Danny Ainge addressed Jayson Tatum's comments earlier this week that the forward wanted to get drafted by the Phoenix Suns.

Tatum had to be convinced by Mike Krzyzewski to workout with the Celtics before the 2017 NBA Draft.

“There was a story that came out this week about Jayson going to Phoenix. Jayson was never gonna end up in Phoenix. Even if he didn’t come in for that second workout with us days before the draft in Boston, we were still going to take Jayson Tatum," Ainge told Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post.

Tatum said he didn't want to get drafted by the Celtics due to what he thought would be a lack of playing time. 

Ainge added that he had his eyes on Tatum the entire draft, even when he traded the top pick to the Sixers.

"We had our eyes set on Jayson Tatum. We were very confident that Philly was taking Markelle (Fultz) and that Lonzo (Ball) was going to L.A. We were very confident in that assessment.”

Leading up to the 2017 NBA Draft, Jayson Tatum wanted to be drafted by the Phoenix Suns.

Tatum knew Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball would be the first two picks, and he hoped he'd fall to the Suns at No. 4 after the Boston Celtics traded down from No. 1 to No. 3. Earl Watson was pushing for the Suns to do whatever was necessary to draft Tatum while Robert Sarver preferred Josh Jackson.

“Earl is my guy,” Tatum said. “I called my mom, I’m like, ‘Yo, I think I want to go to Phoenix.’”

Tatum's agent, Jeff Wechsler, called him about setting up a second workout with the Celtics. Tatum wasn't budging when Wechsler tried to sell him on Boston.

“We hang up,” Tatum said. “I’m like, ‘I’m not going to this workout. I’m cool.’”

It took Mike Krzyzewski to sell Tatum on Brad Stevens and the Celtics before he agreed to the workout. 

“When I finally heard my name called it was by far the best day of my life because it was what I’d been working for, for 16 years,” Tatum said. “But there was a part of me that didn’t really want to go to Boston because they just were the No. 1 team in the East. They had Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, (Marcus) Smart, (Jaylen Brown), Jae Crowder. I was like, man, I’m not going to play. I’m trying to get buckets. But everything worked out.”

“I was pushing Tatum,” Watson said. “Like, we had to move up for Tatum, we had to get Tatum. And ownership chose Josh Jackson. … I knew the two players were dynamically different, but my vision was what’s the best fit for Devin Booker. Booker and Tatum, I think a combination like that right now would have been completely different than anything in the NBA at that age.”

The Phoenix Suns have waived Justin Harper from his Two-Way deal.

“The G League season is over,” said Jones on Friday.

“Jared’s on a one-year deal. For him to explore opportunities was something that we considered and at the end of the day, we just thought we could help him.”

Donatas Motiejunas received interest from the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv. 

Motiejunas has been on a hiatus from the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanghai Sharks.

Motiejunas last played in the NBA at the end of last season with the San Antonio Spurs.

Cameron Johnson has been diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Johnson will be re-evaluated in two weeks and updates on his status will be provided as appropriate.

Johnson is a 24-year-old rookie with the Phoenix Suns averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.3 minutes over 49 games this season. 

The Phoenix Suns made a push to trade for Aaron Gordon before the trade deadline, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Orlando Magic are expected to receive interest in Gordon again this coming offseason from multiple teams.

It is unclear how Gordon fits in the future of the Magic. 

The Detroit Pistons have claimed Jordan McRae off waivers.

McRae had agreed to a buyout with the Denver Nuggets.

The Phoenix Suns hoped to claim McRae, but the Pistons have a priority over them on the waiver list. 

Kelly Oubre Jr. underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to address a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Oubre will be re-evaluated in four weeks. The Suns are six games out of the eighth seed.

Oubre signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Suns as a restricted free agent. 

Jordan McRae has agreed to a contract buyout with the Denver Nuggets, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

McRae is likely to sign with the Suns.

McRae is averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on the season. 

Kelly Oubre could miss the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Oubre is in the process of seeking a second opinion.

The severity of the tear will determine if Oubre is out weeks or for the remainder of the season.

Oubre is averaging 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 56 games this season after re-signing with the Phoenix Suns on a two-year, $30 million contract.