Danny Ainge (AP)

QUINCY — Speaking to reporters before the Celtics annual golf fundraiser to support The Shamrock Foundation, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge noted: “I think this is the most talented team we’ve had in quite a while. Now it’s just a matter of it all coming together.”

Never one to tip his hand, Ainge acknowledged that the team has been bringing in players such as Rashad McCants and Adam Morrison (who just agreed to a training camp deal with the Wizards), but said, “We may be all done, and we may not.”

Where the Celtics are thin is at the backup wing position behind Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Ainge brought in Delonte West and Von Wafer, and re-signed Marquis Daniels to primarily fill those roles. West and Daniels, in particular, seem to have the inside track.

“Had we not had the [Kendrick Perkins] injury, maybe our focus would have been on backup wings for Paul and Ray,” Ainge said. “It was still a priority. After we got our center positions filled, bringing in Delonte and Nate [Robinson], I think were huge just to take minutes off of [Rajon] Rondo and Paul and Ray. I think we have great depth now in bringing Marquis back.”

On the subject of Daniels, it hardly seemed a given that he would return to Boston after falling out of favor, and the rotation, following a mid-season thumb injury. Ainge, however, sounded an optimistic note about his contributions.

“It didn’t work out for him [last year],” Ainge said. “Tony [Allen] earned the minutes, but coming out of training camp Marquis won those minutes. Marquis outplayed all of our bench players throughout October, November and December until he had the [thumb] injury. We know what Marquis is capable of doing.”  Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve reached the end of our countdown of the 10 most important developments of the offseason, and not a moment too soon. The Celtics will officially put the summer behind them when they open training camp with their media day on Monday.

Here’s the full list:

No. 10: The Kids Are Alright

No. 9: Tony Allen Leaves

No. 8: The New-Look Bench

No. 7: Perk’s Surgery and Sheed’s Departure

No. 6: Rondo Leaves Team USA

No. 5: Can Jermaine O’Neal Man The Middle

No. 4: Shaquille O’Neal Shakes up the Offseason

No. 3: Ray Allen Returns on his Terms

No. 2: Paul Pierce Continues his Legacy

No. 1: Doc Rivers Takes One More Shot

Paul Pierce had his high school jersey retired in his hometown of Inglewood Tuesday. Pierce was a McDonald’s All-American at Inglewood High before going on to star at Kansas. He’s the second Celtic player to be given this honor this month as Nate Robinson also had his jersey retired at Rainier Beach in Seattle.

Pierce was asked about playing with Shaquille O’Neal, naturally, and he responded, “He’s one of my all-time favorite players, and now I have a chance to play with one of the greatest players to ever play the game.”

Seems like you can say that about half the roster.

Anyway, here’s video of him talking to reporters after the event:

It can be hard to keep track of all of Shaquille O’Neal‘s battles. One day he’s killing Mo Williams, and the next he’s saying it’s all for show. That’s Shaq  in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel. “I know what I’m doing when it comes to selling out games,” he told the paper sounding like Don King trying to get a good house.

Shaq went on to say that he has a good relationship with Dwight Howard off the floor, but it’s different when they’re on the court. “He’s a great young player,” Shaq said. “But on the court it’s not about making friends, it’s about doing what you’re supposed to do to win that game to win a championship.”

Glen Davis (AP)

Glen Davis returned to Baton Rouge to check out the new practice facility at his alma mater and took some time to chat with LSU Sports. Obviously one of the questions was about new Celtic, and former Tiger, Shaquille O’Neal.

“It’s crazy. I can remember days when I was just a little boy watching him play here at LSU. Shaq was everywhere in the city. To be in the NBA and play against him and now having him on the same team it’s unbelievable. I’m so glad he’s on our team and he can help us get back to that championship.”

Davis is a legend at LSU. He won SEC Rookie of the Year honors, SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore and led the Tigers to the Final Four.

You may remember that Ron Artest didn’t care much for Doc Rivers comments that the Celtics starting five has never lost a playoff series when healthy. “Doc got one million excuses,” is how Artest put it on Twitter.

With training camp right around the corner, Artest is letting this one go. “Me and Doc, we should start a comedy act,” he now says.

Maybe they should team up for Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Comedy Jam at the Wilbur.

A lawsuit filed recently in Florida accuses new Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal of hacking into a former girlfriend’s phone system, attempting to frame a former employee for another crime, and destroying evidence of his misdeeds.

According to RadarOnline.com, which obtained a copy of the lawsuit, Shawn Darling, a former personal IT representative for O’Neal who has an extensive criminal background, made a variety of accusations against the player as part of his suit for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil RICO (racketeering). Among the charges:

• Shaq hacked into the voicemails of Darling and Vanessa Lopez, a mistress who is suing O’Neal for harassment.

• Shaq used his law enforcement contacts to obtain restricted information about another mistress, hip-hop singer Alexis Miller, while involved in a legal dispute with her.

• Shaq disposed of a personal computer with much of the evidence in a lake behind his Phoenix-area house.

• Shaq contacted current and former law enforcement officials in an attempt to frame Darling for possession of child pornography.

Shaq recently became engaged to reality show star Nicki Alexander, one year after splitting from his wife, Shaunie, and starting protracted divorce proceedings.