Danny speaks

Danny Ainge dispensed with the pleasantries and then said what was on everyone’s mind.

“This is gonna be a lot of fun this year,” said the Celtics’ director of basketball operations/GM.

Ainge was long-winded, but he touched on several topics:

--On the patience of Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers:

“They’ve stood in front of you guys for the last two years and taken some heat, taken some bullets. They’ve had pretty high expectations that were probably unrealistic and unfair… Paul’s endured a lot the last few years. I’m glad he’s here with us today.”

--On trading away five players:

"Minnesota got a good deal in this trade. Where they are as a franchise, it’s really hard for us, who invested a lot in time in the development of Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and Gerald Green. We’ve invested a lot of blood, sweat, and tears with them. I’m glad Al Jefferson is in the Western Conference. Ryan Gomes may be one of the best people I’ve been around in 25 years of sports. And we all know Gerald’s upside."

--On the difference between the Celtics and Timberwolves:

"Minnesota is in one phase of their franchise where we have been, in developing young players. And we’re in another phase right now. We are in a cycle where we feel like in the next couple of years we have a chance to be a very special team."

--On what’s next:

"We have roster spots to fill. We think we can continue to improve our roster. We don’t think that these three guys alone can win a championship. We really believe that a 14 man roster/13 man roster is crucial, and how we fill those roster spots is important to us to get supporting players that can get them over the top, and we will continue to do that. You know, on paper this team looks good. These guys have a lot to do. These guys have to get the chemistry right. They have to make the sacrifices to win."

--On comparisons to The Big 3:

"The Big Three is the Big Three until we win. And these guys will never be the Big Three until they win. And I think they know that."

--On Garnett's reported reluctance to come to Boston:

"All the reports out there were false from every conversation I’ve had with KG."