Danny Ainge post lottery interview

[chambers]

https://youtu.be/1-Ht6O23HPU

Says we'll explore trades with all our picks and also bring in players to work out.
Seems very happy/relieved.

[Chief Macho]

I like Danny.  But he appears to have zero pressure from the owners or the fans. 

[alldaboston]

I like Danny.  But he appears to have zero pressure from the owners or the fans.

what is he supposed to say here? "if we dont get stuff done its a failure"?

[libermaniac]

He's not happy.  It's all a poker face.  He's p---ed like the rest of us.  So close to a franchise altering talent.

That's my main problem with rooting for the NBA.  The ONLY way to win a title is to get superstars on your team.  And, getting a superstar takes luck.  There is no way he's happy, given how close we were.

"I honestly haven't thought about the number one pick" ... Ya right.

[crimson_stallion]

I see no reason why he shouldn't be happy.

The pick had the potential to fall anywhere from 1 to 6. 

You need to have quite a bit of luck on your side to have the third worst record and finish in the top 2, so that was always possible but unlikely.

Finishing third was also unlikely because it would mean Philly and LA finishing in #1 and #2, which almost never happens.

Finishing #6 was very highly unlikely.

That means the most likely scenario, statistically, was a finish at either #4 or #5 - which is what I was expecting for exactly that reason. 

Anything above #3 would have been a lovely bonus, and I would have been ecstatic, but I sure as hell am not disappointed with the #3 pick and I doubt Danny is either.  I have no doubts he was expecting (and preparing for) the worst.

There are two things we desperately need on this team - outside shooting and talented size. In the #3 spot there are plenty of prospects available to address either of those concerns.  In fact between our Nets, Mavs and Celtics picks we should be able to address both given the quantity of shooters and bigs that are available  (Hield, Murray, Dunn, Valentine, Poeltl, Bender, Ellenson, Sabonis, Labissiere). 

Personally I'd like to take Danny's usual approach and go for a high ceiling prospect with the Nets pick, and a high-upside gamble with the Mavs pick, followed by maybe a draft-and-stash guy with the Celtics pick.

If we can walk out of this with any combination of Hield/Dunn (Nets pick), Labissiere/Sabonis/Poeltl (Mavs pick) and Zubac (Celtics pick) I would be absolutely stoked.

[j804]

I see no reason why he shouldn't be happy.

The pick had the potential to fall anywhere from 1 to 6. 

You need to have quite a bit of luck on your side to have the third worst record and finish in the top 2, so that was always possible but unlikely.

Finishing third was also unlikely because it would mean Philly and LA finishing in #1 and #2, which almost never happens.

Finishing #6 was very highly unlikely.

That means the most likely scenario, statistically, was a finish at either #4 or #5 - which is what I was expecting for exactly that reason. 

Anything above #3 would have been a lovely bonus, and I would have been ecstatic, but I sure as hell am not disappointed with the #3 pick and I doubt Danny is either.  I have no doubts he was expecting (and preparing for) the worst.

There are two things we desperately need on this team - outside shooting and talented size. In the #3 spot there are plenty of prospects available to address either of those concerns.  In fact between our Nets, Mavs and Celtics picks we should be able to address both given the quantity of shooters and bigs that are available  (Hield, Murray, Dunn, Valentine, Poeltl, Bender, Ellenson, Sabonis, Labissiere). 

Personally I'd like to take Danny's usual approach and go for a high ceiling prospect with the Nets pick, and a high-upside gamble with the Mavs pick, followed by maybe a draft-and-stash guy with the Celtics pick.

If we can walk out of this with any combination of Hield/Dunn (Nets pick), Labissiere/Sabonis/Poeltl (Mavs pick) and Zubac (Celtics pick) I would be absolutely stoked.

I'm sure he was p---ed at first but sitting back now you gotta be happy with it. We could have done a lot worse. Someone will kill it in workouts and that pick will gain some value. I'm already warming up to Bender or Murray if we keep it would be pumped for either

[Celtics4ever]

It is not often that you make the playoffs and get the third pick.   With that notion I am pretty stoked.

[RMO]

He's not happy.  It's all a poker face.  He's p---ed like the rest of us.  So close to a franchise altering talent.

That's my main problem with rooting for the NBA.  The ONLY way to win a title is to get superstars on your team.  And, getting a superstar takes luck.  There is no way he's happy, given how close we were.

"I honestly haven't thought about the number one pick" ... Ya right.

Are these guys really THAT good?  Honest question as I don't follow college ball that closely. 

[Celtics4ever]

Ainge stated "Immediate Help"   pretty much was telling me that he is not enamoured of a project like Bender.  He stated this at the 50 second mark, and then later on veteran players at 1;00 mark.   

This tells me that he will be looking to deal if he can and get proven guys.   This makes the drafting of a project unlikely to me.   

[Surferdad]

He's not happy.  It's all a poker face.  He's p---ed like the rest of us.  So close to a franchise altering talent.

That's my main problem with rooting for the NBA.  The ONLY way to win a title is to get superstars on your team.  And, getting a superstar takes luck.  There is no way he's happy, given how close we were.

"I honestly haven't thought about the number one pick" ... Ya right.

He admitted that he thought about #1/#2 during the commercial break.

Definitely poker face, I suppose he should have tried to smile a bit more.  His true feelings were obvious.

[Celtics18]

Ainge stated "Immediate Help"   pretty much was telling me that he is not enamoured of a project like Bender.  He stated this at the 50 second mark, and then later on veteran players at 1;00 mark.   

This tells me that he will be looking to deal if he can and get proven guys.   This makes the drafting of a project unlikely to me.

I think I also heard him talk about "older guys."  I'm thinking Buddy.

[PhoSita]

Ainge will take the best talent available after trying desperately to trade the pick for an established player, eg Butler, or maybe Okafor.


Bender is almost certainly the best talent at that spot. And as Crimson says, we need talented size and shooting.

Buddy is a role player.

[RLewis35]

Ainge stated "Immediate Help"   pretty much was telling me that he is not enamoured of a project like Bender.  He stated this at the 50 second mark, and then later on veteran players at 1;00 mark.   

This tells me that he will be looking to deal if he can and get proven guys.   This makes the drafting of a project unlikely to me.

I think I also heard him talk about "older guys."  I'm thinking Buddy.

Or Dunn.

[RLewis35]

Never know how these things work out.  Plenty of times "sure" things don't pan out in favor of players selected behind them.  Both Simmons and Ingram have knocks against them.  When's the last time a no doubt number 1 player in the draft couldn't even take his NCAA team to the dance?

[Celtics18]

Ainge will take the best talent available after trying desperately to trade the pick for an established player, eg Butler, or maybe Okafor.


Bender is almost certainly the best talent at that spot. And as Crimson says, we need talented size and shooting.

Buddy is a role player.

I think Buddy is going to end up surprising some folks.  He'll continue to be a great scorer on the next level.