Danny Ainge Says He’s Not Happy to See Pat Riley in Pain During Free Agency

Boston Celtics president of basketball ops Danny Ainge was told to shut the f*ck up last year by none other than Pat Riley. Having played a key role in adding to the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade this summer, Ainge lies says that he’s not pleased to see the Miami Heat boss struggle to navigate such treacherous free agency waters. Per the Boston Globe:

“I see everyone of you guys like following your Twitter nonstop trying to follow everything going on in free agency,” Ainge told reporters in Orlando. “I haven’t really been worried that much about it. That’s going to work out; we just focus on what we need to do and try to get the Boston Celtics better.”

 

“I don’t know, it depends,” Ainge said when asked about a landing spot for James. “You mean shifting from one city to another in the Eastern Conference? Wherever LeBron goes, the team is a contender. That’s how good a player he is.”

 

The Celtics assisted the Cavaliers in creating enough salary cap space to offer James a max contract via a three-team deal with the Nets and Cavs that became official today. Ainge isn’t taking any extra joy in knowing his old nemesis Pat Riley is probably sweating out James’ decision in Miami right now. […] “No, I don’t take any pleasure in anyone’s pain. I know this is a tough business and free agency and is all part of what we all go through. I certainly don’t take any joy in seeing great players leave organizations that have been good to them,” said Ainge.