Ainge to address the media at 9:30 AM

[Jon]

Ainge:  "The free agent mid-level talent pool is fairly deep, but based on our needs it may not be that deep."

Translation: Cs have bumped up against the luxury tax limit and owners are unwilling to add more salary.  If true, this will be a summer where the "big signing" is Dahntay Jones at the LLE.

Haha, yeah.  I mean, if the mid-level talent pool is deep, and we have needs at the backup 1,3,4 and 5, how is it not deep based upon our needs?

yea that line got to me too. How can a FA pool be deep and the team have major holes to fill, but "not deep enough for us"?

Unless it came out wrong and he simply meant that the MLE can't satisfy all four of those needs.  Personally, I'd be on Cloud 9 if Ainge somehow landed Dice and Hill with the split MLE.  

[timepiece33]

It is kinda sad that he has to address the media.  Lots of erroneous reports out there.  I know it is a business, but it can impact kids like Rondo AND Jefferson. 

[winsomme]

Ainge:  "The free agent mid-level talent pool is fairly deep, but based on our needs it may not be that deep."

Translation: Cs have bumped up against the luxury tax limit and owners are unwilling to add more salary.  If true, this will be a summer where the "big signing" is Dahntay Jones at the LLE.

Haha, yeah.  I mean, if the mid-level talent pool is deep, and we have needs at the backup 1,3,4 and 5, how is it not deep based upon our needs?

yea that line got to me too. How can a FA pool be deep and the team have major holes to fill, but "not deep enough for us"?

Unless it came out wrong and he simply meant that the MLE can't satisfy all four of those needs.  Personally, I'd be on Cloud 9 if Ainge somehow landed Dice and Hill with the split MLE.  

he's probably letting us know that the most ideal FAs at our biggest needs are looking for more than the MLE.

Gortat, Varejao, ZaZa, Ariza, etc...

that's why we're hearing names like Jones and Ross right now.

hopefully the guys like Hill and Dice really want a run at a Title.

[celticmaestro]

Ainge:  "The free agent mid-level talent pool is fairly deep, but based on our needs it may not be that deep."

Translation: Cs have bumped up against the luxury tax limit and owners are unwilling to add more salary.  If true, this will be a summer where the "big signing" is Dahntay Jones at the LLE.

Haha, yeah.  I mean, if the mid-level talent pool is deep, and we have needs at the backup 1,3,4 and 5, how is it not deep based upon our needs?

I think what he is trying to say is that if there were more high quality MLE type players then eventually some would have to take less than the full MLE because the teams spending a full MLE would dry up. That would in turn allow them to swoop in and get some bargains.

I really hope Danny is proactive this year and not reactive like last year because if he does wait around trying to find bargains, there isn't going to be anyone left worth paying.

Are you trying to say Patrick O'Bryant wasn't a bargain?

[crownsy]

It is kinda sad that he has to address the media.  Lots of erroneous reports out there.  I know it is a business, but it can impact kids like Rondo AND Jefferson. 

which is probley why he did it.

I don't believe for a minute that discussions haven't happened with teams regarding trading for rondo. That's just kicking the tires, and that's good business. Maybe something giant shakes loose that you move on, more likely nothing happens.

By laughing off the rumors here though, he props up rondo's feeling that the team trusts him and the media is just making news. Good move by ainge.

[winsomme]

It is kinda sad that he has to address the media.  Lots of erroneous reports out there.  I know it is a business, but it can impact kids like Rondo AND Jefferson. 

here's the thing, though. From what people are reporting here, Danny shot down the idea that he (or the team) is somehow dissatisfied with Rondo or how he handles himself.

but that part has always been speculation on the part of the media.

he did acknowledge that he has inquired about the top picks but that it hasn't gotten very far...and there's no way that Rondo's name didn't come up in discussions if he's inquiring about top picks.

[CoachBo]

It's not really hard to understand what he meant.. if you really want to know that is.

If someone is going to make the C's better at MLE or below we'll sign him.  If not be happy you have a team that if healthy will represent the Eastern Conference in the finals. 

part of keeping a team built around mid-30s vets healthy is having depth.

if you don't have depth, it increases the chances of injuries that will keep you from reaching the goal of the Finals.

The "we're already good enough to win it all" position is a huge, huge gamble IMO. We need quality reinforcements.

Not to mention inaccurate. We are NOT good enough to win it all as it stands right now. We MUST have a backup 3 for Pierce, or you're going to see the same product from him in the playoffs - if he lasts that long without going down. A backup 5 also is a necessity if we plan to contend.

And please, save the nonsense that Tony Allen will finally come around. It isn't going to happen. And no, Mikki Moore and Bob Swift won't help, either.

Good point about building a team around older players. Where this notion that we can win a title without a bench comes from escapes me. It wasn't going to happen healthy this year, and it's not going to happen next year.

[Birdbrain]

From common sense, knowing the C's cap situation, and talent on the team and he actually said it.

I love that Ainge tells people what they heard was wrong but, he's the one fibbing...  Whatever floats you boat I guess.

[winsomme]

It is kinda sad that he has to address the media.  Lots of erroneous reports out there.  I know it is a business, but it can impact kids like Rondo AND Jefferson. 

which is probley why he did it.

I don't believe for a minute that discussions haven't happened with teams regarding trading for rondo. That's just kicking the tires, and that's good business. Maybe something giant shakes loose that you move on, more likely nothing happens.

By laughing off the rumors here though, he props up rondo's feeling that the team trusts him and the media is just making news. Good move by ainge.

but is that what he did? did he laugh off the rumors or the reason behind the rumors?

