HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Celtics have to decide by June 30 whether to buy out Pierce’s contract at $5 million. Ainge said the sides have not had discussions, but an NBA source said Pierce’s family is already beginning to prepare for relocation from Boston, assuming that the Celtics will execute the buyout or trade his expiring contract in the offseason. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Danny Ainge 

"Yeah (he'll be back), Doc and I are talking about our team next year," Ainge said. "(No suspense) from my perspective. We've got a great coach. We've got a coach everybody would love to have and he's got three years left on his contract and I think Doc likes Boston, too.Coaches get tired, though. It's a hard job. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

With Rivers back, the Celtics can now begin formulating their roster for next season. Ainge said he has not talked with Kevin Garnett, who will turn 37 on Sunday and is considering retirement. "I don't think I have the answers that Kevin will want," Ainge said. "So I gotta figure there's a lot to do (before we talk) and I think there's a lot of questions in Kevin's mind as there is every year, to determine whether he's coming back. I'm not ready to answer everything that he will want to know." Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

Gary Washburn: Danny Ainge confirms that Doc Rivers is returning next season as #celtics coach. "We've got a coach everybody would love to have." Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Steve Bulpett: Rivers injured, not at Pre-Draft combine. Suffered bad hamstring pull playing tennis. Ainge: "It's kind of funny, but it's not." Twitter @SteveBHoop

Draft, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Jerry Zgoda: Faces spotted just walking into gym: Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Ty Corbin, Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan, Rick Carlisle, RJ Adelman Twitter @JerryZgoda

Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan, Rick Carlisle, Ty Corbin, RJ Adelman 

Doc Rivers is off on a golf course somewhere, pondering his future with the Celtics and asking for time to think. But that hasn’t stopped the Celtics coach from taking regular part in the team’s plans for next year, according to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “I talk to Doc all of the time, and we’re talking about our plans for next year,” said Ainge, who left yesterday for Chicago to attend the NBA’s pre-draft combine. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Though Ainge is unsure of whether Rivers will make an appearance in Chicago, he continues to move forward as the coach will remain in place. “I only expect Doc to say something to me if he is not coming back,” Ainge said. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Gary Washburn: The #Raptors have asked for permission to speak with #celtics asst. Tyronn Lue for position on Dwane Casey's staff, according to Danny Ainge Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Danny Ainge, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Tyronn Lue 

McDonough said he expects his philosophy to be very similar to the one of Danny Ainge, who he learned the job from in Boston. “Danny Ainge is probably my professional mentor,” he said. “I think my philosophy will be the same. In Boston, one of the things Danny did so well, he was very aggressive in acquiring draft picks and trying to get the best players through whatever means necessary. One of the things that I learned from Danny Ainge is to be unafraid, and that not very move is going to be perfect. I’ll probably make some mistakes. But if you’re willing to work at it, and correct some of those mistakes — and again, if you’re unafraid — then that can lead to some great results.” NBCSports.com

Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Danny Ainge, Coaching, Robert Sarver, Ryan McDonough 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge: "We're more than 1 player away unless it's a great player. It'll be tough to become a championship team from where we are." Ouch. Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on KG: "I'll touch base w/him some time next week. … He needs time to chill and contemplate his life. I do anticipate KG will play." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

Ben Rohrbach: Danny Ainge reiterates Rondo should be ready for training camp. Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Injuries 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on Stephen A.'s rumored Doc feud: "I think I have the best coach in the NBA, and I'm not the least bit tired of hearing his voice." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Coaching 

Steve Bulpett: Ainge in on McD in today's Herald: "a guy I've heavily relied on over the last handful of years... excited for him to get an opportunity. Twitter @SteveBHoop

Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Danny Ainge, Ryan McDonough 

As the Celtics began their offseason last night, there were no easy answers in sight. “Well, you’re not going to find Paul Pierces and Kevin Garnetts on the free agent market,” Ainge told the Herald. “Those guys don’t exist — except for guys that are probably going to stay where they are.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

Ainge told CSNNE.com prior to Boston's 92-86 Game 5 win on Wednesday night that whatever the team decides to do with Pierce during the offseason - keep him, trade him or buy him out - it will be one of the toughest calls he has had to make. CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Danny Ainge 

"What's important to understand, yeah, it's going to be hard for fans and everybody else, but as far as what's doing what's best for the Celtics, it's probably going to be very hard, too," Ainge told CSNNE.com. "It's not a no-brainer. It's not like you get a 21-year-old All-Star player, or you get the number one pick in the draft [if you let Pierce go]. Those decisions would not be hard, but I have a feeling the decision is going to be very hard, yeah." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Danny Ainge 

As far as whether he is leaning one way or another, Ainge made it clear that no decision on Pierce's future had been made. "I have not even discussed that with anyone within our franchise yet," Ainge said. "So that's something for like a few weeks from now to contemplate." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Danny Ainge 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on KG's health: "He expects to be at his best tomorrow night. He looked good in practice today. He's moving well." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Injuries, Kevin Garnett