Doc on WEEI @ 9 am

[MBunge]

Because after reading the interview transcript, it doesn't look like Doc wanted to leave (if he's telling the truth.)

It looked like Danny was hell bent on blowing the team up and pushing Doc, Pierce and KG out the door.

Let's get a couple of things straight.  If Doc had agreed to return to Boston, there's NO WAY that Pierce and KG get traded...at least not before the season starts.  And there's no evidence, indication or even credible speculation that Ainge or ownership wanted Doc gone.

This is what happened.

1.  Doc looked at this team and decided he didn't want to be here anymore.

2.  The Doc to Clippers talks were restarted.

3.  The deal went through.

4.  With Doc gone, Ainge decided to get the best deal he could for KG and Pierce.

That's what happened.

Mike

[badshar]

Because after reading the interview transcript, it doesn't look like Doc wanted to leave (if he's telling the truth.)

It looked like Danny was hell bent on blowing the team up and pushing Doc, Pierce and KG out the door.

Let's get a couple of things straight.  If Doc had agreed to return to Boston, there's NO WAY that Pierce and KG get traded...at least not before the season starts.  And there's no evidence, indication or even credible speculation that Ainge or ownership wanted Doc gone.

This is what happened.

1.  Doc looked at this team and decided he didn't want to be here anymore.

2.  The Doc to Clippers talks were restarted.

3.  The deal went through.

4.  With Doc gone, Ainge decided to get the best deal he could for KG and Pierce.

That's what happened.

Mike

Unless you saw all that yourself, there is no need to make definitive statements like that.

1. Doc could have looked at this team and wanted to make another run this upcoming year.

2. The Doc to Clippers talks might have restarted because Doc wanted to return but Ainge wanted to rebuild.

3. Ainge pushed for it and the deal went through.

4. With Doc gone, Ainge decided that the team had arrived to the point where it was better to start over and so he got the best deal he could for KG and Pierce while making sure that for all the did for this team, they get a good chance to win their much-deserved second ring.

[StartOrien]

Whats weird is Paul Pierce pretty much laid out the script for him

What do you mean?

I'm guessing the whole nobody wants to rebuild they just want to win championship thing.

Doc kinda skirted that during this whole thing. Especially his claims that it was just as much the celtics as him.

Exactly. He gave the perfect, honest response: He really wanted to stay in Boston, but absolutely didn't want to go through rebuild.

I just don't understand why Doc won't just say something like "I thought I was willing to rebuild, but when the time came I realized I really didn't want to go through that route."

It's completely understandable, and it ended up working out for us: We're probably better off with Stevens at the helm through a rebuild, and we got a late first round pick for him.

[European NBA fan]

What really happened (sorry for the hyperbole):

Everyone within the Celtics were on board adding the necessary players to become contenders, while noone really wanted to ride Pierce's and KG's last seasons out, if we were only pretenders.

Danny probably tried a lot of stuff, even the token approaching of Dwight Howard, but every franchise he called asked for Rondo and the half kingdom, while not offering enough to make the Celtics true contenders.

Danny talked about this with Pierce, KG, and Doc (one at a time). They all agreed, that it didn't look like the Celtics were going to win it all, moreso with Rondo coming back from a major injury. And Danny said to each of them: "Well when I talked to the Clippers they asked if they could get Doc and KG in a package. Obviously I said no, but if we are going to blow it up, I might convince them to take Pierce, too. And the three of you can ride off into the Hollywood sunset..." (Who says no to that?)

[gpap]

Because after reading the interview transcript, it doesn't look like Doc wanted to leave (if he's telling the truth.)

It looked like Danny was hell bent on blowing the team up and pushing Doc, Pierce and KG out the door.

Let's get a couple of things straight.  If Doc had agreed to return to Boston, there's NO WAY that Pierce and KG get traded...at least not before the season starts.  And there's no evidence, indication or even credible speculation that Ainge or ownership wanted Doc gone.

This is what happened.

1.  Doc looked at this team and decided he didn't want to be here anymore.

2.  The Doc to Clippers talks were restarted.

3.  The deal went through.

4.  With Doc gone, Ainge decided to get the best deal he could for KG and Pierce.

That's what happened.

Mike

And how do you know all that happened?

Do you have proof that all that took place because you seem awfully sure of yourself in a condescending tone in response to me.

[Mazingerz]

It would be agonizing to watch the same old offensive schemes and struggles if Doc were still here;

I don't get the fact that "Doc wanted to be here, BUT he does not want to rebuild"; It is obvious he skirted the question regarding the rebuilding process;

WEEI didnt even ask Doc why he was meddling in the proposed trade (Eric Bledsoe - don't trade him, I want to coach him blah blah blah); He was already dictating the team profile of the Clippers even when he still contrsctually obligated with the Celtics;

[celtics2]

Fact: Doc wanted to leave. For LA and for another chance at a title. Take responsabilities for your choices. I can't believe he's denying it.

So Doc wants another chance at a title. Maybe to make up for the one he blew while here.

[Clench123]

Doc and anybody believing him are full of ****.  Why would Danny Ainge offer him the contract he did if he wanted him out, knowing that rebuilding is in our near future?  Doc wanted out, plain and simple.  And I'm disappointed that he's denying this considering it is contrary to his known character.

