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“I think the referees got the calls right. I don’t think it was a hard foul,” Ainge said of the mixups involving James and Heinrich, as well as another one involving James and Taj Gibson. “I think the one involving LeBron against Boozer, that was flagrant. I think the officials got it right. “I think that it’s almost embarrassing that LeBron would complain about officiating,” Ainge added. WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, LeBron James, Danny Ainge 

Floated that scenario during a call to Boston sports radio WBZ-FM (98.5 the SportsHub), Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge brushed off the suggestion while stressing how much the team likes the Rondo-Avery Bradley backcourt combination moving forward. "I don’t know what you're insinuating, because Avery is not Rondo and Avery can also play 2 guard with Rondo and those guys have been extremely effective together," said Ainge. "I know that we haven’t had them together much this year and I think that Rajon loves playing with Avery Bradley, for a lot of different reasons. I think that combination last year proved to be spectacular, they just did’t get a chance to get together much this year, so it's a little bit unfair." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

Later, Ainge was asked more directly if he'd ponder trading Rondo or Bradley in the offseason given the way his team has performed. "I can’t envision any scenario, no," said Ainge. "I love those guys, where Rondo is right in the prime of his career, and Avery's not even there yet, he's continuing to get better. I think they are a great guard combination and to ever consider doing something like that, it would have to be something significant." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

It's believed that the Hawks, like many teams over the past few years, had internal questions about how serious Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge really was when it came to surrendering Pierce or Kevin Garnett at the deadline. Although Pierce, Garnett and Rajon Rondo have all been openly mentioned in trade speculation since the Celtics' crushing defeat to the Lakers in Los Angeles in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, with Ainge known to aggressively call around the league to see what's available in potential deals, there remains considerable skepticism about his willingness to actually go through with dealing with Pierce or KG after those 30-somethings helped end Boston's two- decade championship drought. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge wouldn't say how close any deals came to happening, although he said: "I never talked to KG." Added he didn't WANT to trade KG/Paul. Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

Steve Bulpett: C's working it hard. GM just said: "Danny can't come out of this w/nothing. Whether it's for now or the future, he has to do SOMETHING." Twitter @SteveBHoop

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Eddy (Boston) You see the Celtics making a splash at the deadline? If so, for who? Chad Ford (1:17 PM) I don't know what to believe. Multiple GMs say the Celtics are as active as any team in the league. Danny Ainge keeps saying it's unlikely they do anything big. I've heard Ainge is pushing KG, Pierce and Rondo. Reports say they're all being told they won't be moved. It's pretty clear to me that the Celtics have to do something ... and they have the assets to do it -- either breaking things up or adding to their core. The idea that Ainge is going to sit on his hands just don't seem right. Welcome to another Danny Ainge trade deadline drama. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge is a good listener, and league executives continue to call Ainge about point guard Rajon Rondo's availability even though Rondo is out for the season with a torn ACL, an NBA executive told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations. USA Today Sports

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge 

Ainge has assured Rondo that he won't be traded, according to his agent Bill Duffy. However, Ainge maintains the Celtics aren't in the market for a major deal. USA Today Sports

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge 

Sam Amick: Agent for Rajon Rondo, Bill Duffy, tells USAT that Boston GM Danny Ainge assured him today the Celtics PG won't be traded. Story to come. Twitter @sam_amick

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Bill Duffy 

As Danny Ainge downplayed the possibility the Celtics will be involved in a transaction before tomorrow’s NBA trade deadline, general managers and personnel people around the league are saying quite the opposite. They’ll be stunned if the Celts don’t make a deal of some sort. “They’re too active,” said one. “They’ve been putting a lot of different things out there, and you’d have to think at least one of them is going to come through.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Danny Ainge didn’t sound optimistic regarding his ability to make a move before Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Though, to be fair, it's doubtful he'd say otherwise given the whims of deadline crunch time, the Celtics' head of basketball operations isn’t sure there's anything out there that marries what he wants and what he can deliver to another club. "It looks unlikely that anything will be done, other than possibly some players we will add to our roster," Ainge said. "Not sure yet of what that will be. "There’s been a lot of conversation around the league, and we’ve been very busy. Trades are very challenging to make, and then on top of that we like our guys. I like watching this team play, I like the personality of our team. We just need to find a way to give them the best chance to win with the resources we have." Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

There is generally a frenzy among teams at this time of the year, but Ainge believes things are a bit more active now, particularly on the Celtics' part. "This year has been much more, just because we’ve had injuries," he said. "We wouldn’t be talking as much if we didn’t have as many injuries. "We’re looking to give it a run. When trade rumors come out that leads to a lot of (discussion) too. (Rajon) Rondo’s name comes out and Paul (Pierce)’s name comes out. KG (Kevin Garnett)’s name comes out. You have to field a lot of waste-of-time calls from media and other teams. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett 

The most glaring deficiency since Green came to Boston has been his rebounding. The Celtics were so bothered by his lack of production in that area that when they signed him to a 4-year, $36 million extension last summer, Ainge included a rebounding incentive clause in the deal. More rebounds, more pay. "That one area was our biggest concern," Ainge said. "To me, it's not a lack of effort. It's about bad habits. "I don't think Jeff has ever focused on rebounding in his life, from what I can tell." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge 

Making his weekly appearance on “The Big Show” Thursday afternoon, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge discussed a number of topics, including how the team plans to try and replace the production of Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger and Leandro Barbosa, all three of whom have gone down with injury. Ainge said the trade options are “much less” than they were prior to the injury streak, and added, “It’s going to be tough. We have a tough week ahead of us.” At the same, he noted the team would take advantage of the break provided with this weekend’s All-Star game and “explore trades and free-agent signings.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

One name that was floated as a possible signee is Delonte West, a free agent who has some experience in the Celtics system. “Delonte is a player we certainly know, probably better than anybody in the NBA,” Ainge said. “And he’s on a list of guys we are looking at. We’re going to take this entire week during the All-Star break and explore trades and free-agent signings. We have a long list of players, and he’s on that list. It’s hard. It’s a difficult thing for players to not play basketball all year who haven’t played since last April and expect them to come in and be able to contribute.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Trade, Delonte West, Danny Ainge 

Chris Forsberg: One note after talking to Danny Ainge: C’s want to bring back Leandro Barbosa next season. He’ll undergo surgery after MCL sprain heals. Twitter @ESPNForsberg

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Leandro Barbosa 

Danny Ainge: “Immediately we will probably bring someone in on a 10-day contract, and we’re going through all those names. There’s a lot of names actually, but it’s going to be very difficult to replace Leandro Barbosa.” “Immediately” will likely mean the end of the All-Star break that starts tomorrow, and in terms of free agents, the Celtics are looking beyond the D-League and the U.S. border. “There are guys playing all around the world, and I need to figure out when they may become available with their contracts,” said Ainge. “So there’s a lot to go through here.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Trade, Danny Ainge 

In addition, he must also weigh what he can sign now as a free agent against what could be available between now and next week. “The problem with trades now is we don’t have enough bodies to trade,” Ainge said. “Like, we can’t afford to trade a big for a guard. It’s not like we have an excess amount of anything. We have nine or 10 players, and we’re not trading draft picks unless someone really special becomes available.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on Thursday that despite rumors to the contrary, he doesn't expect to trade Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. "Yeah, I think that's by far the most likely thing. Sure," he said when asked if he was comfortable saying that the two stars will remain in Boston. "I'll just repeat what I always tell you guys -- the things that are out there are the things that aren't true and the things that are happening are not being reported," he said regarding trade rumors. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett