Ainge looking for good competition in Celtics’ training camp

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens listens to a question during…

“All 16 guys are capable of being in National Basketball Association uniforms”, Ainge said Friday as the team held its media day. Last season, this was pretty clear cut for the Bulls, but this season new head coach Fred Hoiberg will have some decisions to make. He’s got the hard job of sorting out a pecking order in a collection above-average talent that doesn’t quite rise to top-shelf by league standards.

The Boston Celtics had something sorely missing last season, but part of that may have been answered at least in the frontcourt. Typically a battle for the 15th spot on the roster isn’t worth watching, but this one might be because it’s the Spurs and they typically use all 15 guys throughout the season.

The Celtics are preparing to have a solid amount of cap space next season which opens the door for a number of deals. “The competition level only increases”.

Neither Lee nor free-agent Johnson (whose two-year contract is non-guaranteed for 2016-17) has a reputation for selfishness. Or Sullinger at center.

Olynyk was a major contributor for Team Canada in the FIBA Americas Championship as it aimed to qualify for the Summer Olympics for the first time since 1992. Where does Evan Turner and Jonas Jerebko fit in?

“He’s bigger and stronger”, Stevens said.

And for the teams going overseas – the Celtics, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Charlotte Hornets and the Orlando Magic will in the preseason – it really is a good chance for some bonding.

“Going to our coaching staff, we did steal a couple of plays from him”. I don’t think he was accused of cheating by the league ever, but there were a lot of things that were being said in the media and people were wondering what the Celtics were doing with the floor and the heat in the Garden.

Before he was traded to Dallas, Rajon Rondo was the Celtics best point guard since Dennis Johnson. Does Stevens start Thomas, who is a defensive liability at just 5-9?

Stevens said he wasn’t anxious about Thomas getting frustrated with his role. Still, he nevertheless managed to find the right opportunity to dish out very high praise to youngster James Young, who is returning to Boston for his second National Basketball Association season. But his aim is to change that dynamic: To develop a star – or the means to acquire one – who will provide the Celtics with a contending identity on the court. That’s unlikely. Lewis played six seasons for the Celtics, and led the team in minutes and points in his final three. “I guess one particular factor, if I could want something it was that we had been playing an National Basketball Association group”. I said this the other day, we were as close to [the] fourth [seed in the Eastern Conference] as we were to 12th past year. “One is what the expectations are of everyone on the team, plus what you do well”. I don’t think he sacrificed his strength. “I’m all for it. If we could do it every year, I’d do it every year….”

There is time, and whatever the Celtics decide in October could be completely turned over by December. Phil Jackson may have passed him in most titles won as a coach, but there’s never been anyone better than Red.

“I love it, ” Spoelstra said.