Is it just me or could there be subtext in this comment?

[TheSundanceKid]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

[moiso]

I don't read it that way.  Where/when did Ainge say this?  Intent may just be to light a fire under his butt.  The starting SG spot is his to take, if he can prove he's even close to ready.  For his own confidence, I think he'll feel pressured to make a leap with Tatum showing so much skill so early.  He's got a ton of potential, just has to lock in and develop the skills that weren't required for him to dominate in HS and college.

Except he never dominated in college.  He kind of sucked.

I think Ainge is just trying to say most people underrate Brown, but he thinks very highly of him.  I just think he was a little clumsy in making his point.  No big deal.

[saltlover]

I don't read it that way.  Where/when did Ainge say this?  Intent may just be to light a fire under his butt.  The starting SG spot is his to take, if he can prove he's even close to ready.  For his own confidence, I think he'll feel pressured to make a leap with Tatum showing so much skill so early.  He's got a ton of potential, just has to lock in and develop the skills that weren't required for him to dominate in HS and college.

Except he never dominated in college. He kind of sucked.

I think Ainge is just trying to say most people underrate Brown, but he thinks very highly of him.  I just think he was a little clumsy in making his point.  No big deal.

He was PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and 1st Team All-PAC-12.  Your assessment is off.

[moiso]

I don't read it that way.  Where/when did Ainge say this?  Intent may just be to light a fire under his butt.  The starting SG spot is his to take, if he can prove he's even close to ready.  For his own confidence, I think he'll feel pressured to make a leap with Tatum showing so much skill so early.  He's got a ton of potential, just has to lock in and develop the skills that weren't required for him to dominate in HS and college.

Except he never dominated in college. He kind of sucked.

I think Ainge is just trying to say most people underrate Brown, but he thinks very highly of him.  I just think he was a little clumsy in making his point.  No big deal.

He was PAC-12 Freshman of the Year and 1st Team All-PAC-12.  Your assessment is off.

OK, you are right.  I'll change that to "he shot poorly and underperformed based on his expectations." 

[Roy H.]

Why should Danny pretend that Jaylen is the best prospect from last year? He's not.

Danny was paying Brown a compliment, without completely overrating him.

[tonydelk]

Ainge on Brown:

“And like last year, there’s very few rookies — I don’t even remember the whole rookie class last year — but there’s very few kids I would trade Jaylen Brown for, and yet I think most of the world would say he’s like not even in the top 10 of rookies from last year’s class. But we wouldn’t trade him for almost any of those guys.”

I'd be pretty p---ed if I was Jaylen hearing that there might be a fellow rookie classmate, or even "a very FEW" who Danny would be willing to trade me for after 78 games of basketball...

I don't see anything wrong with this comment.  Embiid was a rookie last year.  Would you not trade Jaylen straight up for him right now?  Same with Simmons.  The talent he has is off the charts.  I love Jaylen and hope he is a Celtic for a long time but IMO this shows how much they value Jaylen versus it being a slap in the face.

[RJ87]

Why should Danny pretend that Jaylen is the best prospect from last year? He's not.

Danny was paying Brown a compliment, without completely overrating him.

That's kind of a foreign concept around here, lol.

I like Brown, I'm excited about his future. But if the Sixers called and offered Simmons, I'd do that deal in a heartbeat.

[Eja117]

Maybe the subtext (or context) is that the NBA is a business and Danny trades people if he thinks it's a good idea

[green_bballers13]

Simmons and Ingram are still better prospects than Brown. They are the only 2 I'd trade jaylen for.

You would seriously do that now if offered? A straight up swap?

Are my green goggles super steamy this morning?

I like JB over Ingram. I'd prob take Simmons over JB, though I don't love his injury and LSU's record when he was there.

[Moranis]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

He didn't say rookie contracts, he said rookies. 

[wayupnorth]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

He didn't say rookie contracts, he said rookies.

He didn't say rookies, he said kids.

[TheSundanceKid]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

He didn't say rookie contracts, he said rookies.

He changes his wording to kids which to me makes it more ambiguous. Even so that would include Saric and Embiid given it was their rookie years. And you have a guy like Brogdon who at this stage is more developed. I don't see anything wrong with his statement.

[Moranis]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

He didn't say rookie contracts, he said rookies.

He changes his wording to kids which to me makes it more ambiguous. Even so that would include Saric and Embiid given it was their rookie years. And you have a guy like Brogdon who at this stage is more developed. I don't see anything wrong with his statement.

This is not ambiguous

“And like last year, there’s very few rookies — I don’t even remember the whole rookie class last year — but there’s very few kids I would trade Jaylen Brown for, and yet I think most of the world would say he’s like not even in the top 10 of rookies from last year’s class. But we wouldn’t trade him for almost any of those guys.”

so he says rookies, then rookie class, then kids, the rookies from last year's class.

He pretty clearly is talking about rookies, the only ambiguity is whether Embiid and Saric are "rookies" since they arguably were not in the "rookie class".

[gift]

He's basically saying if you had a redraft of the rookies, a lot of other people would have him outside the top 10, but he would put him near the top.

He does a similar thing after drafting players talking about how they were near the top of his draft board.

[mgent]

You're reading this wrong. This is Ainge saying that Brown is underrated by the league. Saying there are only a few kids is a throwaway saying that there are few guys on rookie contracts that he would trade Brown for, not just his rookie class. And he says 'a few' because he isn't about to list names.

Brown is underrated around the league, so Ainge's comments fit.

He didn't say rookie contracts, he said rookies.

He changes his wording to kids which to me makes it more ambiguous. Even so that would include Saric and Embiid given it was their rookie years. And you have a guy like Brogdon who at this stage is more developed. I don't see anything wrong with his statement.

This is not ambiguous

“And like last year, there’s very few rookies — I don’t even remember the whole rookie class last year — but there’s very few kids I would trade Jaylen Brown for, and yet I think most of the world would say he’s like not even in the top 10 of rookies from last year’s class. But we wouldn’t trade him for almost any of those guys.”

so he says rookies, then rookie class, then kids, the rookies from last year's class.

He pretty clearly is talking about rookies, the only ambiguity is whether Embiid and Saric are "rookies" since they arguably were not in the "rookie class".

What are you talking about man?

He's pretty clearly talking about rookies when he says "rookies".......  How are you going assume he's pretty clearly talking about rookies when he says "kids"?  Just because he happened to say rookie in the surrounding sentences?

It's only confusing because he cuts himself off with the not remembering the whole class comment.  Read it like this:

"And like last year, there’s very few rookies [who impress me].   There’s very few kids I would trade Jaylen Brown for, and yet I think most of the world would say he’s like not even in the top 10 of rookies from last year’s class."

For all we know that could mean he wouldn't trade Brown for anybody in the past 2 classes, though he'd still obviously trade him for someone like Zinger or Towns.