DA: I believe KG, Doc Will Be Back and Rondo Will Be Ready for Camp.

[Kane3387]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4705003/ainge-optimistic-rivers-kg-will-return#more

Lots of optimism. 

Pressed further on what he believes Rivers will do next season, Ainge added, "I think Doc will be coaching the Boston Celtics."

"I do the same thing as I do with Doc: I give him some time away and I’ll touch base with KG probably sometime next week," said Ainge. "He’s put so much into the game, he invests as much as any player I’ve ever seen. And he just needs time to chill and contemplate his life and then we’ll talk at some future time. But I do anticipate that KG will play. Just like I did last year, I feel the same this year. I don’t know for sure, but we’ll know more in the next couple weeks."

"So far he looks good; him and [Leandro] Barbosa [whom the Celtics also lost to an ACL tear in February] have both been rehabbing and both have looked good from their ACL [surgeries]," said Ainge, who later added, "From everything our medical staff has told us, Rondo is doing great and he should be ready by training camp."

[indeedproceed]

If it wasn't Danny Ainge saying it Id think it was a poster being obnoxiously optimistic.

[Evantime34]

If it wasn't Danny Ainge saying it Id think it was a poster being obnoxiously optimistic.

I still have a feeling Ainge moves both of them.

[GreenFaith1819]

What about The Captain?

[CelticG1]

Kg has no trade clause and Doc is under conteact for another few years. Of course he expects them back.

Preparing cs fans for possibulity of no pierce

Please don't tell me KG is retiring because you are gonna be wrong again

[KGs Knee]

What about The Captain?

I'm going to choose to read between the lines, and say that Ainge must be planning on keeping Pierce too.  Why would he say he expects KG back, when he knows full-well that if Pierce is gone, so too is KG?

[SHAQATTACK]

KG. played good for his age and having a bad set of wheels.

Allen seemed fine this year,  I think KG can have his spurs operated on an come back and play at least as good as he did this year, which is better than anybody else the C's can afford to bring in.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

What about The Captain?

If KG is coming back, there's no way Danny doesn't pay Pierce. KG would almost certainly demand a trade if the captain isn't brought back.

[ManUp]

Sounds like he's planning on running it back...

[SHAQATTACK]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4705003/ainge-optimistic-rivers-kg-will-return#more

Lots of optimism. 

Pressed further on what he believes Rivers will do next season, Ainge added, "I think Doc will be coaching the Boston Celtics."

"I do the same thing as I do with Doc: I give him some time away and I’ll touch base with KG probably sometime next week," said Ainge. "He’s put so much into the game, he invests as much as any player I’ve ever seen. And he just needs time to chill and contemplate his life and then we’ll talk at some future time. But I do anticipate that KG will play. Just like I did last year, I feel the same this year. I don’t know for sure, but we’ll know more in the next couple weeks."

"So far he looks good; him and [Leandro] Barbosa [whom the Celtics also lost to an ACL tear in February] have both been rehabbing and both have looked good from their ACL [surgeries]," said Ainge, who later added, "From everything our medical staff has told us, Rondo is doing great and he should be ready by training camp."

hope DA finds a way to get Barbosa back......the lakers may be after him

[Tr1boy]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4705003/ainge-optimistic-rivers-kg-will-return#more

Lots of optimism. 

Pressed further on what he believes Rivers will do next season, Ainge added, "I think Doc will be coaching the Boston Celtics."

"I do the same thing as I do with Doc: I give him some time away and I’ll touch base with KG probably sometime next week," said Ainge. "He’s put so much into the game, he invests as much as any player I’ve ever seen. And he just needs time to chill and contemplate his life and then we’ll talk at some future time. But I do anticipate that KG will play. Just like I did last year, I feel the same this year. I don’t know for sure, but we’ll know more in the next couple weeks."

"So far he looks good; him and [Leandro] Barbosa [whom the Celtics also lost to an ACL tear in February] have both been rehabbing and both have looked good from their ACL [surgeries]," said Ainge, who later added, "From everything our medical staff has told us, Rondo is doing great and he should be ready by training camp."

hope DA finds a way to get Barbosa back......the lakers may be after him

He will bring him back. He said it before and bringing it up again now, definitely shows he is committed to bring him back. And with a chance what he showed he can do, he will be signed for alot more than bare min. Maybe 2 years at 2.5 each year.  And i see Barbosa coming back here first than going anywhere else, like the hated lakers team.

Danny from what it looks like, wants to go for another run. Pierce will be brought back, overpaid but he will fill in seats, especially if the org can go on a deep run into the playoffs.

The way i see things transpiring will be Danny calling Kg, Kg asking if PP is coming back and how else will Danny ammo the team to prepare for 2014 championship run. Then unless KG is the first one to say he is done, Pierce will gladly comeback (at 15 mil, who wouldn't) , Rondo, Sully hopefully healthy and one more attempt at a title run with everyone on board.  Even without KG/PP, in general i think the celtics could make 7th or 8th place. Adding these two vets is like adding ammo for the playoffs.

Lineup i envision for 2013-2014 team

Starting lineup - C:Kg PF:Green SF:Pierce SG:AB PG:Rondo
Bench - C: Sully PF: Bass SF: FA signing SG: Terry PG: Barbosa
Extra - T Will, Crawford, Melo, Draft pick

Especially obtaining a key SF that can score points/defend will be key for the team. Someone like Pietrus can be prob brought back cheap

[WeMadeIt17]

Bring Pierce, Jeff, KG, and Rondo back. Anyone else is subject to be involved in a massive trade. I hope Danny will get someone to bite on any combo of these guys.

Bass,Terry,Lee,Crawford,AB,and Twill. Try to package a few of them together and get something. I just don't know what that A. Gets us and B. If it could give us something to put us over the top.

I firmly believe that Danny is going to get a 3rd team involved in something and get the Celtics a big man. I think thats what KG is gonna say. I do believe we can get AL Jefferson from Utah. They could sign and trade him to us. Bass and a few other could go there. They need help at the PG/SG spot where we could throw in Crawford/Lee/AB. So again remains to be seen. BUT i hope we get a legit center for KG so he can move back to the 4 and also give us a decent low post threat.

[SparzWizard]

What did I tell ya, the "Rondo-early return doubters"...I did say he's gonna be playing in the season opener. 

As for the rest of the news...I can only assume Pierce is not gonna return since Ainge didn't mention him.

Hope to see some old and new Celtic faces in November!

[bdm860]

First thing I thought when I read that was all Ainge said was that he "anticipates Garnett will play," but doesn't mean he'll play for the Celtics.  Can't trust that "snake" Danny 

[LooseCannon]

Does that sound like there is a decent chance Barbosa will return to the Celtics for the minimum when healthy?