Ainge: No Augustin Talks; Small Tweak Possible

Posted by Zach Lowe on Feb 10, 2010 59435 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fainge-no-augustin-talks-small-tweak-possible%2FAinge%3A+No+Augustin+Talks%3B+Small+Tweak+Possible2010-02-10+22%3A57%3A49Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D5943

Chris Forsberg has the highlights of Danny Ainge’s weekly appearance on WEEI:

“We haven’t had any discussions with Charlotte,” said Ainge. “There was some speculation that they were looking for a 4, we were looking for a backup point [guard]. People try to put things together. We have not had discussions. I like the player in the trade [Augustin], but we like Glen Davis a lot, too.” 

That is a strong, categorical denial. That’s not Ainge saying he personally hasn’t had discussions with Charlotte, leaving the door open that someone else in the front office may have. That’s Ainge saying no one from Boston, to his knowledge, has discussed Augustin-Davis. 

Again: Take everything you hear in the press during the approach of the trade deadline with a huge pile of salt. But this is a clear statement. 

Also:

“We’re going to try to do something. I feel like we need to do something. It might be something very small — tweak the personality of our team.” 

Later Ainge added: “I’ll know more by this time next week, if there’s anything we can do to win better this year and still not hurt us down the road. So I’m exploring, those are the only kind of deals I’d consider doing right now. Right now, I’m not ready to blow it up. [Maybe] if there was a very intriguing young player, but those are not available.” 

I’ve been saying for a while now that the only deal I consider likely is a deal on the margins involving Boston sending a couple of expiring deals for a mid-level player such as John Salmons.

Should we read much into Ainge hedging on the possibility of “blowing it up”—the bit when he says that “maybe” he’d take that step if there were an intriguing young player available? I’m not sure. You know how these radio interviews are. They are fast-paced and free-flowing, and Ainge responds to the questions put to him. 

I wouldn’t read much into it.

Update: Here’s the transcript of that section of the interview via WEEI.com:

It seems that the only way you would make a big trade is if you come to the conclusion that you can’t win it this year. Is that fair?

I don’t think that it’s that simple. I’ll know more by this time next week if there’s anything that we can do to give us a chance to win better this year, and still not hurt us down the road. I’m exploring. Those are the only kind of deals I would consider right now. I’m not ready to blow it up. Now, if it was a very intriguing young player then that’s a whole different story, but those aren’t available.