Austin Ainge On NBA Trade Rumors: 'Ignore All Of It'
BOSTON (CBS) -- What is one to make of all these NBA trade rumors?
The Spurs weren't even NBA champions before names like Kevin Love, Carmelo Anthony and, now, LeBron James were taking over the rumor mills, filling what is usually a quiet month of draft preparation with a smorgasbord of speculation.
And if you're a Celtics fan, it's been a wild ride. One day, Boston's basketball team is the favorite to land Kevin Love. The next, their offer isn't good enough. Now, the Golden State Warriors have taken a big step ahead of everyone in the Love sweepstakes, adding sharp-shooter Klay Thompson to their reported offer of David Lee, J.J. Barrea and a pick for Love and Kevin Martin.
If you have a Popsicle headache, you aren't alone. And these rumors are just going to get louder and louder as the June 26 NBA draft gets closer.
So what is a fan to do? Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge has some advice.
"Ignore all of it," Ainge said Thursday following Boston's pre-draft workouts in Waltham. "It's all planted on purpose. Anyone who's willing to talk, even off the record, at this time of year has an agenda and is trying to accomplish something. So we ignore absolutely all of it."
If a team isn't in the playoffs, June is a month used to prepare for the upcoming draft, but one that also includes plenty of rumors and speculation. As the Celtics have trucked in prospect after prospect for a pre-draft look, they have also been heavily involved in Kevin Love rumors since it was reported the All Star would opt out of his deal with the Timberwolves after this season. Even with the news of the Warriors' newest offer, that chatter isn't likely to go away until Love is introduced by his new team -- whoever it may be.
Until then, just ignore it. Except for our Love Watch, of course.
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