Players around the NBA reportedly did not trust Celtics management during Danny Ainge era

A new report about the Danny Ainge era in Boston certainly explains a lot, including why the Celtics were never able to attract the league's biggest free agents. 

According to Bleacher Report's Farbod Esnaashari, players around the NBA did not trust Celtics management while Ainge was Boston's President of Basketball Operations. 

Ainge recently retired and Brad Stevens is now the President of Basketball Operations. Esnaashari's report also included news that Kemba Walker's relationship with Ainge soured after the executive tried to trade him. 

It's not necessarily surprising that players did not want to compete for Ainge. Anthony Davis' father said he would never want his son to play for the Celtics after how they handled Isaiah Thomas' injury and departure. 

With Stevens now at the helm, the Celtics could have an easier time attracting free agents to play alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are widely viewed as untouchables in any trade negotiations. 

Esnaashari also reports that the Celtics and Walker want to part ways this offseason, which means Boston will need a point guard entering the 2021-22 season. Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard could be available, but it's unclear how they feel about playing for the Celtics under Stevens.