might Ainge be looking for in trades?

“That’s easy, let’s get stars,” said Ainge. “Everybody wants a star first. In lieu of getting a star, because there’s very few of those, there’s not very many to go around to the 30 teams, the next option is draft picks, which you hope to be able to find the next stars in the draft. Not every draft is going to be as successful, but you need swings of the bat, so that would be next. Then, the next probably best thing is good, solid players. Not stars, but good players. Guys that can play a role on a team.”

Ainge was asked how long Celtics fans can endure a rebuilding process that already feels tedious after little more than a season trying to build.

“I think Celtics fans want to see good team basketball and winning basketball,” said Ainge. “I think we need to start moving in that direction. We need to win; play the game the right way and win. I don’t know if stars are required. Winning is what’s important. It’s assumed in the NBA that stars are needed and that’s true, but there have been successful teams without a star. But I have every intention of continuing try to find stars. And when I say stars, I mean great players that have a positive affect on winning, not stars that people want to watch, but stars that help winning basketball because I think that’s what Celtics fans want -- to win.”

112288

WOW

I have not heard talk like that since listening to politicians on MEET THE PRESS!

112288

Ainge is an interesting character.

I'm not sure I'd want to play poker with him.

It looks like by the time he's done he's going to leave a far bigger footprint as an NBA GM than he ever did as an NBA guard or his short stint as an MLB third baseman. I'm not sure where he's going with this, but if he can re-make this team into a contender with the cards we currently hold, he's going to start getting some HOF buzz as an exec.

They have lost too many games they should have won, Rondo was not a factor at the end of many games, and his attitude has not been what it should be.

I have never been in favor of trading Rondo. but, he is making it very difficult for Ainge not to listen to these offers. He wants out. Period. I do not care what he says. He will be gone by the end of the week, or not at all. These rumors just eat a team apart. Rondo was seen leaving the TD Garden with Ainge and Wyc last night, no interview with press. Something is definitely going on.

Oh well, we can't make fun on Philly any more, because that is going to be us soon.

Rosalie

RosalieTCeltics wrote:They have lost too many games they should have won, Rondo was not a factor at the end of many games, and his attitude has not been what it should be.

I have never been in favor of trading Rondo. but, he is making it very difficult for Ainge not to listen to these offers. He wants out. Period.  I do not care what he says. He will be gone by the end of the week, or not at all. These rumors just eat a team apart. Rondo was seen leaving the TD Garden with Ainge and Wyc last night, no interview with press. Something is definitely going on.

Oh well, we can't make fun on Philly any more, because that is going to be us soon.

Rosalie

Marcus mentioned last night on twitter that someone asked Rondo what he thought of all the trade rumors his response.......


"What rumors?"

guess he has a sense of humor.

beat

I think Rondo is gone. In the game last night, in which he played well, he made 4 or 5 passes that were big time showboat material, but showboating wasn't needed. I think mentally he has checked out on playing with the Celtics.

Bob,

I had the same thoughts......it felt like it was his last game and those moves were like a tip of his cap to Boston Celtic fans.......god I hope I am wrong.

112288

Funny, I noticed the same thing. For a while, I thought he had seen footage of Cousy and was trying some of The Cooz' stuff. Especially when he whipped the ball around his back (no dribble) in the middle of a drive. The only difference was that Cousy would make the shot. I have no idea whether his gyrations were related to any possible trade, but it was definitely a change in his on-court behavior.

Sam