I was watching Chad Ford report this DET rumor this morning, I find it hard to believe that the whole thing was made up.

the thing that i think the media is wrong about is the idea that they are looking to move Rondo because he is too "mouthy" and difficult to handle. that part of this whole thing is absurd. If anything, Doc is the perfect guy to deal with a headstrong player like Rajon and the proof is the great results he has gotten with him so far.

what is far more likely being a reason for shopping Rondo is that his value is at its highest and he is up for a new contact soon. It's much plausible that Danny is thinking he could sell high on Rajon and then have the money that would go to Rondo in a contract extension to use in the 2010 FA market....

that doesn't mean he's trying to run Rondo out of town or wouldn't be perfectly happy with him as our  PG next year. it's just that, as we know, Danny is ALWAYS looking to make moves. That's why we call him Trader Danny.

[crownsy]

From common sense, knowing the C's cap situation, and talent on the team and he actually said it.

I love that Ainge tells people what they heard was wrong but, he's the one fibbing...  Whatever floats you boat I guess.

the talent on the team? we are talking about adding bench players with the MLE and LLE, not trying to upgrade the starting 5.

TA is a disastrous. surely a better backup 2/3 is available.

who is our super talented back up 4/5 with height? or period if BBD leaves?

Who is our back up PG that has this talent level thats under contract?


Your right that our starting 5 is supremely talented, but most of the bench is below league average talent for backups.

We have major holes on the bench, more so if house opts out and BBD gets a big offer.

If ainge is using the same common sense in your post, that our bench is solid and only major upgrades are worth our time, we won't be seeing banner 18 next year either.

[Roy Hobbs]

From common sense, knowing the C's cap situation, and talent on the team and he actually said it.

What did he actually say?

"The free agent mid-level talent pool is fairly deep, but based on our needs it may not be that deep."

How does that translate to the following?:

If someone is going to make the C's better at MLE or below we'll sign him.  If not be happy you have a team that if healthy will represent the Eastern Conference in the finals. 

Where does Danny say to expect us to use the full MLE if it will make the team better?  In fact, Danny seems to be dampening expectations by saying that those MLE players might not be a good fit for us.

[crownsy]

It is kinda sad that he has to address the media.  Lots of erroneous reports out there.  I know it is a business, but it can impact kids like Rondo AND Jefferson. 

which is probley why he did it.

I don't believe for a minute that discussions haven't happened with teams regarding trading for rondo. That's just kicking the tires, and that's good business. Maybe something giant shakes loose that you move on, more likely nothing happens.

By laughing off the rumors here though, he props up rondo's feeling that the team trusts him and the media is just making news. Good move by ainge.

but is that what he did? did he laugh off the rumors or the reason behind the rumors?

I was watching Chad Ford report this DET rumor this morning, I find it hard to believe that the whole thing was made up.

the thing that i think the media is wrong about is the idea that they are looking to move Rondo because he is too "mouthy" and difficult to handle. that part of this whole thing is absurd. If anything, Doc is the perfect guy to deal with a headstrong player like Rajon and the proof is the great results he has gotten with him so far.

what is far more likely being a reason for shopping Rondo is that his value is at its highest and he is up for a new contact soon. It's much plausible that Danny is thinking he could sell high on Rajon and then have the money that would go to Rondo in a contract extension to use in the 2010 FA market....

that doesn't mean he's trying to run Rondo out of town or wouldn't be perfectly happy with him as our  PG next year. it's just that, as we know, Danny is ALWAYS looking to make moves. That's why we call him Trader Danny.

yes, in this interview, ainge did laugh off the rondo trade rumors. he denied any trade talk involving rondo, and flat out said they love him and wouldn't trade him.

that in no way, shape, or form means they didn't talk about it.

[Cman]

what is far more likely being a reason for shopping Rondo is that his value is at its highest and he is up for a new contact soon.

I think the second part of your statement is telling.  Rondo is up for a contract extension, and by making calls and talking trades with other teams Danny gets an idea of what would be fair value for Rondo.  It is clear he is not a max contract player if Detroit balks and Memphis balks (depending on what you believe).  

[winsomme]

From common sense, knowing the C's cap situation, and talent on the team and he actually said it.

I love that Ainge tells people what they heard was wrong but, he's the one fibbing...  Whatever floats you boat I guess.

the talent on the team? we are talking about adding bench players with the MLE and LLE, not trying to upgrade the starting 5.

TA is a disastrous. surely a better backup 2/3 is available.

who is our super talented back up 4/5 with height? or period if BBD leaves?

Who is our back up PG that has this talent level thats under contract?


Your right that our starting 5 is supremely talented, but most of the bench is below league average talent for backups.

We have major holes on the bench, more so if house opts out and BBD gets a big offer.

If ainge is using the same common sense in your post, that our bench is solid and only major upgrades are worth our time, we won't be seeing banner 18 next year either.

yeah, our bench is beyond thin right now.

Eddie (if he takes his option)
TA
Walker
JR
Pruitt (if we pick him up)
Scals

[Jon]

It's not really hard to understand what he meant.. if you really want to know that is.

If someone is going to make the C's better at MLE or below we'll sign him.  If not be happy you have a team that if healthy will represent the Eastern Conference in the finals. 

part of keeping a team built around mid-30s vets healthy is having depth.

if you don't have depth, it increases the chances of injuries that will keep you from reaching the goal of the Finals.

The "we're already good enough to win it all" position is a huge, huge gamble IMO. We need quality reinforcements.

True.  Though I'd be OK with a strict minutes limit on the Big Three until playoff time, record be [dang]ed.  Even if the C's limited Pierce, Allen, and KG to 30 minutes a game and added no one this offseason, they'd still be good enough to win 55-60 games and get a top 3 seed.  

Now I really hope they get some solid FAs and make a run at the Bulls regular season wins record; however, if that's not in the cards, I'd take a 3 seed, a well rested Big Three, and Title #18.