Why Danny Ainge Doesn’t Buy That Paul Pierce Is Retiring Next Season

Why Danny Ainge Doesn’t Buy That Paul Pierce Is Retiring Next Season

WALTHAM, Mass. — Paul Pierce pulled a Kobe Bryant on Monday, announcing this upcoming season will be his last. But his former boss believes it could be more of a Michael Jordan situation. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was asked Monday at the team’s media day what he thought of Pierce stepping away after the 2016-17 campaign, but he didn’t sound too sure that’d actually be the case. “First of all, I think Paul can play for a few more years,” Ainge said. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” So why does Ainge, who won an NBA title with Pierce in 2008 and spent roughly a decade with the 10-time All-Star,

NBA Rumors: Ray Allen Speaks With Celtics, Bucks About Possible Return

Share this: The Boston Celtics’ offseason moves might not be over if Ray Allen has a say. The former Celtics guard, who won the 2008 NBA championship with Boston, recently told the Hartford Courant that he’s mulling a comeback and already has spoken with the C’s and Milwaukee Bucks. From the Courant’s article: The Spurs and Clippers have been mentioned, also, but Allen said he has spoken with the Celtics, with whom he won a championship in 2008, and the Bucks, his first NBA stop. “I would love going back to those places if it worked out,” Allen said, “because both teams are good, too. It doesn’t necessarily have to be championship-or-bust for me to go back to the NBA. “I want to be in a

Doc Rivers: If Paul Pierce Retires, Clippers Would Let Him End Career With Celtics

Share this: Paul Pierce will always be a Boston Celtic. Sure, he’s played with three teams since the Celtics traded him to the Brooklyn Nets after the 2012-13 campaign — one season each for the Nets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. But people will remember him as a great Celtics player before anything else. Pierce reportedly plans to play next season, his 19th as a pro, but if he decides to walk away, Clippers head coach and president Doc Rivers will let him go to the Celtics so he can retire with the historic franchise. “If Paul decides to retire, then we’re going to make sure that Boston picks him up for one day and he retires a Celtic because that’s what he should retire as,”

NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics ‘Will Not Give Up Much’ For Jahlil Okafor

The Boston Celtics want Jahlil Okafor in green. That much is not a secret, nor has is been, for several months. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge reportedly made a “godfather” offer for Okafor at the trade deadline — one the Sixers probably now wish they’d taken. Why? Because while the Celtics, and certainly other teams, still are very interested in Okafor, they don’t want to pay a hefty price to acquire him. From Philly.com: Word out of Boston is that the Celtics will not give up much for the 6-foot-11, 257-pounder. They have concerns about his playing in the city after being involved in two street fights there ... NESN.com

NBA Rumors: Celtics, Wizards ‘Have Emerged As Favorites’ For Al Horford

The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards haven’t faced off in an NBA playoff series since 1984, but they currently are in a battle of free agency. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday, citing league sources, that Boston and Washington “have emerged as the frontrunners to sign free-agent big man Al Horford.” The Celtics reportedly will meet with free agent Kevin Durant in New York on Saturday as they continue their pursuit of a superstar player(s) to partner with All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas and talented head coach Brad Stevens. Horford would give the Celtics a much-needed frontcourt upgrade, which includes consistent scor...

Celtics Rumors: Boston Targeting Timofey Mozgov If Al Horford Pursuit Fails

Like most other teams, Kevin Durant is the Boston Celtics’ No. 1 target this offseason. But Durant can only sign with one team, and there are over 100 free agents available at 12:01 ET on Friday, so naturally teams have a multitude of backup options. Atlanta Hawks center is seemingly the consensus No. 2 option across the board, and the Celtics reportedly are one of several teams who will court him when he hits the market — especially because Durant reportedly would like to play with him. The C’s reportedly have been interested in the big man for several months. They didn’t want to give up core assets to acquire him last February

NBA Draft 2016: Ben Bentil Pick Highlights Celtics’ Solid Second Round

BOSTON — The Celtics didn’t quite live up to expectations with their actions in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft. But Boston’s work didn’t end there, as they responded with a few quality selections in the second round. The Celtics had five picks in the second round and reportedly will keep three of them after trading the No. 31 and No. 35 overall selections to the Memphis Grizzlies for the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2019 first-round pick. Here’s who the C’s selected with each pick: FIRST ROUNDNo. 3: Jaylen Brown, Forward, CaliforniaNo. 16: Guerschon Yabusele, Forward, Fra...