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Ainge urges unhappy Celtics fans to boo him, not draft picks

Boston Globe / Getty

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge doesn't want the fan base to take its anger out on his most recent crop of draft picks.

Armed with eight picks heading into Thursday's draft, the Celtics were unable to swing a deal and ended up selecting six players - including Jaylen Brown at No. 3 - before swapping a pair of late picks for a future first-rounder.

The result wasn't exactly what many Celtics fans had hoped for and some were critical of the team taking Brown so early.

"The only thing about that is I love the passion of Boston fans, I love that they feel and they care. I truly believe that. I never take that stuff personal because there's so many differing views," Ainge told Mike Petraglia of WEEI. "I think that that's what makes Boston fun. The only thing that I don't like about that is that it's a reflection of Jaylen.

"Instead of a reflection of me - like, 'We don't like your choice.' That's like OK to boo me. But give him a chance, would be the only thing I would say. Like, let's see. Let's wait a year then boo me. Let's not boo the kid when his name is announced. As far as criticism in my position, I expect it, I'm used to it, and I don't think you guys can offend me. You can try, but I don't think it'll work."

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck admitted the team wasn't close to agreeing to a trade on draft night, calling the offers a collection of rip-off attempts. Ainge also said the club did its due diligence to find a fit, but holding onto the picks was ultimately in its best interest.

"I think everyone wants a deal. I think everyone expects a deal," the GM said. "We've been working really hard on trying to get a deal and do something significant. But we just haven't been able to do it yet. And it's not because we're not trying, it's not because we're turning down or we overvalue our players or any of that stuff. It's because you need a partner.

"I've said this many times before: I tried three years to get KG before we got him. It just takes the right time and the right place and have a partner that wants to do a deal."

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