Bucher: Ainge on Phoenix Wish List

Posted by Zach Lowe on Jun 22, 2010 888711 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F06%2F22%2Fbucher-ainge-on-phoenix-wish-list%2FBucher%3A+Ainge+on+Phoenix+Wish+List2010-06-23+02%3A49%3A34Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D8887

The key, though, is that it’s a wish list. Read Ric Bucher’s piece carefully, and you’ll notice no mention of Ainge having any interest in the Phoenix GM job or the Celtics making Ainge available for an interview:

The Phoenix Suns have been granted permission to talk to San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey about being their next GM on the condition they wait until after Thursday’s draft, league sources said Tuesday.

While Lindsey appears to be at the top of the Suns’ list, he is not the only candidate in which owner Robert Sarver is interested.

Sources said Sarver also hopes to talk to Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge, former New Jersey Nets assistant GM Kiki Vandeweghe and former Portland Trail Blazers assistant GM Tom Penn.

I’d like to talk to Danny Ainge, too.

I’d like to ask him about the C’s plans for the mid-level exception and how close they really got to dealing Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo. That doesn’t mean I’m going to get to talk to Danny Ainge, just like this report doesn’t mean Robert Sarver—whose legendary cheapness cost the Suns Rajon Rondo and, possibly, Steve Kerr—has any shot of luring Ainge to Phoenix.

But Ainge has a track record now, which means he’ll be in the conversation when GM jobs open up. Can you imagine if the C’s lost Ainge, Rivers, Thibodeau and Ray Allen in the same off-season? Don’t worry—it won’t happen.