Ainge's motto still is: Don't wait till next year
No matter what moves Danny Ainge makes this offseason, he can't possibly top the franchise-altering acquisitions he pulled off last offseason, when he revitalized the Celtics by trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. But that doesn't mean he's resting on his championship ring.
The day after watching the Celtics' 22-year NBA championship drought end, Ainge, the general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations, celebrated by studying film, evaluating five players who came to town for predraft workouts, and presiding over a staff meeting for scouting assignments for their free agent camp July 2-5.
"I've been involved in the business of the NBA every day since the season started, draft picks, film, preparing for free agency," said Ainge yesterday. "While the team was playing, there were meetings on the road with the staff in Detroit and LA."
Ainge and his aides have to prepare for the draft a week from today, the start of free agency (July 1), and begin to formulate the 2008-09 Celtics, who will likely have a different look than the team that had confetti rain on its heads.
"There are lot of factors in managing for future years and trying to win now," said Ainge. "We did a good job this last offseason of that, but with the team's success, it's difficult to have the exact same team back under those circumstances."
Don't expect any drastic changes. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen are all under contract for at least the next two seasons. But Ainge always has an eye on the future.
"There is a fine balance. Last year we decided to get into this Paul Pierce cycle," said Ainge. "We still want to do that next year. We're not going to do anything to get younger other than the draft and a free agent here and there, but you do have to take into consideration the age of your players every year."
Boston has six potential free agents - guards Eddie House, Sam Cassell, and Tony Allen, center Scot Pollard, and forwards P.J. Brown and James Posey. The most crucial is Posey, 31, who has indicated through his agent, Mark Bartelstein, he will opt out of the two-year deal he signed with Boston, forgoing $3.4 million to hit the open market.
Posey, Boston's best bench player, was a crucial component in the playoffs, especially in the Finals.
Ainge refused comment on the free agents, saying the team will let things settle, but he acknowledged Posey's importance. "James was huge for us. He brings a lot of intangibles to the team. He's been a real spark. He's brought some toughness to the team, and we wouldn't have won a championship without him."
Brown, who played a key role in the title run after the Celtics lured him out of retirement, is expected to contemplate retirement again. Of the remaining free agents, House would appear to be the best fit.
Regardless of whom Boston re-signs or signs as replacements, Ainge acknowledged the Celtics will be over the luxury tax threshold, as they were this season. The payroll is projected to be at $71 million, including their first-round pick, which at No. 30 will make $797,600 next season.
With point guard Gabe Pruitt, who could be ready to become Rajon Rondo's backup next season, and forward Glen Davis already on the roster, good luck to any rookie trying to crack Doc Rivers's rotation.
Whatever direction Ainge goes in this offseason, it would seem he's earned some leeway. The naysayers who derisively referenced Ainge's "vision" for returning the franchise to prominence when he took over in 2003 are now buying Celtics championship T-shirts.
Ainge inherited a team that had advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. He looked at the roster and deemed it wasn't championship material, so he dismantled it to build a winner. Until his master strokes last offseason, most thought Ainge's blueprint for success was a pink slip waiting to happen.
"I understand how people will be," Ainge said. "People used 'vision' before I did. All 30 teams have the same vision - to try to win. The whole word 'vision' was senseless to me. People seemed to infer I had a different vision than someone else had in this business."
The Celtics' roster will come into focus in the next few months, but Ainge's vision remains sharp.
