While the Celtics have played surprisingly well without Rajon Rondo, that hasn't stopped the widespread speculation about Danny Ainge blowing up the team before the trade deadline.
NBA trade rumors: Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett shoot down Celtics trade talk
Garnett told reporters today that he “bleeds green”, while Rivers says he hasn’t heard anything about a possible deal.
Bruce Bennett
However, in a conversation with reporters after practice on Tuesday, both Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers downplayed the rumors.
CelticsBlog, SB Nation’s aptly named Celtics blog, has a full transcript as well as analysis of the interviews here.
Garnett, for his part, emphasized his loyalty to the organization, as well as Paul Pierce (courtesy of CelticsHub):
On the possibility of getting traded. Would he ever waive it to go somewhere else?
"Well Danny made it very obvious since day one when he brought me and Ray here to be aligned with Paul that he was going to do whatever was best for the organization. He's made that apparent so I've understood that. I bleed green, I die green, that's what it is, butt is a business though, and when it crossed the paths, I'll deal with it. Trades are a part of this league. Every year you are going to hear certain things. If I were ya'll I wouldn't read much into it."
Rivers, meanwhile, emphasized that he hadn't heard anything from Celtics GM Danny Ainge to indicate to him that a major change would be made, even in the wake of season-ending injuries to Rondo and Jared Sullinger (courtesy of ESPN Boston):
“All from [the media],” the Celtics’ coach said of trade rumors. “None from us. Really. I would like to say that. Sometimes I like [the media], sometimes, some of the stuff that happens is just silly. It really is. When I wake up in the morning and I hear a trade rumor that I haven’t heard in my office, that’s silly, and that’s what happens.”
Nevertheless, Ainge has proven he's willing to pull the trigger on a trade, even if it's one unpopular in the locker room. Just two years ago, he moved Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green, a deal which went through without the consent of any of his veteran stars.
That’s why, even with Boston putting up a brave front for now, no one will be surprised if Ainge does decide to do something drastic in the next few weeks.
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