Rather than going individual by individual," Ainge said when asked about his interest in the free agents, "I would just say that we like all of them to some degree. Some of it's going to be dependent on numbers and roster spots and draft and trades and everything else. So you just can't emphatically say anything about anybody, other than I can emphatically say that we will definitely qualify Jae Crowder, which I think is pretty obvious. But other than that, the unrestricted free agents, it's uncertain. But we do like each one of them and would welcome any one of them back at the right price and in the right role."

By extending a qualifying offer (worth $1.2 million) to Crowder, the Celtics will make him a restricted free agent. Boston will have the right to match any offer he receives from another team on the open market and Ainge spoke with optimism about holding onto the gritty small forward.

"I think Jae is a player that was improving with the opportunity that he got to play for us," Ainge said. "And I think he's got a lot of upside still. I think he can still get better over the next few years. But we're excited about Jae, and we're excited about what he brings to our team, and his versatility, and his defensive ability to play a few different positions. We think he has a very bright future."

CrushAlot wrote:

Rather than going individual by individual," Ainge said when asked about his interest in the free agents, "I would just say that we like all of them to some degree. Some of it's going to be dependent on numbers and roster spots and draft and trades and everything else. So you just can't emphatically say anything about anybody, other than I can emphatically say that we will definitely qualify Jae Crowder, which I think is pretty obvious. But other than that, the unrestricted free agents, it's uncertain. But we do like each one of them and would welcome any one of them back at the right price and in the right role."

By extending a qualifying offer (worth $1.2 million) to Crowder, the Celtics will make him a restricted free agent. Boston will have the right to match any offer he receives from another team on the open market and Ainge spoke with optimism about holding onto the gritty small forward.

"I think Jae is a player that was improving with the opportunity that he got to play for us," Ainge said. "And I think he's got a lot of upside still. I think he can still get better over the next few years. But we're excited about Jae, and we're excited about what he brings to our team, and his versatility, and his defensive ability to play a few different positions. We think he has a very bright future."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2015/04/danny_ainge_on_celtics_offseason_plans_we_need_to_have_a_bus.html?camp=rss:celtics&dlvrit=834394

Good catch. Hearing Ainge's view is pretty interesting. Ainge is being pretty realistic about any of the better FA's coming there. IMO he'd have to overpay. Boston is not a prime destination for most players IMO. Aside from the McHale hookup I can't really remember too many top players being enthused about going to Boston.

I can't say just how far the Celtics would be willing to go in order to keep Jae. That's the part that makes FA so interesting and tough to predict. Lin was supposed to be coming back and then that contract change. Things like that happen every year. IMO Jae is a bit below some of the other FA's but he's a nice player. He makes me think that perhaps you could develop a guy up to his level for very little money.

brybry wrote:Tom Thibaetho. Dat Thibs? On ANY contract. Move Fisher's stank ass to Assistant.

All value.

Aminu said on Wednesday that he’d decline his option be a free agent this summer.

“I think it makes the most sense to me,” he said. “You just look for a great fit. This year, I think I found one. Hopefully, I can do the same.”