[timpiker]

He can spin it any way he wants....but the fact of the matter is - DOC QUIT ON THE C'S.

Tell me this - if Doc WANTED to be here, think he would be?  Bet your a** he would be.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

A G.M. has to be part politician to work with other GM's and even Danny has said it was Doc's idea.


Quote
When we signed Doc to the highest-paid coaching contract in the NBA a couple years ago, we knew the ages of our players and we knew that we would be at a phase - maybe last year, maybe this year, maybe next year - that a time to rebuild would be in store. We talked about that. At that time before it hit him, he was all on board. I thought I did a very good sales job on Doc, at that time. Maybe he did a sales job on me (chuckle).


Wyc Grousbeck on @WEEI: "I would say a little disappointment. I'm where Danny was. We thought Doc would be here for length of his contract."

More Wyc on Rondo: "I don't think he had MUCH to do with this." Slightly differs from Ainge: "Rondo has nothing to do with any of this."

Wyc on Doc's move to the Clippers: "It was not our idea."

Wyc: "I don't think he owes us the next 3 years & he left in a way that got us some benefit, so I don't feel misused. I think we're even."

Wyc: "It finally got to the point where he said, 'Maybe it's time,' and we finally got to a point where we agreed with him."

Wyc: "I'm not going to get into any individual players. A lot of decisions will be made today or tomorrow."

Wyc: "If you hear Danny, he's pretty fired up about [rebuilding]. We've got a good thing going, and we're going to keep it going."

Wyc admitted this is "a bridge year."

Wyc: "It started w/Doc. It did not start w/us." Compared deal to old investors joke. Guy 1: "I got a dog for my wife." Guy 2: "Good trade."

Wyc & Danny have discussed a list of possible coaching candidates. Must've happened last night or this morning.

Wyc on Rondo: "I never nearly punched Doc, but I've been annoyed with Doc in the past." Cited Red punching an owner.

More Wyc on Doc: "I don't think he wanted to rebuild with us. I think he wanted to make his win-loss record better." OK, then.

More Wyc on Rondo: "I don't think he had MUCH to do with this." Slightly differs from Ainge: "Rondo has nothing to do with any of this."

Bottom line after that Wyc interview: C's believe Doc forced his way out of town & they're not happy about it. 1st-round pick softened blow.

[KGs Knee]

Well, if I had to choose between believing either Doc or Danny, I'd choose Doc every time.

Danny is a pathological liar, and snake oil salesman.  Why would I ever believe a word he says?

[gpap]

Well, if I had to choose between believing either Doc or Danny, I'd choose Doc every time.

Danny is a pathological liar, and snake oil salesman.  Why would I ever believe a word he says?

Because he works for the Celtics.

[KGs Knee]

Well, if I had to choose between believing either Doc or Danny, I'd choose Doc every time.

Danny is a pathological liar, and snake oil salesman.  Why would I ever believe a word he says?

Because he works for the Celtics.

I'll assume this is sarcasm

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Well, if I had to choose between believing either Doc or Danny, I'd choose Doc every time.

Danny is a pathological liar, and snake oil salesman.  Why would I ever believe a word he says?

Pfft.


Let's look at both sides:


DA and ownership; we wanted him to stay, we knew when we gave him the contract that we wanted him to be our coach during the rebuilding process. He came to us about leaving, FIRST.

Doc; it was mutual but I wanted to stay.


I agree with both sides but the only part I believe from Doc is that it was mutual. It became mutual after you let it be known that you wanted out. If Doc really wanted to stay there is NO WAY to get rid of him other than to fire him! He was in control of the situation and anyone who thinks he wasn't I don't know what to tell you. He saw greener grass and I don't fault him for jumping on it. I don't think he has really lied about it, I think he just isn't being up front about it (I blame the people questioning him). Why has no one said it plain and simply to Doc, "who brought forth the idea of parting ways FIRST?" Doc said something like, they made him feel like they didn't want him here. Well, that's easy to do, if they say they want to move PP and KG and Doc didn't want that, he could use that as the reason he felt unwanted but it still doesn't make sense b/c he KNEW THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY! What really made me believe it was Doc who wanted the change... he has the opportunity to decide what players are on the Clippers. Yep, that says it all, Doc was unhappy that he couldn't force DA and the owners to keep PP and KG so he wanted to go somewhere where the decision was his!

[gar]

Well, if I had to choose between believing either Doc or Danny, I'd choose Doc every time.

Danny is a pathological liar, and snake oil salesman.  Why would I ever believe a word he says?

Wow, they are two pretty high character guys to be calling liars, in any case this whole thing was started by Bill Simmons when he accused Doc of bailing on his team. Danny telling Doc that he wants to blow up the team is not the same as Danny pushing him out the door - it is allowing Doc to make an informed decision. Did he want to leave no. Do KG and Pierce want to get old no; but everyone did a realistic evaluation of the situation and did what was best for them and their constituents. Danny did his job for the C's and made sure everyone one had a nice soft landing. I do feel sorry for Pierce and KG because they will not retire Celtics; but do think this was best for everyone concerned.