Atlantic Notes: Ainge, Rose, Rondo

Celtics executive Danny Ainge feels bad that principal owner Wyc Grousbeck took the initial heat from fans who were disappointed the team didn’t pull of a blockbuster trade on draft night, Mike Petraglia of WEEI 93.7 FM relays. “The only thing I felt bad about that is that Wyc went out there,” Ainge said. “If I would have known that or if I wasn’t in the middle of something, I should have been the one that went out there and I would have been happy to and I would have enjoyed it. It’s what I love about Boston. When you’re throwing a no-hitter they appreciate it. And when you get rocked in the second inning, they boo you. The only thing about that is I love the passion of Boston fans, I love that they feel and they care. I truly believe that. I never take that stuff personal because there’s so many differing views. I think that that’s what makes Boston fun. The only thing that I don’t like about that is that it’s a reflection of Jaylen [Brown].

I think everyone wants a deal,” Ainge continued. “I think everyone expects a deal. We’ve been working really hard on trying to get a deal and do something significant. But we just haven’t been able to do it yet. And it’s not because we’re not trying, it’s not because we’re turning down or we overvalue our players or any of that stuff. It’s because you need a partner. I’ve said this many times before: I tried three years to get KG [Kevin Garnett] before we got him. It just takes the right time and the right place and have a partner that wants to do a deal.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • Ainge noted that some of the trade offers the team received would have greatly hindered its cap flexibility moving forward, which played a large factor in why no deals came to fruition on draft night, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe relays (on Twitter).
  • Newly acquired Derrick Rose is hopeful things work out for him with the Knicks and that he can re-sign with them after this season, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. “I hope so. With all of the attention and all of the congratulations I got, I hope I’ll be able to play the rest of my career here,” Rose said. “But like I said, this is a business. I’ll guess we’ll have to see how this one year goes. But I’m putting my all into this. I’m working my butt off as far as my work ethic, and we’ll have to see.”
  • Unrestricted free agent point guard Rajon Rondo, while open to re-signing with the Kings, has expressed interest in playing for the Knicks and Nets, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated tweets. It doesn’t appear likely that either New York team will be a destination for Rondo, with the addition of Rose eliminating the Knicks and the trade of Thaddeus Young signaling Brooklyn intends a full rebuild of the team, though that is merely my speculation.
View Comments (23)