Danny Ainge Quotes

I can't think of any NBA team over the last few years that lost three starters. And we replaced them basically with three guys who really haven't played in this league.

It's hard to change a roster around. You've got to hit your draft picks right, you've gotta hit free agency right, and a team's got to fit together.

There's always a possibility that players can come and go when the market opens.

As for Seattle, we are rebuilding - no doubt about it. And in the WNBA, it's not easy to rebuild. You can't dangle millions in front of quality free agents.

The entire NBA knew in 2010 that the best player in the world could be a free agent in 2014. We weren't the only team positioning ourselves for the summer of 2014.

If we don't need the players who are available to sign, then why are we going to sign?

My job, when it comes to free agency, trades, is not to pick players, but support the personnel department and the coaching staff. We have to have the financial resources to make things happen and that's my job.

We spent a lot of money on some players.

I don't have a no-trade clause. I figure someone is going to pick me up.

I think in the NFL, continuity is something that is helpful, but it's not the end all. In a league where injuries are so prevalent, you're used to guys moving in and out.

Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year.

I learned about the market's power when I was traded to the Buffalo Bills for $100.

The rules are changed now, there's not any way to build a team today. It's just how much money you want to spend. You could be the world champions and somebody else makes a key acquisition or two and you're through.

We decided to either try trades or just go with older players. If you do that and let contracts expire you can be in the lottery for about four or five years and expect your fans to be patient.

I've seen where teams pay to get a player, like when Los Angeles paid to get Wayne Gretzky.

Smart drafting is a wonderful thing. A smart free-agent signing is a wonderful thing. Smart trades are a wonderful thing, and that's a function of management.

Nobody wants to give up good players.

Two of the most difficult parts of our business is trades and when a player leaves.

My last two years at Buffalo, I've had so many trade requests. Rumors every year.

£25million or £30m or £20m - whether you are expensive or not, players are just players.

There have been few players that haven't been traded over the years in the NBA.

It's just part of the NFL. There's going to be moving parts constantly. There's going to be roster changes. There's going to be coaches going somewhere else.

I think people have to realize that - and basketball fans do, Lakers fans do - that we have to operate under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, which means you can't just go and grab every player that you want.

One of the things about the NBA is anybody could be traded.

Our job is to play basketball, not worry about trades.