Danny Ainge on WEEI (Sounds like he likes sullinger a lot)

[j804]

http://audio.weei.com/a/57943726/celtics-president-danny-ainge-with-the-big-show.htm

TP thx for link

[Yogi]

Rajon Rondo   - E'twaun Moore  - Draft pick
Avery Bradley - Ray Allen      - Mikael Pietrus
Paul Pierce   - Jeff Green     - JaJuan Johnson
Brandon Bass  - Chris Wilcox   - Sean Williams
Kevin Garnett - Greg Stiemsma  - Draft pick

Danny might be thinking... This team would be around the same payroll as last year.  Last year we were the 3rd best team in the league.  This team would be deeper.  More talented. Have more chemistry.  More continuity.  Training camp.  Practices.  Why not 18?

I think it'll look closer to this:
Rondo - Moore - FA
Bradley - Pietrus -
PP - Green
KG - Wilcox - JJJ
Camby/Krstic  - Steimsma
and 3 rookies that I don't think will see the floor at all.  
I think Ray and Bass get better contracts elsewhere.  Key to that bench is that Moore, Pietrus, Green and Wilcox can each play 2 positions.  I think Danny looks to get another vet PG (could be Dooling again).

I think that's pretty darned likely--except I don't expect Doc to allow Danny to bring more than two rookies through the door.  So probably one rookie big (and a rookie wing) and another FA big.

There's no way we're going into the season with Moore as the primary backup at PG.

There's no way that JaJuan Johnson is playing SF in any form or shape.

There's no way that no-one will make Jeff Green a MLE offer.

The last column has no positions. I would like to see
Rajon Rondo   - E'twaun Moore 
Avery Bradley - Ray Allen      - Mikael Pietrus  - John Jenkins
Paul Pierce   - Jeff Green     - Royce White
Brandon Bass  - Chris Wilcox   - Sean Williams   - JaJuan Johnson
Kevin Garnett - Greg Stiemsma  

With Rondo averaging close to 40 min a game, Moore will be fine.  I expect him to take the role of House/Nate/Delonte/Dooling.  We also have the Bird Rights for all those guys so we are not limited by cap space.

[Mencius]

so replace Bass' contract with Camby on a 1 or 2 yr deal

then trade both picks to move up for sullinger

PG: Rondo          / vet min
SG: Bradley        / Ray (3 mil)
SF: PP             / Green(7 mil)
PF: KG   (8 mil)   / Sullinger
 C: Camby(5 mil)  / Steamer

not bad at all,as long as camby can hold up.....

so you can compete for a title for a year or 2 and get all the young guys big game experience and then moving forward you could possibly have a young core of Rondo,Bradley,Green and Sullinger to either try to trade for a superstar or to sign one to join that pretty solid young core.

That's a really solid line-up and a tough out for anybody.  We'll contend for one more year, and those youngsters could turn out to be a pretty good core going forward.  I'd be very happy if that's what our summer nets us.  Another fun year next year.  And the best thing is, it's entirely possible and not some pipe dream.

[colincb]

After listening, if KG comes back, Danny said it's unlikely we're going to renounce our free agents.

[Evantime34]

After listening, if KG comes back, Danny said it's unlikely we're going to renounce our free agents.

Still I think there is a chance we re-sign our own for less than the price of their cap holds which could leave us with some space.

[colincb]

After listening, if KG comes back, Danny said it's unlikely we're going to renounce our free agents.

Still I think there is a chance we re-sign our own for less than the price of their cap holds which could leave us with some space.

Not really.  We have over $65MM in cap holds above and beyond the $34 million we'll be on the hook for already assuming we're making our picks (and excluding the MLE, BAE and minimum salary holds needed to get up to a roster of 13).  In any case to do what you think is possible, we'd have to renounce our free agents other than KG and as Fosberg noted in his take on the interview:

"...Ainge admitted that renouncing Garnett -- or any of Boston's big-name free agents such as Allen, Brandon Bass, or Jeff Green -- is unlikely. Ainge hinted that re-signing the team's own free agents, particularly with a slim pool of available bodies on the open market, might be the team's best approach this offseason. ..."

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8078525/danny-ainge-says-kevin-garnett-weighing-return-boston-celtics-retirement-other-options

[stylo617617]

sounds like there wont be much done again this season , i see jeff coming back & das all really , i'd be surprised if we can even get a guy like oj mayo we need another scorer tho so i hope we can but lets see what danny does

[j804]

I'm glad Danny finally put to rest the thought of using the amnesty on Pierce, we can not do the captain like that he's earned it to retire here in a year or two. Let him and KG ride off to the sunset in 2 years together. Their leadership and values they can teach to the young guns, the Celtic way is immeasurable.

[xmuscularghandix]

Sounds more like he was asked about Jared Sullinger and gave an answer... I heard the interview too and felt that he was just giving a basic analysis.

