With stars like Monroe, it is usually pre-arranged by the agent to talk to the team at 12.01 AM that the player wants to speak to first. So it depends more on the player than on Ainge.
Even, given this, I think Monroe is his first call.
Monroe seems like a thoughtful, analytical guy, willing to be patient and delay gratification for a greater long term reward in the end.
I mean, who ever takes the qualifying offer?!?!? Monroe also obviously has principles and a long term plan and is willing to take some risk to achieve that plan. That's why I think, despite all the "leaning towards" (Knicks)....(Knicks) "frontrunners" stuff that's been out there, that he ends up with us.
Ainge and Brad should pitch him real hard. They should tell him that he will be "the man" here for years to come and that they will build the team around him, a dominant, skilled, rim-running down-low big man surrounded by shooters. No "Melo"-drama, like in NY, it will be his team.
I know he says that he wants to be the missing piece and go to a place where he has a chance to win and to a place that "wants him" (he's been quoted in these regards). He also wants 2 years with a player option for the third.
Some people look at all that and say "knicks".
I think that you look a little deeper at past actions (like taking the QO) and the "I don't want to be anywhere I'm not wanted" quote and Falk's knowledge that we take care of our players, and I think Monroe has patience, knows he's getting paid wherever he goes and that we have a great shot at getting Moose.