Kyrie Irving already has clarified his apparent suggestion that the Boston Celtics sign a 14- or 15-year veteran. But what does Irving's boss think of his request?
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was asked Thursday morning what he thought of those remarks, which Irving made Sunday after Boston's road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
"I talk to Kyrie all the time," Ainge said on 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Toucher and Rich" during his weekly interview. "Kyrie can tell me whatever he wants to tell me anytime, privately or publicly, I guess. But I don't think he's trying to send any message. He can walk right up to my office and send me any message he wants."
Ainge admitted he hasn't had private discussions with Irving about adding a 15-year veteran, however.
"I think that at that moment, he was probably feeling that we needed -- I'm not even sure what he meant by that," Ainge said. "I haven't even talked to him about that comment. I don't know if he meant a 15-year player or a 15-year guy in the locker room, or what it was."
Irving downplayed his initial remarks after Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls, insisting he wasn't talking about any specific player. But if the 8-6 Celtics hit a few more rough patches over the next few weeks, perhaps Irving and Ainge will sit down and hash this out.
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