Tag: Danny Ainge

On this day: Danny Ainge traded to Kings; Sichting dealt to Trail Blazers

On this day in Celtics history, Danny Ainge was dealt to the Sacramento Kings and Jerry Sichting to the Portland Trail Blazers.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team traded champion shooting guard and future team president Danny Ainge to the Sacramento Kings in 1989. The Oregon native had been picked up by the Celtics with the 31st overall pick of the 1981 NBA draft.

But, he was already playing professionally in Major League Baseball and had to be bought out of his baseball contract with the Toronto Blue Jays before he would be able to play for the Celtics. Ainge had been with the Blue Jays for eight seasons, his only pro assignment in any sport up to that point.

The BYU alum won two titles with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986 and made his sole All-Star game with Boston the season before he was dealt to the Kings with Brad Lohaus for Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney.

Every Boston Celtics All-Star for each season the game was played

Every single Boston Celtics All-Star in franchise history.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is set to kick off in Indianapolis, Indiana. A pair of Boston Celtics will be part of the action for the third year in a row as Jayson Tatum plays as a starter and Jaylen Brown a reserve for the Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Tatum and Brown join a long list of Celtics stars who have participated in the event, now entering its 73rd year of existence, which actually got its start in the old Boston Garden. Initially created to improve the image of professional basketball after a point-shaving scandal in NCAA ball besmirched the sport in the eyes of the public, the event has taken on a life of its own as one of the league’s most anticipated events.

Let’s take a look at all the Celtics who have taken part.

Could Danny Ainge do the Boston Celtics a solid with a late Kris Dunn deal?

What do we know about the possibility of a last-minute Dunn deal being a done deal (pun intended)?

Could Utah Jazz President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge do his former ball club a last-minute favor and help the Boston Celtics fortify their backcourt rotation? There have been conflicting reports on whether the Celtics are actually going to make any more moves ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, but if Boston did make a trade for Jazz guard Kris Dunn, they’d have among the best defensive squads in the league.

And they already have that, which ought to tell you all you know about how tough of an out they would become on that end of the court. But as with all things Trader Danny, would the ask be too high for the Celtics to pay?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” and ” Talkin’ Cs” podcasts linked up to talk about the possibility of a last-minute Dunn deal being a done deal (pun intended).

Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics two way big man Neemias Queta on making history for Portugal, playing with Danny Ainge’s son

What else does this mysterious man in Boston’s frontcourt have to reveal?

Fans of the Boston Celtics know the team got lucky landing two way big man Neemias Queta after the Sacramento Kings oddly cut the Utah State big man. Savvier fans know he hails from Portugal, and is the first-ever player in the league from that country.

The savviest Celtics fans also know that not only did Queta elect to pursue a sport few in his home country play, but he chose to do it for a team in the US that also had former Celtics president Danny Ainge’s son Crew on it with the Utah State Aggies. What else does this mysterious man in Boston’s frontcourt have to reveal?

Queta was the subject of the most recent episode of the team-produced “View From the Rafters” podcast, an honor not usually afforded to two way players.

But then Queta is far from your usual two way prospect, having already shown he is worthy of a full deal and then some. Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Wyc Grousbeck reveals it was his idea to offer Boston team president Brad Stevens the Celtics’ top job

Stevens has since made pivotal moves, trading for players like Al Horford, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday.

On a recent sports radio talk show appearance, Boston Celtics lead governor Wyc Grousbeck recently shed some light on the transition from longtime team president Danny Ainge to current Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.

Grousbeck revealed that Ainge’s departure was not a planned move, contrary to popular belief, and that the decision from Ainge to step down was even a bit of a disappointment. He also revealed that it was his idea to approach Stevens with an offer to replace Ainge as team president. Stevens accepted the offer overnight, leading to an unforeseen transition from head coach to head of basketball ops.

Stevens has since made pivotal moves, trading for players like Al Horford, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday, putting himself in the conversation to win the NBA’s 2024 Executive of the Year award.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast took some time to talk it over on a recent episode — check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Rondo traded for Crowder; most team assists in ’85

On this day, the Celtics traded Rajon Rondo to the Mavericks for Jae Crowder, and Boston logged 46 assists against Dallas, their most ever.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise traded champion point guard Rajon Rondo and center Dwight Powell to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014 in exchange for small forward Jae Crowder, point guard Jameer Nelson, big man Brandan Wright, draft assets, and a $13 million trade exception.

The move finally brought to an end the last remaining player from the team’s 2008 NBA title tenure with the franchise, Rondo having been with the Celtics since the Phoenix Suns drafted him out of Kentucky with the 21st overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft and dealt him to Boston on draft night.

Powell was a more recent arrival, having come over in the deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers for Keith Bogans in September of that year.

Danny Ainge on the Jays, Joe Mazzulla and the ’86 Boston Celtics

The crew got into everything from the legendary 1985-86 Celtics to his role in building the 2008 championship team.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg, Amina Smith, and Eddie House on the “Celtics Pregame” show, former Boston Celtics shooting guard and Celtics executive Danny Ainge shared his insights on the team he won two titles with as a player and one as a team president.

The crew also got into everything from the legendary 1985-86 Celtics to his role in building the 2008 championship team and his thoughts on the NBA’s in-season tournament. Ainge, a key figure in Celtics history, discussed the strengths of the ’86 Celtics, the challenges they faced, and the impact of injuries on their potential dynasty.

He also reflected on the 2008 team, expressing pride in the players he drafted, such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Danny Ainge debuts; Otis Birdsong born; Keyon Dooling trade; Greg Stiemsma signed

On this day, former Celtic guard and team president Danny Ainge made his debut for the team, and shooting guard Otis Birdsong was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, champion shooting guard and penultimate team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge made his NBA debut for the franchise way back in 1981. An alum of Brigham Young University, Ainge was a three-sport star in high school, where he was a first team All-American in football, basketball, and baseball, playing basketball with BYU and baseball professionally with the Toronto Blue Jays while still in college.

He would play for that team in Major League Baseball for three seasons before deciding to try his hand at basketball and was picked up with the 31st selection of the 1981 NBA draft by the Celtics.

Boston of course bought him out of his deal with the Blue Jays.

Danny Ainge never envisioned Giannis Antetokounmpo as a superstar

Danny Ainge never envisioned Giannis Antetokounmpo becoming one of the best players in the world.

In 2013, the Boston Celtics had the 13th pick in the NBA draft, selecting Kelly Olynyk. Two selections later, the Milwaukee Bucks made one of the best decisions in their franchise’s history, selecting Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 16th overall pick. As we know, that pick changed Milwaukee’s trajectory and earned them an NBA championship.

During a 2018 interview with Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald, Danny Ainge revealed that he had previously met with Giannis. However, the Celtics legend never envisioned him becoming an MVP-level talent. Instead, Ainge viewed Giannis as a solid prospect due to his size and length.

“He was really young,” Ainge said. “He played on a pro-B team in Greece, and I saw him practice. I met him. He was very skinny. I thought he was absolutely a worthwhile project. But never in a million years did I see him becoming a potential best-player-in-the-league type of player. And I saw his potential as a good player because he could handle the ball and he was long. But he was really, really skinny, and I think he was about two or three inches shorter than he is now. But what an amazing player.”

Of course, Giannis did develop into a superstar talent and is now one of the biggest threats to the Celtics’ chances of lifting their 18th championship banner at the end of the current season.

The NBA draft isn’t an exact science, though. It’s virtually impossible to judge how talent will develop once they enter the league, especially an unheard-of player from the lower leagues of Europe.

Nevertheless, Ainge would likely want a mulligan on the 2013 draft if given the opportunity.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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Former Boston Celtics lottery pick waived by Danny Ainge

The former Boston Celtics lottery pick is now an unrestricted free agent after being waived by the Utah Jazz.

The Utah Jazz has waived Romeo Langford. The former Boston Celtics lottery pick was training with Danny Ainge‘s team after being released by the San Antonio Spurs. Langford failed to earn a spot on the rebuilding Jazz’s roster. The former Hoosier has struggled since entering the NBA.

Langford was drafted with the 14th overall pick in 2019 but has struggled with injury throughout his time in the league. When healthy, Langford has seldom shown the talent that saw him named “Indiana Mr. Basketball” in 2018. Despite his struggles, there have been moments where Langford has shown flashes of figuring things out, primarily on the defensive side of the floor.

Langford left the Celtics as part of the deal that saw Boston acquire Derrick White. While the deal worked perfectly for Brad Stevens, Langford will now wonder where his next opportunity will come from.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyg-FqyoXLY/

Most teams have finalized their preparations at such a late juncture in the off-season. Langford could find himself signing with a G-League roster or being on the free-agent market for the foreseeable future.

In his two-and-a-half years with the Celtics, Langford participated in 98 regular-season games, averaging 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest. Last season, Langford played in 43 games for the Spurs, starting 21. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

At 23-years-old (almost 24,) the former Indiana standout will be hoping another NBA team takes a flyer on his potential upside. He may need to prove his injury struggles are behind him, though.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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