Making his usual weekly radio appearance on 98.5’s Toucher and Rich this morning, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge spoke publicly for the first time since Anthony Davis‘ trade request went public. As Keith Smith of CelticsBlog relays, Ainge didn’t address Davis specifically, but answered a few questions that were indirectly related to the Pelicans star.
Ainge said there was no way to circumvent the Rose Rule restriction that prevents the C’s from trading for another designated rookie while Kyrie Irving remains under contract and admitted he has spoken to his own players – including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – about how to deal with trade rumors. Most interestingly, he said that he’d be willing to acquire a star player without assurances that he’d re-sign in Boston.
Of course, as Smith observes, that stance could come with some caveats — if the Celtics pursue Davis, perhaps they’d be reluctant to make their absolute best offer unless AD provides them with assurances that he’d stick around for more than one year.
Ainge was also asked about the speculation that Irving might reconsider his own informal commitment to re-sign with the Celtics.
“I talk to him all the time,” Ainge said of Kyrie, according to Smith. “I think he likes it in Boston. I can’t talk about specifics. That’s taboo. But I’m optimistic.”
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- A source “very close to the situation” laughed off the rumors suggesting that Irving is strongly weighing his options and considering leaving Boston, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. According to Bulpett’s source, those whispers may be coming from outside voices who have a vested interest in sowing doubt about Irving’s plans.
- Veteran forward Marcus Morris suggested this week that he’d be fine with the Celtics standing pat at the deadline, since he believes it’s a “special squad” (video link via NBC Sports Boston).
- ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and Bobby Marks (Insider link) share hypothetical Anthony Davis trade scenarios involving seven different trade partners, including the Celtics. Pelton’s suggestion for Boston’s offseason Davis trade package features both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with Aron Baynes, Guerschon Yabusele, and Semi Ojeleye, but doesn’t include any of the team’s first-round picks.
- For his part, Tatum isn’t concerned about his name popping up in trade rumors involving Davis, as A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston details. “It’s good to be wanted,” Tatum said. “I guess you can say that. But that’s it; I’m not a free agent. I can control what I can control.”
Wonder if the Kyrie rumors are from people residing in Toronto, New York, and Philadelphia.
Or LeBron’s camp where everything else comes from. They thought they could walk all over Demps like they did Gilbert. Sounds like Pops isteaching Demps how to deal with them.
Doubt it would cost the Celts all of that. Probably one of two in Jaylen or Tatum as well as mentioned a few picks. If it did take all listed with no picks involved, Boston could easily replenish what they lost via draft.
No picks? Pelton is a Celtic homer and all around clown. He’s just looking at what works best for Boston, and their possible tax issues. Pels are trading for 3 years from now, and need future assets (not the guys that Boston doesn’t want to pay).
Pels don’t need or likely want 4 picks in one year or even over 2 years (in addition to their own), but at least 2, and likely 3, first rounders should be part of any deal (not just with Boston). Tatum is the only player asset they should really care about. Possible future AS with 2 years of (relatively) cheap control. Add a top 5-10 2019 pick (Boston can trade up with its bevy to get this if nothing they have falls there on its own) plus two lightly protected future 1st rounders (2020 and 2022) would be a decent package. Of course, there would be filler for matching since the Celts won’t have cap space even in the summer, but Pels shouldn’t really care as long as there’s no long term money being sent back to them.
Yeah I don’t get the ‘no picks’ trade scenario because what would Celtics do with 4 mid to late first round picks anyway? After all these years of cultivating those picks it would just be a waste to draft and stash them in either Europe or the G-league.
They will need to fill in their roster. Teams with hot rookies pushing the veterans often do well.
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A lot of posters here keep bringing up the Irving-to-Lakers thing and it is surprising. It’s not a likely thing. @Ptn of course will call it a Lebron plot, without reasoning why. But that kind of conspiracy-type thinking is probably the sole cause for the talk. After all, conspiracies do happen, or at least attempts are made, and James makes a lot of phone calls. So!