Takeaways from the introductions of Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter as Celtics

Initial reactions from the Celtics introducing Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter to the media at the Auerbach Center on Wednesday afternoon. 

Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter were Plan A for Celtics (once they knew Kyrie Irving was gone): The Celtics could have gone in a lot of different directions this summer but Danny Ainge made clear with his opening remarks of the press conference that bringing aboard Walker and Kanter was his top priority this summer

“When we got done with the draft and we started our preparation for free agency, as we started planning for Plan A, our Plan A was Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter,” Ainge said. “We were very fortunate that they chose the Boston Celtics. We’re very excited about what they bring in many facets of the game but also as people. And who they are is just as important as what they are on the court and what they represent.”

This, of course, was hedged wisely with the after the draft qualifier by Ainge. He admitted that he had an idea that Kyrie Irving would not be returning to the Celtics towards the end of the regular season.

“I think I had a pretty good idea in March or April. Not for sure though, not certain,” Ainge said about Irving’s future plans. “But I was obviously thinking a move in a different direction at that point, thinking of the different options.”

The Celtics made a run at keeping Al Horford after the secured a commitment from Kemba Walker: There were conflicting reports after the start of free agency about how much consideration Horford gave the Celtics before opting to sign with the Sixers on the night of June 30th. Ainge confirmed on Wednesday that the team did try to bring him back.

“Once we felt like we had Kemba, and we talked with Al’s agent, and talked with him about the circumstance, it was made clear where we were,” Ainge said. “But, I think a decision had already been made.”

Ainge also signaled that Horford may have determined that Philadelphia was his landing spot before free agency even began.

“I think that -- first of all, I’m grateful that they chose us, initially, and they gave us a chance,” Ainge said of his new signings. “I think that Kyrie -- they’re both different circumstances. Maybe, I don’t know if Al makes the decision he makes if he knows that Kemba is coming, as an example. I have no idea if that makes -- but that’s how free agency is, sometimes you gotta make decisions before you know other certainties. But I’m not worried about that. We just have two new guys that have chosen to come play for us that really want to be here and we wish them well. I’m grateful for Al and Kyrie choosing to come play in Boston and grateful for all that they gave us.”

Enes Kanter took a friendly jab on Kyrie Irving: One of the first questions of the presser was Kanter being asked about his decision to choose No. 11 as his new uniform numbers.

“It was my old jersey number, by the way, number 11, and I wanted to be the reason nobody else did,” Kanter said with a laugh. “I had to say it.”

Kanter’s outgoing personality was on display for much of the afternoon as he spent time playing with kids at the Celtics summer camp after the pressers and talked about his hope to meet Tom Brady and check out Fenway Park (he doesn’t know the rules of baseball).

However, some subtle shots at Irving were on display for much of the presser, including with Ainge referencing culture in how he put together the team.

“I think that ... there's a lot for everybody to learn from last year's experience,” Ainge said. “I think that it was a team that was ... the expectations were probably too high, I thought, all along. I always say to you guys every year that you don't win on paper, you win on the court. Obviously, talent wins but we have a lot of talent on this team and there is a lot to figure out between now and the beginning of the season, let alone after the beginning of the season to the middle of the season. I'm excited about the spirit and the camaraderie that our guys seem to have and the atmosphere that exists in our organization right now seems very positive.”

Kanter is open to expanding his range from the perimeter: The 27-year-old is a 29.4 percent career shooter from 3-point range but he’s looking to expand his range much similar to how Horford and Aron Baynes did in Boston.

“The league is changing and you’ve gotta change with the league,” Kanter said. “Now you see the back-to-the-basket players – you don’t really see a lot of it anymore. So that’s why the league is changing, so that’s why this summer one of my plans was to just add that to my game. I think it’s very important to just stretch the floor. It will be amazing I think. And then Coach gives me confidence, so that’s going to make me feel comfortable out there to start taking it.”