Ainge: Injuries may alter short-term plan

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BOSTONDanny Ainge was already searching high and wide for ways to bolster the Boston Celtics' roster.

Now with Jared Sullinger out for the season following back surgery, it's basically a matter of what type of deal he's able to pull off prior to the Feb. 21 trading deadline.

The Celtics have been sifting through the list of players they suspect might be available to trade for as well as players still without a team.

Although the best player available mentality is still in play, the focus now has to shift almost exclusively towards adding a big man.

"It (Sullinger's injury) might have some affect on what we do now," admitted Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations. "But it's not going to have an affect on what we do long term."

In other words, teams looking to give up talent attached with a toxic (read: long and bloated) contract are not realistic options under consideration by the Celtics.

Instead, look for the C's to focus their sights on players with expiring deals, or contracts with a decreasing value attached to them after this season.

Ainge wouldn't rule out adding a player or two that's currently a free agent as well.

One free agent option that remains available is Kenyon Martin. However, league sources indicated on Friday that the C's have not expressed any interest in adding the former all-star recently and even with Sullinger's injury, it appears that's not going to change.

And while Ainge's focus remains on doing what he can to bolster the Celtics roster, he remains confident that the C's have enough to continue winning games.

Despite the injuries to Sullinger and Rajon Rondo (torn right ACL), the C's have won three in a row.

"I'm not ready to cave in yet? You kidding?" Ainge said. "It's going to take more than that. We'll just have to win in a different way. Jared's our best rebounder. We don't have to play that way. We're going to have to win in a different way without Jared and without Rajon. We'll see what we have."

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