Boston Celtics team president Danny Ainge spoke with beat reporters via teleconference Wednesday morning, and gave an update on what the Boston Celtics have been up to in recent days.
Ainge related he’s “holding out hope that we’re still going to play some basketball this year. But that’s just me being a fan”, per NBC Boston Sports Chris Forsberg.
The Athletic’s Jay King notes Ainge making a point of stressing he’s not operating under any kind of inside information with regard to the resumption of league activities.
Personally, Ainge has been preparing for the draft and NBA free agency, watching lots of film on prospects, and working to control the things within his ability to do so.
Danny Ainge: "I’m holding out hope that we're still going to play some basketball this year. But that’s just me being a fan."
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) April 22, 2020
While for now, the 2020 NBA Draft is still scheduled to remain in place, Ainge thinks the draft will be moved to a later date according to Boston Sports Journal’s Brian Robb. Ainge continues to prepare as if the date will stay put, however.
With the WNBA conducting their draft remotely, the NBA may have to consider doing the same, eschewing draft workouts and instead being forced to rely on previous scouting and film.
Ainge made a point of noting he might not have drafted point guard Rajon Rondo had there been no workout for the Kentucky product. But he countered this with a note that he also took Steve Nash and Avery Bradley without a workout, relates The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.
His frequent jokes featuring him shooting baskets in his driveway are mostly a dig at forward Jayson Tatum, who has no hoop at his home. The Celtics president related the Duke product is welcome to use his whenever he wants.
Speaking on the topic of regular team meetings via teleconference, Ainge noted L.L. Cool J has been the most popular of several guest speakers the team has invited to participate, reports the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett.
“We’ve had Mark Wahlberg,” related Ainge via Forsberg. “LL Cool J, his story is pretty fascinating. Jim Cash, who is always magnificent … Dr. Myron Rolle, who has a fascinating story.”
Some players are “harder to reach” than others, but the team president has been pleased with how the players have used this time.
Danny Ainge says Jayson Tatum can use the basketball hoop in his driveway "anytime he wants. It's all his. I can even loan him @LilWeezyDog to play defense on him."
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) April 22, 2020
With so much of the NBA’s past dominating the airwaves, social media and even team reporting, it was inevitable that the topic of the 2008 title team and Kevin Garnett would come up, and Ainge shared some personal feelings on the South Carolinian big man.
“Whenever I think of KG, I just smile,” said the Celtics head honcho via team reporter Taylor Snow. “The guy just cracks me up. He was so intense, he’s fun, he’s funny, he’s serious, he’s driven. But as much as anything, he was a unifier – he wanted and he thrived in an environment that was all about the team.”
The call ended with Ainge pillorying the press for their terrible inquiries in jest, saying “these questions are horrible.”
We think it was a joke, anyway.
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