Clearing some stuff up

[Smitty731]

I know me, along with many of the guys on this board appreciate what you do. I always look forward to your post and consider your information one of the reasons I frequently check back with this forum. Don't ever let those keyboard warriors get to you! I know it may be tough sometimes but don't let the haters get in the way of what you have passion for. I couldn't agree more with ignoring the trolls and letting the mods take care of em.

Keep it up man and I hope the rumors can keep coming. Only made it more exciting and gave us all something to talk about.

Also, killer piece on Horford! You did a hell of a job on that article.

Thank you. I appreciate the compliment!

[Chris4Vikes]

I've seen a lot about how rumors are made up and fairy tales. And how no one has sources. I want to clear some stuff up pertaining to my specific role in the whole Griffin saga and how it went down.

1. Ran in to a contact at our hotel in Las Vegas. He fills me in that Boston has called on Griffin.

2. I check with another sources that is connected to both Boston and LAC and he confirms the same.

3. I check with a Clippers source who confirms that Boston initiated talks.

4. Go back to the first guy and he adds that Doc likes Rudy Gay and Boston and LAC are interested in a three team deal with the prime pieces being Griffin/Pierce to BOS, Crowder to SAC, Gay to LAC, but lots of work to be done on the additional pieces to LAC.

5. Run that by source #2 who has the same thing, but says to be cautious because a star trade is hard to pull off, a three team trade is hard to pull off, and that a three team trade featuring a star is VERY hard to pull off.

6. Re-confirm one last time with the LAC source who says everything I have is on the money, but the pieces are the hold up and LAC wants to talk BRK picks, which Ainge would rather not talk. But that isn't a deal killer.

Double check with each that they are all on the same page, all the while not sharing who the others are or what they've told me and letting them fill in the pieces. Then and only then did I put out my tweets. And that was risky enough as it was.

So to sum it up, the rumor pieces aren't like that at all. It might be as it goes through the media. But that is on us as readers/listeners as much as them for not tracing back to who originally put the story out there.

I also want to clear one other thing up: I'm not entirely sure I was first to share the Griffin talks, but I know I was up there. Boston, LA and Sacramento media picked it up very quickly and then things went from there. It was only a full day later that Sean Deveney reported it and then people took it as really legitimate.

I'm not bitter at all though. I have no real intention of ever being a newsbreaker. It isn't something I care to do and it was really, really stressful. I was genuinely shocked at how quick things snowballed. I've been on the radio several times/places before this, but things got much crazier after I put the Griffin stuff out there. And one thing I am 100% consistent on is that I own it. Since I put it out there, I've heard from several others who have different sources and have the same information. So, I know for certain there have been talks. That doesn't mean a trade is coming for sure, but talks are the first step.

I figured this might help clear things up and give a bit of insight in to the process. After hearing from a lot of veteran media guys, the process plays out basically the same way. Sometimes you chase it down, sometimes it comes to you, but the rest is the same.

For those of you who have been supportive and had my back and continue to, you have no idea how much that means to me. Everything this past year has been kind of crazy and I didn't really expect it. But I've enjoyed all of it. Well almost all of it. Threats against me and my family are a little tough to take. But in reality, it comes with the territory. Mostly I want to say thanks to all of you for the support and encouragement!

Interesting. Wow Doc is a horrible GM. I would have waited until Horford is available to be traded and ask for him first then other pieces.

Doc's biggest mistake of his life was leaving Beantown.

[bdub24]

I joined this board to read your stuff, Smitty, and I too was appalled by the behavior of your critics. Anyone with any familiarity with the game knows that talks go on all the time, and only a few come to fruition.

I hope you realize that not everyone here is jealous of you, as your critics appear to be, and that we understand the context of talks. Please keep posting. It adds life to this board.

[Smitty731]

I joined this board to read your stuff, Smitty, and I too was appalled by the behavior of your critics. Anyone with any familiarity with the game knows that talks go on all the time, and only a few come to fruition.

I hope you realize that not everyone here is jealous of you, as your critics appear to be, and that we understand the context of talks. Please keep posting. It adds life to this board.

