Danny Ainge wants the Celtics’ roster to be filled with “good people.”
Boston is expected to undergo a major overhaul this summer and it already added four players — Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters — in the draft last week.
Ainge, the Celtics longtime president of basketball operations, was asked about the rookies and what he is looking for in new acquisitions when he met with reporters at a press conference Monday.
“I think it just makes life more enjoyable when everybody is humble, hard working and will play any role they have to (in order) to help the team succeed, " Ainge said. "You do have to have a certain amount of talent to win, as we all know, but good people makes coming to work more fun."
Danny Ainge explains why it's important to have players on the team who are good people pic.twitter.com/hfxqZGIIUp
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 24, 2019
Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, two starters for Boston in 2018-19, are reportedly planning to sign elsewhere in free agency this summer. Despite the anticipated changes, Ainge told reporters last week he's still confident in the team's direction.
"I'm excited about our team going forward," Ainge said at the time. "I like where we're headed. I like the core young group of guys and I think it's going to be really fun.
"We have a very attractive franchise to play for, and there's a lot of people who would be dying to come play here."
The Celtics entered the season as the favorites to win the East but finished with a 49-33 record and were eliminated by the Bucks in five games in the conference semifinals.
They've reportedly "checked in" with the Rockets about a trade for center Clint Capela and also explored a deal for Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday.
Boston also has Thunder center Steven Adams on its "radar," however, “it's unclear where he falls in the team's pecking order,” according to an earlier report from NBC Sports Boston.