Ainge: Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving would be ready to go if training camp started now

The start of Celtics training camp is still four weeks away, but it appears Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving will be ready to go at full strength well ahead of that date.

Danny Ainge told ESPN's Chris Forsberg on Monday that both players are expected to return to Boston next week and take part in 5-on-5 pickup games ahead of training camp.

"I don't want to hype it up too much, but I'm saying that if our training camp were starting today that they would be here today going full speed," Ainge said. "It's not like they need an extra month. I think that they know they have an extra month, so they are sort of pacing themselves. They're playing as if to build up to that opening day of training camp [Sept. 26].

BSJ Analysis: These remarks shouldn't come as much of a surprise since both players were fully expected to be ready to go next month, but it's still an important development given the variety of setbacks both players have dealt with over the last several months. 

There is certainly going to be a re-adjustment period for both after such a lengthy absence, something that Ainge acknowledged on Monday.

"Obviously, there's a transition from rehabbing to playing one-on-one to playing 3-on-3 to 5-on-5 and then playing NBA basketball, so I don't want to build up expectations too high," he said. "I think there will be a little bit of an adjustment once that last phase is made."

The sooner they begin that final adjustment, the better, especially for the C's in a preseason that lasts only three weeks. Brad Stevens certainly has enough firepower on his roster to ensure that both players will be eased back into action without added pressure, but it will be important for the pair to mesh with the rest of the roster early on. The more opportunities that Hayward gets for that during camp, the easier it should be to integrate into the system fully.

Optimism remains plentiful around this team in a wide-open Eastern Conference and the fact that this full roster is expected to be at full strength next month just reinforces that mindset.