Danny Ainge: Nets would spare no expense in desire to create "Dream Team"

In response to questions at the Celtics introductory press conference for its new players, Boston GM Danny Ainge said said the Nets were interested in creating a "Dream Team," and money was no object.

"Brooklyn showed a great deal of interest in putting the "Dream Team" together, with expense not [a factor], at any cost it seemed like," Ainge told reporters at the press conference Monday. "And the opportunity to acquire a lot of young assets and get younger and move onto a different phase presented itself. We felt like, where we were as a team, it was going to be very difficult to be a championship contender [had] we kept Paul and KG."

Ainge had kind words for the four Nets who Boston received for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. A fifth ex-Net, Kris Joseph, was released Monday. He also said no one else offered him anywhere near what Brooklyn offered.

You don’t really want to trade to a division rival but no, there were no other teams that were even close,” Ainge admitted. “As a matter of fact, it was interesting that the offers we got for Paul and KG were greater than we got for them in years past. It was an opportunity we felt we had to jump at.”

Ainge said he felt both the Celtics got what they wanted out of the deal. He also said he believes Pierce and Garnett have plenty left.

“They’ve got a lot left in the tank, especially [because of] the fact that they don’t have to do it every night. If Paul and [Garnett] had to go out there and be player A and B every night and score 20 and 10 every night, yeah, there’d be some concern," Tim Bontemps quoted Ainge as saying.

"It’s a situation that Brooklyn should do and could do, adding Paul and KG to a roster with already three All-Star type players. It’s a pretty special opportunity for them, even though it’s very expensive.”

• Danny Ainge: Nets wanted ‘Dream Team’ at ‘any cost’ - Mike Petraglia - WEEI
• Danny Ainge: Celtics won't tank to help lottery odds - AP
• Danny Ainge says trading Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett was difficult - Jim Fenton - Brockton Enterprise
• KG, Pierce can excel for Nets, says Celtics prez - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Brooks disappointed by downfall with Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Will the New York Knicks get the last laugh after adding Metta World Peace? - Ian Thomsen - Sports Illustrated
• Celtics introduce new players, who may or may not stick around - Baxter Holmes - Boston Globe
• Kris Humphries a Celtic... for now - Steve Bulpett - Boston Herald