Doc, Pierce, and KG discuss 'silly' trade rumors


Awesome round of quotes today from Celtics coach Doc Rivers, captain Paul Pierce, and center Kevin Garnett on the ongoing trade rumors that seem to pop up by the day. The most recent round of rumors have Kevin Garnett heading to Los Angeles for Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and forward Caron Butler. What do the Celtics think of these rumors? Let's start with Doc.

All from (the media), none from us. Really. I would like to say that. Sometimes I like (the media), sometimes, some of the stuff that happens is just silly. It really is. When I wake up in the morning and I hear a trade rumor that I haven't heard in my office, that's silly, and that's what happens.

I heard one report -- I honestly did -- that me, (Los Angeles Clippers guard) Chauncey (Billups), Kevin (Garnett), and Paul (Pierce) had dinner. And I was like, 'I wish I would have known about it. That would have been terrific because I would have made them pay and I could have had a free dinner.'

But it's just silly what goes on. And I don't think it's honestly (the Boston media). I think someone can sit behind a computer and write something. The problem is, now you guys have to actually report it, which you shouldn't do. But you do, and it becomes an issue.

Now Garnett, who clearly has heard some of the recent chatter - but isn't letting it effect him.

Well (Celtics president of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) made it very, very obvious since Day 1, since he brought Ray Allen and myself here to be aligned with Paul (Pierce) that he was going to do whatever is best for this organization. He's always made that apparent, so I've always understood that. I bleed green, I die green, that's what it is. But it is a business and when that crosses the paths, I deal with it. But trades are a part of this league. Every year you're going to hear certain things. If I were ya'll, I wouldn't read too much into it.

It's part of the year, All-Star, right after All-Star you start to hear things, and some of it's chatter, some of it's real, and you just have to be able to block certain things out, be able to play through certain things. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. It's out of your control a lot of time. The things you do control, you control those -- your play, obviously family, and if a situation comes up where you have to move, then you get ready for it.

And finally Pierce, who was not involved in the most recent 'talks', but has had his name linked to the Grizzlies and Lakers, among others.

I don't really pay too much attention to it. Whatever happens just happens. It's going to play out the way it's going to play out, just like in the draft. When I got drafted it played out the way it's supposed to play out. So things of that nature really don't bother me, it has no effect on how I'm going to perform, how I'm going to practice, how I'm going to approach each and every day.

I'm taking each day day by day, I'm enjoying it, I'm enjoying my teammates, and like I said, whatever happens, it just happens. It's out of my control.

So there you have it, while the media (us included), discuss all of the potential deals - don't expect the Celtics to get too wrapped up in the trade talk until a deal is actually made. The C's have 7 games before the deadline (@Tor, vs LAL, vs Den, @Cha, vs Chi, @Den, @LAL), and Doc, Pierce and Garnett are well aware that their focus needs to be on that tough stretch of games, and not what we're talking about.

Personally, while I think that Ainge owes it to the franchise to listen to everything and anything - I don't see a deal getting done. Pierce and Garnett still have too much value to the Celtics, more than they have to any other team. Value on the court, value in the locker room, and value at the ticket office - all of which would take a massive hit if they are dealt. They are also expensive, and old, which limits their value on the market. In other words - be prepared for about a dozen new rumors between now and February 21st (the NBA deadline), but until something actually goes down - expect Pierce and Garnett to both be announced as Celtics on February 22nd in Phoenix.

Follow Mike on twitter - Mike_Dyer13

Thanks to Greg Payne of ESPN Boston for the compilation of links. Great stuff.