HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on Pierce & KG staying put: "I think that's by far the most likely thing. Sure." Twitter @brohrbach

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

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge said he'd "of course" talk to Pierce, KG about potential trades. Confirmed KG requested no-trade clause this summer for stability. Twitter @brohrbach

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

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge: "There aren't a lot of teams trying to pursue players of KG & Paul's age. I think we value them more than other teams value them." Twitter @brohrbach

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

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on trade rumors: "Things out there are things that aren't true and things that are happening are things that aren't being reported." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

The hottest rumor making the rounds was the Clippers taking an interest in acquiring Garnett, a deal sources told ESPN had not been discussed by the two teams. According to a Sporting News report, the Clippers would send Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler to Boston as part of the deal. "Well [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] made it very, very obvious since day one, since he brought Ray Allen and myself here to be aligned with Paul [Pierce] that he was going to do whatever is best for this organization," said Garnett, who can block any deal with his no-trade clause. "He's always made that apparent, so I've always understood that. I bleed green, I die green, that's what it is. But it is a business and when that crosses the paths, I deal with it. But trades are a part of this league. Every year you're going to hear certain things. If I were y'all, I wouldn't read too much into it." ESPN.com

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

Danny Ainge on if the Celtics have any plans on replacing Rajon Rondo: “Not right now. There’s a lot of reasons we’re not just jumping out and doing something right now. There really is nobody you’re going to find to replace Rondo through trade or through free agent acquisition at this time of year with our inflexibility. We like the guys. (Leandro) Barbosa has been dying for a chance to play, Jason Terry, Avery (Bradley) playing some more point, I think all those guys are looking for an opportunity so I think it’s a chance for us to see those guys play without Rondo playing and just see what they’re capable of doing.” Sports Radio Interviews

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Jason Terry 

Danny Ainge on whether he has talked to Paul Pierce about a possible trade given that he could be an asset at the deadline: “No, because nothing has been talked about with Paul (Pierce) or discussed. Nothing is close to being done. I too would like to see Paul Pierce retire as a Celtic. That would be great. We’re all attached to Paul. Paul has been great for the city, the franchise, each of us individually and a true pro. Having said that, if something came up I would talk to Paul but my job is to do what is best for the Boston Celtics fans, for the Boston Celtics team and what’s in the best interest of our team regardless of my personal ties or personal relationships with players.” Sports Radio Interviews

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Doc Rivers has spent the past couple of days focusing on today's opponent, the Los Angeles Clippers. But that didn't stop him from taking time out of his preparation to spend some time with free agent Greg Oden. "It was just a chance to get to know Greg a little better," Danny Ainge, the C's president of basketball operations, told CSNNE.com on Saturday. CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

Coach Doc Rivers, general manager Danny Ainge and the Celtics may very well be interested in adding Greg Oden to their roster but they're doing a job of not going overboard in expressing their enthusiasm after meeting with him on Saturday while the rest of the team had the day off. "I got the Clippers tonight," Rivers said before Sunday's game with the Clippers. "I said hi to him, reminisced about high school days when I watched some AAU, but other than that, I can tell you I thought far more about the guys we are playing tonight than next year. "We really haven’t talked about [additions]. Honestly. We obviously can, because we need a body. But we really haven’t talked about it much at all. Nothing really. What I think Danny is doing is probably doing all the work right now and I’m sure this week maybe, or who knows in two weeks, he’ll come with a long list of scenarios." WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed Thursday during his weekly appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI that the team is "monitoring" former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, but haven't made an attempt to sign the 7-footer. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

"Yeah, so we're monitoring Greg, like all the NBA teams are, but we have not attempted to sign him," Ainge said Thursday. "But we are monitoring him and having (conversations) with his people just to see where he's at." Oden hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009, and reportedly wouldn't return until the 2013-14 season. "I don't think (he'd be ready to play this year)," Ainge said. "I don't know any of that for sure, but I would suspect that anybody that would sign him would have their eyes looking more towards his contribution in the future than now." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

A. Sherrod Blakely: “@TAyLORMADE823: What does this mean sherrod?” Oden is a player the #Celtics are keeping an eye on for next season. #Aingedoinghisjob Twitter @SherrodbCSN

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

The Celtics met with free agent center Greg Oden today to discuss his potential signing. Reached a short time ago, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said the meeting was mainly an informational process for each side. "We wanted to talk to Greg to see where he is physically," Ainge said. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

"We're just finding out as much as we can and letting Greg know what we have here," said Ainge. "He's not ready to play now, but he's someone who's very interesting." He added that there is nothing imminent with Oden, who is investigating his options as he tries to get his knees ready for another run at the NBA. There had been a report that Oden was not interested in the Celtics, but Ainge said, "I haven't heard that. If it was true, then why would be fly in to speak with us?" Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

Danny Ainge on potential roster moves moving forward: "I don’t know any of that yet. I'm not sure. We have three weeks before the trade deadline ends, and we’re trying to maintain flexibility. By that time, by the trade deadline date, we will have a full [15-man] roster, one way or another." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge 

"We're not ready to cave in yet, are you kidding? It's going to take more than that," Ainge said just before Friday's game with the Magic at TD Garden. "We'll just have to win in a different way. Jared's our best rebounder. We don't have to play that way. Last two games, we played without Jared last game and I think our team looked great. The second half and most of the Miami game, we played smaller ball and were able to win. Against New York, they're a small-ball team, we played small against them, had a win against them in New York. "I think we're going to have to win in a different way without Jared and without Rajon. We'll see what we have." WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge 

As always, in his weekly appearance on WEEI’s Big Show, Celtics president Danny Ainge spoke openly about the state of his team. He made two things clear following Rajon Rondo‘s season-ending ACL injury: 1) “It’s silly” to think they’ll be better without him and 2) Paul Pierce trades haven’t been discussed. “[Rondo] singlehandedly carries us many nights, and I don’t see how people don’t see that,” said Ainge. “When people say we’re going to be better without Rondo, it’s silly. He’s a great, great player. He’s been MVP of four or five series. He’s been the best player on the floor in a series with LeBron James. He’s been the best player on the floor in a series with Derrick Rose. He’s been the best player on the floor for three games in an NBA Finals.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge 

“Nothing with Paul has been discussed,” said Ainge. “I too would like to see Paul Pierce retire as a Celtic. Having said that, if something came up, I would talk to Paul.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Danny Ainge 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge: "When people say we're going to be better w/o Rondo, it's silly. He's a great, great player. He's been MVP of 4 or 5 playoff series." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Trade, Danny Ainge