Danny Ainge stays mum on the Celtics’ plans for free agency
"I don’t know exactly what the team is going to look like when it’s all done.”
No matter what the future holds, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge currently can’t say much about his team’s murky state. “I shouldn’t really comment on things until things are done,” Ainge said Thursday night at the Auerbach Center, following the conclusion of the 2019 NBA Draft. “I really can’t comment on all of the things that are said to have happened. I wish I could tell you everything I know, but I can’t.”Amid reports that All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are on their way out of Boston, the Celtics selected four players in Thursday’s draft. While Ainge and coach Brad Stevens had nothing but praise for the incoming rookies, there is still lingering uncertainty surrounding Boston’s roster. For now, the organization appears to have embraced the youth movement. After rumblings that the team was interested in consolidating its three first-rounders, the Celtics elected to push forward with a haul of draft picks. But free agency has yet to begin — negotiations can officially take place on June 30 starting at 6 p.m. — and that’s when Ainge’s true intentions will fully emerge. The questions will one-by-one get answers. Will Irving and Horford actually walk? How much cap space will the Celtics have to pursue a free agent? Will they retain restricted free agent Terry Rozier? Can they afford unrestricted free agent Marcus Morris? Is a trade still on the table? Until then, Ainge has smartly elected to hold his cards close to his chest. He purposefully stayed vague when discussing what’s ahead but expressed excitement. “I like where we’re headed,” Ainge said. “I like the core group of guys. I think it’s going to be really fun. I think we’re going to be a really competitive team again. I don’t know exactly what the team is going to look like when it’s all done.” So, who exactly comprises the “core group” he likes? “I’m not saying that,” Ainge said. Pressed for clues that might inform the team’s direction moving forward — as well as those that might inform the team’s recent turmoil — Ainge didn’t crack. He acknowledged there’s less clarity this year but said the approach to the draft was no different than any other. The goal is always the same: Select the best players.Indiana’s Romeo Langford, Tennessee’s Grant Williams, Purdue’s Carsen Edwards, and LSU’s Tremont Waters will be the latest wave to get a shot in Boston. While their new teammates are in flux, Ainge said the onus is both the player and the staff to maximize the new opportunity. “They all have to work to accomplish it,” Ainge said. “The world is filled of unfilled potential. It’s our job to try and get the most out of them. I know we can. They’re far from their peak careers and what we expect them to be. A lot of their success will depend on how hard they work.”
