Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 29, 2006 16:15:30 GMT -5
Here are the basics of the interview with Danny today.
They asked him if the deals last night were and end or a means to an other trade. Danny said that no deal is just for it's own merit. We are always trying to get better and accumulate as much talent at each position. He likes what we have now.
They asked Danny about going for Rondo when Williams was still available. Rondo was the highest ranked PG on his board. Rondo has a special something. He has length and athleticism and is a great defender. Rondo is one of the best athletes in the draft versus Williams who was one of the lowest ranked athletically. He compared 2 football player to make the comparison that we took vince young over matt leinart and I am not sure who they are so didn't get the comparison.
Danny wasn't surprised that Williams dropped. He said that each team ranks players differently and mentioned several teams that were high on Williams but he just wasn't the right fit for their team. He also mentioned that no other team but the Knicks would have taken Balkman that high.
They asked him if the trade last night was plan A or B. and Danny said it was plan A because it was done before the draft and the one they had been after all along. He and Doc studied Telfair for a couple of weeks and watched all his old game tapes and came to the conclusion that if he had gone to college he definitely would have been the top PG taken and wouldn't have been on the board for them at 7. He is a fan of Brandon Roy but knee surgeries scared him.
They asked him several times about Iverson and a possible trade for him. They were pushing Ainge to get it done. Danny said he couldn't comment on specifics but said that they are working the market for a trade and have the assets to bring in an All Star for the first time. He said there are a lot more names in discussion than just Iverson.
Last year the losing was partly due to youth. When Danny came they didn't have any assets except Pierce to try to bring in a top talent. He said that Walker was a great player but his contract didn't warrant a return.
We have many attractive players with attractive salaries. We need more experience on the team. They asked him if he has a game plan as to what it would take to bring in the top players. He said that he has an idea of what it would take and if the right deal comes along and the price is right he would do it. He mentioned that if you are trying to get a player who is 31 with 2 years left on his contract what do you give up? He said that he feels that our young guys can rise to tht level and doesn't want to give up too much to get a veteran player. We have the pieces to buy and we have to decide if the price being asked is worth it.
He has no doubt that Pierce and Iverson can play together.
They mentioned seeing Pierce on Quite Frankly and Danny asked if they actually watch that show. They said that Pierce was salivating over the thought of AI coming to Boston and that he brought up that this was probably Danny's most important off season because we have to make strides to get better.
They asked Danny if he was worried or feeling pressured that Pierce would get frustrated and want to leave if he doesn't make a major move. Danny said no he doesn't feel pressured because if he does then he may make a mistake. He really likes every guy on our team right now and for the first time feels comfortable with them.
Progress is most important. If we see progress we don't have to go out and win 50 games to be successful this year. He doesn't want to make a decision that he will regret later. We have to be patient but if a good enough deal comes along he has to do it.
Chemistry is important. He doesnt run everything by Pierce but does sit and talk with him and knows that Pierce would agree that he shouldn't trade too much of the future away for a few wins now.
They mentioned how Scott Wedman used to bring his own water along with him on the road and Ainge called him "Know your body Scotty". They mentioned this as a means to bring up the gun incident with Telfair. Danny said he did significant research and got good reports from all sides and is convinced that it was just as Telfair said it was.
By trading Raef for Ratliff we lose a year of contract and that is a good thing. They mentioned that Ratliff's play seemed to fall off last year and Danny said that Portland was a very disfunctional team and that he feels that Theo has lots of Basketball left in him. Telfair and Ratliff are both happy to be here.
Danny has never seen anything like this draft. he was there until after midnight still working the phones and details. He was amazed that Allen Ray wasn't drafted and said that he thinks he is a player and Danny mentioned that he thinks he may even be better than Foye all the way around. Danny was excited that he is coming to our summer league team.
My take: Danny didn't seem like he is ready to mortgage our future to bring in someone to help. It seems as though he is stockpiling talent. Telfair, Rondo, Powe, Ray... He could easily trade Gomes, Allen, and a point and the team wouldn't skip a beat. He sounds like he is going weigh very carefully who he gives up with who he gets back. Iverson isn't the only player he is going after but that is the name that has been in the news. It is going to be an interesting summer.
