Danny Ainge Open To Trading Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, And Paul Pierce

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is open to trading Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce if it would bring him young talent, according to the Boston Globe.

"I sat with Red (Auerbach) during a Christmas party (in the 1990s),” Ainge told the Boston Globe. “Red was talking to Larry, Kevin, and myself and there was a lot of trade discussion at the time and Red actually shared some of the trade discussions. And I told Red what are you doing? Why are you waiting?

"He had a chance to trade Larry (to Indiana) for Chuck Person and Herb Williams and (Steve) Stipanovich and he had a chance to trade Kevin (to Dallas) for Detlef Schrempf and Sam Perkins. I was like are you kidding? I mean I feel that way now. If I were presented with those kind of deals for our aging veterans, it’s a done deal to continue the success."

The Celtics are off to a slow 5-8 start in a shortened NBA season that is not expected to be kind to veteran teams. Boston currently is statistically the fourth oldest team in the league with an average age of 28.99, however the team’s core comprised of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen have an average age of 35.

Prior to the season, rumors swirled that the Boston Celtics had offered point guard Rajon Rondo to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for All-Star Chris Paul. Paul was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.