[colincb]

sounds like there wont be much done again this season , i see jeff coming back & das all really , i'd be surprised if we can even get a guy like oj mayo we need another scorer tho so i hope we can but lets see what danny does

They might have the MLE available to use and it's possible that it could be for as much as $5M.  I don't see Mayo going at that number though. A sign and trade for Ray, Bass, or Green is a slight possibility too.

[clover]

Sounds more like he was asked about Jared Sullinger and gave an answer... I heard the interview too and felt that he was just giving a basic analysis.

You're right.  He was asked about him and Austin Rivers.  Said he expected Rivers to go in the top 10.  Wasn't complimentary of the class overall in terms of being deep in future stars or the C's having a chance to draft a future star with their picks.  Said a possible future starter or good rotational player was essentially the best they could hope for.

[LarBrd33]

glad to know pretty much all my guesstimates were correct on this.  We're best off just re-signing everyone using bird rights and forgetting about cap space.  Glad to see he even mentioned Krstic's bird rights.  Seems like it's the only logical option here unless he's considering dumping Pierce's salary on another team (getting back a draft pick) or going after a big-name player (Dwight Howard for example).

Good luck, Danny.

[Snakehead]

Just love Danny Ainge.  Imagine if we had the GM situation of the Knicks or the old Cavs or the Magic.... ugh.  Great to know your GM will do anything to make your team better and knows what he's doing.

[clover]

Rajon Rondo   - E'twaun Moore  - Draft pick
Avery Bradley - Ray Allen      - Mikael Pietrus
Paul Pierce   - Jeff Green     - JaJuan Johnson
Brandon Bass  - Chris Wilcox   - Sean Williams
Kevin Garnett - Greg Stiemsma  - Draft pick

Danny might be thinking... This team would be around the same payroll as last year.  Last year we were the 3rd best team in the league.  This team would be deeper.  More talented. Have more chemistry.  More continuity.  Training camp.  Practices.  Why not 18?

I think it'll look closer to this:
Rondo - Moore - FA
Bradley - Pietrus -
PP - Green
KG - Wilcox - JJJ
Camby/Krstic  - Steimsma
and 3 rookies that I don't think will see the floor at all.  
I think Ray and Bass get better contracts elsewhere.  Key to that bench is that Moore, Pietrus, Green and Wilcox can each play 2 positions.  I think Danny looks to get another vet PG (could be Dooling again).

I think that's pretty darned likely--except I don't expect Doc to allow Danny to bring more than two rookies through the door.  So probably one rookie big (and a rookie wing) and another FA big.

There's no way we're going into the season with Moore as the primary backup at PG.

There's no way that JaJuan Johnson is playing SF in any form or shape.

There's no way that no-one will make Jeff Green a MLE offer.

Good point re: Rondo's backup.  I imagine they'll bring Dooling back at the vet minimum.

And true, I don't think 3J will be slotted in for the 3.  But if Danny bags a good rookie big man it might be tempting for Doc to try it here or there.

[Snakehead]

Rajon Rondo   - E'twaun Moore  - Draft pick
Avery Bradley - Ray Allen      - Mikael Pietrus
Paul Pierce   - Jeff Green     - JaJuan Johnson
Brandon Bass  - Chris Wilcox   - Sean Williams
Kevin Garnett - Greg Stiemsma  - Draft pick

Danny might be thinking... This team would be around the same payroll as last year.  Last year we were the 3rd best team in the league.  This team would be deeper.  More talented. Have more chemistry.  More continuity.  Training camp.  Practices.  Why not 18?

I think it'll look closer to this:
Rondo - Moore - FA
Bradley - Pietrus -
PP - Green
KG - Wilcox - JJJ
Camby/Krstic  - Steimsma
and 3 rookies that I don't think will see the floor at all.  
I think Ray and Bass get better contracts elsewhere.  Key to that bench is that Moore, Pietrus, Green and Wilcox can each play 2 positions.  I think Danny looks to get another vet PG (could be Dooling again).

I think that's pretty darned likely--except I don't expect Doc to allow Danny to bring more than two rookies through the door.  So probably one rookie big (and a rookie wing) and another FA big.

There's no way we're going into the season with Moore as the primary backup at PG.

There's no way that JaJuan Johnson is playing SF in any form or shape.

There's no way that no-one will make Jeff Green a MLE offer.

Good point re: Rondo's backup.  I imagine they'll bring Dooling back at the vet minimum.

And true, I don't think 3J will be slotted in for the 3.  But if Danny bags a good rookie big man it might be tempting for Doc to try it here or there.

Dooling seemed like such a strong locker room presence and he played pretty well I thought too, plenty of energy that's for sure.

But just for the locker room presence and his ability to be close with Rondo, I'd be dissapointed if he wasn't back next season.