Ainge & Mannix interviews on Toucher and Rich

[Eddie20]

Ainge

- Was asked about Ibaka and he said he was a good player, but he's unrestricted at the end of the year. Said Toronto gave up a couple of nice pieces for him.

- Not looking for bandaids. Want sustainability. Want players that can be part of the team moving forward, not just for 20 something games.

- The biggest weakness on the team is defensive rebounding and rim protection. However, putting skilled bigs like Horford and Olynyk on the court is what's allowed them to do on the offensive end what they're doing. They like skilled bigs because if not you're just sacrificing offense for a few more defensive rebounds.

- Teams have shown great interest in the Nets pick.


Mannix

- Would trade the Nets pick for Drummond, but doesn't think Drummond will be moved.

- Bogut would be a great addition backing up Horford.

- Does not believe Isaiah is a max player.

[konkmv]

hayward fultz and 2 capable bigs...

[droopdog7]

The last point about IT is interesting.  I don't he's a superstar either but not just superstars are getting the max.

[Big333223]

Ainge not looking for band-aids. I like it. There's no rush. The team is competing now and there are lots of assets in the bank. I'd like to see a deal done for a big man before the deadline but the team is in great shape. No point in buying a cow when you've got all this free milk.

[Trifecta]

Mannix
- Does not believe Isaiah is a max player.

I'm sorry, if Mike effing Conley is a max contract player in this league, you can bet Isaiah is. Scorers like him are hard to come by. And they ALL get paid.

[dreamgreen]

Mannix
- Does not believe Isaiah is a max player.

I'm sorry, if Mike effing Conley is a max contract player in this league, you can bet Isaiah is. Scorers like him are hard to come by. And they ALL get paid.

Yea seriously that's crazy talk, IT is a max player period!

[TheTruthFot18]

Mannix
- Does not believe Isaiah is a max player.

I'm sorry, if Mike effing Conley is a max contract player in this league, you can bet Isaiah is. Scorers like him are hard to come by. And they ALL get paid.

Came here for this. Love the Grizz and Conley but how do we give the max to someone who hasn't even made 1 all star game?

On the other hand I agreed with Mannix a bit. He could sign an extension this summer and get that money now at a discount (25-28 million instead of 33+ million). He does want to get paid so why jeopardize that and play chicken until summer of 2018. I think both sides would be best suited to get this kind of deal done this summer rather then some ridiculous drama next summer.

[Roy H.]

IT deserves the max more than a lot of guys who have received it, and deserves it more than a lot of guys who will receive it.

I mean, the guy is a top-10 MVP candidate. Horford gets a max deal but IT doesn't? That's borderline lunacy.

[kozlodoev]

Ainge

- The biggest weakness on the team is defensive rebounding and rim protection. However, putting skilled bigs like Horford and Olynyk on the court is what's allowed them to do on the offensive end what they're doing. They like skilled bigs because if not you're just sacrificing offense for a few more defensive rebounds.

There were a number of good questions today, but this was the biggest takeaway of the interview to me. Well, that and the zit conversation in the end

[footey]

IT deserves the max more than a lot of guys who have received it, and deserves it more than a lot of guys who will receive it.

I mean, the guy is a top-10 MVP candidate. Horford gets a max deal but IT doesn't? That's borderline lunacy.

He's a top 5 MVP candidate. Maybe a top 3.

[saltlover]

IT deserves the max more than a lot of guys who have received it, and deserves it more than a lot of guys who will receive it.

I mean, the guy is a top-10 MVP candidate. Horford gets a max deal but IT doesn't? That's borderline lunacy.

I also want to note that I'm in favor of giving IT a max extension this summer if we miss the home run in free agency.  He'll only have 6 years experience, which means he's eligible for only a 25% max, not a 30% max.  Also, since he'd be getting a large pay increase over his contracted value next season, he'd make about the same over 5 seasons by signing for the lower max now as he would by waiting for free agency in 2018.

[Kuberski33]

Re IT if a guy is putting up close to 30 a night consistently in this league -that's a max player.  There are about 5 players in the league who can do that. I'm starting to question Mannix's knowledge of the sport.

BTW if IT hits free agency, multiple teams will be willing to pay him the max.

[gift]

Anyone thinking IT is not a max player should immediately follow it up with trade ideas. Because IT is getting the max somewhere. I don't hear a lot of people clamoring to trade IT, though. That should tell you something.

[Evantime34]

Ainge

- Was asked about Ibaka and he said he was a good player, but he's unrestricted at the end of the year. Said Toronto gave up a couple of nice pieces for him.

- Not looking for bandaids. Want sustainability. Want players that can be part of the team moving forward, not just for 20 something games.

- The biggest weakness on the team is defensive rebounding and rim protection. However, putting skilled bigs like Horford and Olynyk on the court is what's allowed them to do on the offensive end what they're doing. They like skilled bigs because if not you're just sacrificing offense for a few more defensive rebounds.

- Teams have shown great interest in the Nets pick.


Mannix

- Would trade the Nets pick for Drummond, but doesn't think Drummond will be moved.

- Bogut would be a great addition backing up Horford.

- Does not believe Isaiah is a max player.

I think Mannix is good at collecting information from sources, but anytime he gives his own opinion it is trash. His basketball knowledge is awful.

Ainge's comment on wanting a player that can be with the team moving forward makes me think he might be willing to add a player that isn't expiring.

If you combine his comment about needing a rim protector, with wanting sustainability, it makes me wonder if he wouldn't be willing to bring in a rim protector on a multiyear contract. I had always thought that the C's wanted to add an expiring big so that they could preserve their cap space but his comment about sustainability makes me think otherwise.

[Kuberski33]

Ainge

- The biggest weakness on the team is defensive rebounding and rim protection. However, putting skilled bigs like Horford and Olynyk on the court is what's allowed them to do on the offensive end what they're doing. They like skilled bigs because if not you're just sacrificing offense for a few more defensive rebounds.

There were a number of good questions today, but this was the biggest takeaway of the interview to me. Well, that and the zit conversation in the end

Zits aside it looks like Danny is eyeing his final piece and will try to get it prior to the deadline.  He just pretty told the league exactly what he wants.