Ainge talks free agents, keeping Crowder, Olynyk/Love, Isaiah on bench, Summer League and more
This morning, Danny Ainge gave his season-ending wrap-up press conference. You can watch the entire half-hour long thing on CSNNE.com. We've also got a four-minute video version on CelticsLife. Below are the highlights:
On pursuing big-name free agents this offseason:
Danny Ainge: "We need to have a busy summer and we will have a busy summer." #celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) April 30, 2015
Ainge: Cs will go after players who will upgrade talent level: "We're going after all the top names on the list and we'll see what happens"
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
Ainge on FA: "We have to prove to people that we have the opportunities for them to be paid, to play & reach their full potential, & to win"
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
Danny Ainge on why Boston is a free-agent destination: "Most of the guys who have played here love it here, and they don't want to leave."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 30, 2015
However, he remains realistic:
Ainge: "We haven't ever had cap space, I don't think, in the history of the Celtics. ... We can't spend it just because we have it."
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) April 30, 2015
Ainge: "I don't think we've ever had cap space in the history of the Celtics, at least since I've been here. We need to spend it wisely."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 30, 2015
Ainge says the reality is that the history of the franchise probably won't resonate with younger players today when it comes to acquisitions
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
Ainge on last C's signing of big FA: I can't think of any. He discounted Dominique Wilkins and Xavier McDaniel because "those guys were old"
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) April 30, 2015
Of his own free agents, Jae Crowder seems to be the only priority at the moment:
Ainge: "I can emphatically say we'll definitely qualify Jae Crowder."
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
The Celtics can give Crowder a $1.2 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free-agent. After that, who knows what other teams may offer and whether or or not Boston will match it.
Ainge said "we like all of (the Celtics impending free agents) to some degree. Some of it's going to be just dependent on (circumstances)."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
#Celtics president Danny Ainge: Likes 'The Swedish Larry Bird' Jonas Jerebko, but resigning him will depend on draft, cost.
— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) April 30, 2015
Ainge said he would take Jerebko golfing and talk contract.
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) April 30, 2015
Notably, Ainge did not say one way or the other whether he would extend qualifying offer to Gigi Datome.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
Also no mention of Brandon Bass, an unrestricted free agent who turned 30 years old today.
On the Kelly Olynyk/Kevin Love controversy:
Ainge on Love saying Olynyk intentionally hurt him: "I think that’s a little bit over the top"
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
Ainge's reaction to Love saying Olynyk injured him on purpose: pic.twitter.com/TMa7So13Wa
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) April 30, 2015
Ainge likes Isaiah Thomas' fourth-quarter scoring, but also thinks he's most effective off the bench:
#Celtics president Danny Ainge: hardest thing to find in league are guys who can score in 4th quarter. Isaiah Thomas our best at that now.
— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) April 30, 2015
Ainge said Celtics feel like they're maximizing Thomas's strengths by playing him around 30 minutes, not more.
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) April 30, 2015
Ainge: "I think Isaiah is more suited for a bench role. ... Isaiah expends a ton of energy to score."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
On Summer League(s):
#Celtics will play summer league in both Utah and Las Vegas. #Celticstalk
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) April 30, 2015
James Young and Marcus Smart will both play in summer league. Kelly Olynyk won't b/c he's playing for Canadian national team.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
Ainge: "We really want Marcus to play more of the point guard position in the summer league."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
Sounds like keeping Pressey off summer league to get Smart point guard reps is a possibility.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
Ainge also had some brutally honest remarks on Jared Sullinger...
Ainge on Sullinger: "I think that he's hurting the longevity of his career and his play now by not being in as good shape as he can be in."
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 30, 2015
Ainge on Sullinger: "Jared wants to be in great shape. Jared puts the work in. I think he's in the process of trying to change his habits."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
...as well as some very complimentary words for his coach:
Ainge was asked if Stevens is a star. Said Celtics took him out of Butler. "We thought he was a star then." So yes, he does believe that.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 30, 2015
Ainge said he thought Stevens was a star when he signed him to the first six-year coaching contract in NBA history.
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) April 30, 2015
High praise from Danny Ainge on Brad Stevens: "He's - already in his second year in the NBA - in my opinion in the top echelon of coaches."
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) April 30, 2015
And finally, the big takeaway:
#Celtics president Danny Ainge: We want to try to avoid a third straight season of in-season turnover next year.
— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) April 30, 2015
Final takeaway from #Celtics president Danny Ainge: C's done taking steps back to take future steps fwd. Thomas trade tipping point there.
— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) April 30, 2015
Follow Mark Vandeusen on Twitter @LucidSportsFan
