-Ainge says drafting players with the top picks, you're garnering more opportunities, and increasing chances of getting that transcendental player.
-Asked if they expected to use all the Brooklyn picks, and Ainge said yes.
-Ainge surprised Nets didn't do as well. (He expected Nets to continue to be a championship contender, and felt like it should've been a good fit.)
-Asked if he believes there should be an eligibility rule to stop players 19 to come to the NBA, and Ainge says he does agree there should be some exceptions. But he says some players can have immediate impact, says Durant needed 1-2 years to become dominant. Says some players like Kobe, Lebron, etc; can have the impact most NBA teams are looking for.
-When asked if Ainge feels vulnerable due to the plethora of picks, and he says, "I guess it could. But I think that with the good news is that we control about 15% percent of the draft, and we'll have the ability to scout majority of players. Take them out to dinner, find out about their background, work them out, get a better feel, and we'll be very busy April, May, and June, and it'll be a very complicated process once we go through it all. There could also be a lot of European players that can be draft and stash type of players."
-Asked jokingly to evaluate whether or not Ramirez could be a 1st basemen, and Ainge compared left field to 1st. If you cannot play in LF, you cannot play in 1st.
-Wondered how much input, and what type of information/influence Stevens have on Ainge. Ainge says definitely a lot, says hes the head coach, and hes basically the assistant coach in terms of how they both talk, and input on everything they do, and why they do. Any opportunity Stevens want to talk about, Ainge is all ears. Says he holds Stevens input and judgement in players in high regards, certainly going to have a tough draft to sort through.
-Any interest in rent-a-player, for obligations next year? "Sure. But the price was WAY too high." Sometimes Nets pick were involved, and more, and Ainge didn't even have to think about the rental players when it came to the Nets pick. Ainge said, "there were times where the Nets pick were consistently brought up especially for rental players, and I didn't even think about it."
-Do they see being able to package all the picks, and being able to trade it for the 1st? Ainge says, "I don't know. Whether or not their worth it, these kids develop fast, and even in March or June, you never know. I think we could or could not move on up."
-David Lee is being most likely bought out. Ainge talking to his agent.
-Chemistry wise, the reason why Ainge didn't want to make one for slight improvement, but can you add chemistry as in adding talent? Ainge agrees, and says talent wins. But chemistry and character is important too, and that adding player that is slightly more talented, but doesn't even understand our philosophy, while trying to attribute a new system, might be hard. Says hes impressed with how good his defense is, and says you cannot bring in a new guy, and expect the chemistry to not be disturbed, and Ainge doesn't even want to take that risk.
