Celtics president Danny Ainge: We are getting the player we want

Although I'll always feel he should have waited and could have gotten a little better deal than picks with strings attached, this is the statement from Ainge I wanted to see.  As a fan, what I want may not be there or even be realisitic, so that's just my speculation.  Now, as long as LA doesn't screw us up, we should be able to select the next piece of the roster puzzle.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick


ESPN.com news services


Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Monday that he believes the player the team would have selected with the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NBA draft will be there when the team picks at No. 3.

"I think even before the lottery, we've been evaluating these kids for a couple years, and we felt like it was very close with the top handful of players and we still feel that way," Ainge said in a conference call Monday after the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers formally announced their swap.

"We think there's a really good chance the player we'll take at [No.] 3 is the same player we would have taken at [No.] 1. So this was a great opportunity to acquire an impactful asset.

Ainge didn't rule out the possibility that Boston could utilize the No. 3 pick in a secondary move but seemed to hint that the team made this initial move simply because it believed it could add a future pick while still getting its desired player.

"We think it's very good value," Ainge said. "We think the 76ers obviously wanted this No. 1 pick. I have all the respect in the world for what business they've done over the last few years. I have a good relationship with Bryan Colangelo and Jerry Colangelo and I think they're doing a fantastic job there in Philadelphia. I think this is somebody they really wanted and stepped up to get. They have a lot of future assets and we're gonna get a player that we like in addition to some further assets."

Celtics fans have been leery about moving back, particularly with all the buzz about likely No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz. But Ainge repeatedly stressed that the Celtics are excited about this move.

"We feel like it's a jump-start for us," Ainge said. "We're getting the player we want. They're getting the player they want. And we'll get an additional player that we want in next year's draft, or the year after. So I think it's a good deal for both teams."

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin." Ainge also downplayed the suggestion that Boston might have aided what might be its primary Eastern Conference competition down the road and said Boston's front office was unanimous on the decision to move down.

What happens when Magic drafts Tatum? Do we go with Ball or Jackson or trade down for Isaac?

dboss

It's very "Red-like" to talk like that. Red did it with Cowens, and he did it with Bias (a name I haven't typed in 31 years!! - ugh)
If he can place a modicum of doubt in anyone's mind, he wins. "The player we want" tells us nothing........like Red.

Maybe it's been Isaac all along........in which case, I nominate myself as the local genius.....LOL!!

I have no question that trading rights to Fultz was in our best interests.  Heck, I've even been saying we need a SF and that's either Tatum or Jackson.

I don't think anyone from the Celtics staff said there was anything about Fultz they didn't want, just that there were other players of equal or better value in their eyes.  That may be due to position.  I don't think anything they learned about Fultz turned them away, so we may have always been looking at someone else first.

What does concern me is LA taking whomever it is we want, and the variables on the future picks we received in trade.  The more pressing current question being 'who is LA taking?'  If we truly felt that Fultz, Ball, Jackson and Tatum were fairly equal, and we just needed a SF over a guard, then we're in good shape.

Just my guess, but since LA has expressed interest in Jackson, and we aren't going with a guard or we would have kept the pick and taken Fultz, our guy is Tatum.  I'm very good with that.

NYCelt wrote:I have no question that trading rights to Fultz was in our best interests.  Heck, I've even been saying we need a SF and that's either Tatum or Jackson.

I don't think anyone from the Celtics staff said there was anything about Fultz they didn't want, just that there were other players of equal or better value in their eyes.  That may be due to position.  I don't think anything they learned about Fultz turned them away, so we may have always been looking at someone else first.

What does concern me is LA taking whomever it is we want, and the variables on the future picks we received in trade.  The more pressing current question being 'who is LA taking?'  If we truly felt that Fultz, Ball, Jackson and Tatum were fairly equal, and we just needed a SF over a guard, then we're in good shape.

Just my guess, but since LA has expressed interest in Jackson, and we aren't going with a guard or we would have kept the pick and taken Fultz, our guy is Tatum.  I'm very good with that.

NYCelt

Now that LAL has traded Russell signs do point to Ball. I was glad when I heard that. We do not know with 100% certainty that DA wants Tatum but given that Jackson did not visit with the Celtics, Tatum certainly looks like the choice.

Has Boston brought in any 2nd round level players for workouts?

dboss