They asked him if the deals last night were and end or a means to an other trade. Danny said that no deal is just for it's own merit. We are always trying to get better and accumulate as much talent at each position. He likes what we have now.
They asked Danny about going for Rondo when Williams was still available. Rondo was the highest ranked PG on his board. Rondo has a special something. He has length and athleticism and is a great defender. Rondo is one of the best athletes in the draft versus Williams who was one of the lowest ranked athletically. He compared 2 football player to make the comparison that we took vince young over matt leinart and I am not sure who they are so didn't get the comparison.
Danny wasn't surprised that Williams dropped. He said that each team ranks players differently and mentioned several teams that were high on Williams but he just wasn't the right fit for their team. He also mentioned that no other team but the Knicks would have taken Balkman that high.
They asked him if the trade last night was plan A or B. and Danny said it was plan A because it was done before the draft and the one they had been after all along. He and Doc studied Telfair for a couple of weeks and watched all his old game tapes and came to the conclusion that if he had gone to college he definitely would have been the top PG taken and wouldn't have been on the board for them at 7. He is a fan of Brandon Roy but knee surgeries scared him.
They asked him several times about Iverson and a possible trade for him. They were pushing Ainge to get it done. Danny said he couldn't comment on specifics but said that they are working the market for a trade and have the assets to bring in an All Star for the first time. He said there are a lot more names in discussion than just Iverson.
Last year the losing was partly due to youth. When Danny came they didn't have any assets except Pierce to try to bring in a top talent. He said that Walker was a great player but his contract didn't warrant a return.
We have many attractive players with attractive salaries. We need more experience on the team. They asked him if he has a game plan as to what it would take to bring in the top players. He said that he has an idea of what it would take and if the right deal comes along and the price is right he would do it. He mentioned that if you are trying to get a player who is 31 with 2 years left on his contract what do you give up? He said that he feels that our young guys can rise to tht level and doesn't want to give up too much to get a veteran player. We have the pieces to buy and we have to decide if the price being asked is worth it.
He has no doubt that Pierce and Iverson can play together.
They mentioned seeing Pierce on Quite Frankly and Danny asked if they actually watch that show. They said that Pierce was salivating over the thought of AI coming to Boston and that he brought up that this was probably Danny's most important off season because we have to make strides to get better.
They asked Danny if he was worried or feeling pressured that Pierce would get frustrated and want to leave if he doesn't make a major move. Danny said no he doesn't feel pressured because if he does then he may make a mistake. He really likes every guy on our team right now and for the first time feels comfortable with them.
Progress is most important. If we see progress we don't have to go out and win 50 games to be successful this year. He doesn't want to make a decision that he will regret later. We have to be patient but if a good enough deal comes along he has to do it.
Chemistry is important. He doesnt run everything by Pierce but does sit and talk with him and knows that Pierce would agree that he shouldn't trade too much of the future away for a few wins now.
They mentioned how Scott Wedman used to bring his own water along with him on the road and Ainge called him "Know your body Scotty". They mentioned this as a means to bring up the gun incident with Telfair. Danny said he did significant research and got good reports from all sides and is convinced that it was just as Telfair said it was.
By trading Raef for Ratliff we lose a year of contract and that is a good thing. They mentioned that Ratliff's play seemed to fall off last year and Danny said that Portland was a very disfunctional team and that he feels that Theo has lots of Basketball left in him. Telfair and Ratliff are both happy to be here.
Danny has never seen anything like this draft. he was there until after midnight still working the phones and details. He was amazed that Allen Ray wasn't drafted and said that he thinks he is a player and Danny mentioned that he thinks he may even be better than Foye all the way around. Danny was excited that he is coming to our summer league team.
My take: Danny didn't seem like he is ready to mortgage our future to bring in someone to help. It seems as though he is stockpiling talent. Telfair, Rondo, Powe, Ray... He could easily trade Gomes, Allen, and a point and the team wouldn't skip a beat. He sounds like he is going weigh very carefully who he gives up with who he gets back. Iverson isn't the only player he is going after but that is the name that has been in the news. It is going to be an interesting summer.