Trust me, no one should be jealous of me. At all. Well, my wife and kid are pretty great, so that part is fair. But me? Nah.

Thanks for the kinds words though. I appreciate it.

[Curmudgeon]

I have no doubt that Ainge made a phone call on Griffin. That's his job. I expect he's made phone calls on quite a few players this offseason, and that quite a few teams have called him about Celtics players.

And when Ainge calls about a player, the assets the other teams want are Crowder, Bradley and/or the Brooklyn picks, and that's when the talks begin to break down.

[Smitty731]

I have no doubt that Ainge made a phone call on Griffin. That's his job. I expect he's made phone calls on quite a few players this offseason, and that quite a few teams have called him about Celtics players.

And when Ainge calls about a player, the assets the other teams want are Crowder, Bradley and/or the Brooklyn picks, and that's when the talks begin to break down.

It was more than that, but you've already made up your mind and there is no confusing you with facts, so no reason to waste time anymore.

[Curmudgeon]

What facts are you confusing me with? Ainge called about Griffin and some discussions ensued. I'm not doubting that at all, nor am I confused one single bit.

[truth18]

I joined this board to read your stuff, Smitty, and I too was appalled by the behavior of your critics. Anyone with any familiarity with the game knows that talks go on all the time, and only a few come to fruition.

I hope you realize that not everyone here is jealous of you, as your critics appear to be, and that we understand the context of talks. Please keep posting. It adds life to this board.

Trust me, no one should be jealous of me. At all. Well, my wife and kid are pretty great, so that part is fair. But me? Nah.

Thanks for the kinds words though. I appreciate it.

Don't worry, man, I'm not jealous of you at all

Spoiler:

Love you Smitty. You bring a lot to the game threads as well.

[OFWGKTA]

I might break if we get Griffin at the cost of Crowder

[ConstableGeneva]

Thank you, Smitty.

[Asian Celtic]

so ironic that crowder might be traded for griffin. If KD would have signed with us we wouldn't even be in this conversation to lose our glue guy. He was up there helping with the recruitment!

[Crownontherocks]

Thank you, Smitty.

I also would like to say thank you Smitty

[djFan71]

I appreciate hearing the info, so thanks for sharing. Just baffles me how people feel the need to argue with\berate a guy who's obviously just trying to pass along things he's heard with no guarantees implied.

[brackdan70]

Thanks for sharing and we all really appreciate the insight and info. The thing that threw me off was Sacs inclusion if Crowder is on the table. How can Doc want Gay over Crowder?...and if that is happening something else needs to come from Sac. just seemed more logical to leave Sac out unless there was much more than what meets they eye.

regardless thanks Smitty!!!

[redbeamer]

The way I look at it is even if you were full of $hit (and for the record I don't think you are) it made for some interesting reading and broke the monotony of the off season up. It's crazy how some people take things and life in general way too seriously. If a failed Boston Celtics trade causes you to make threats to someone or their family you really need to reevaluate your existence...

[Ed Pinkney]

As is the case with most internet message boards, this forum seems unable to operate without some sort of issue dominating posts and threads and becoming some sort of line in the sand type situation.

Depsite it seeming to come mainly from a vocal minority, the "Sauces Say" offseason of 2016 can probably be put in the same luminous group along side "To Tank or Not To Tank", Should They Have Traded Pierce And Garnett, Is Ainge Any Good, and All Things Rondo.

[GreenBloodedC]

Thanks, Smitty! Much appreciated, as always.

[Shamrock]

Great post and keep on doing what your doing bro. Ignore what the ball-boy troll accounts say, you know the rest of our board appreciates what you do.

[Celtic Esquire]

No need to clear anything up Smitty. There are some straight up d1cks on this forum whose sole purpose in their miserable lives is to troll or repeat the same crap over and over.

Just ban them or put them on ignore.

[Fencer reregistered]

I have a pretty thick skin and can ignore things for the most part. But everyone has their limit. I hit mine that day.

And rightly so.

I shrug it off when people say nasty things about me on a message board that are obviously illogical and mean-spirited. But a few things cause me to snap, and the fastest is when they lob an attack at my family.