Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

“I’m not too worried about chemistry in the locker room, and large credit for that goes to Gerald Wallace,” Stevens told reporters prior to Friday’s home game against the Bulls. “Because of the way he, at his age, has accepted his role and how he talks to the young guys. It kind of makes everybody else say ‘I’m going to do what I can the right way every time.’ So I give him a lot of credit for that.”

Wallace is in a unique situation. The former All-Star is not in the C’s rotation at the moment, and when he is he plays minimal minutes, yet is still expected to lead. Not only by his coach, but by his young teammates.

“It’s a challenge for sure,” Jae Crowder admitted after Thursday’s practice about the team’s ability to remain focused. “I think that’s when guys like Gerald Wallace have to step up.”

WEEI: Stevens credits Wallace for chemistry amidst trades

I’ve said it before, but if you ignore the salary, Wallace is playing an important role on this team. Every group of kids needs a mentor of sorts, and on this team, Wallace has been the only constant. Rondo is gone, Green is gone, Bass is… well…

Anyway, the money doesn’t really matter to me. It’s not like the Celtics missed out on LeBron because of it, and depending on the moves they make, they could finish the season under the salary cap.

I’m not sure if Wallace survives the summer in Boston. Hell, Ainge might ship him out tomorrow for all we know (stranger things have happened). But no matter what, Wallace has served the team well in his role here.  The younger guys need a vet to get them through certain moments like this one last night.

A lot of Celtics have left already. Sullinger sitting in front of his locker, staring at nothing.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) January 17, 2015

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It’s not easy to go through this shit. It’s not easy to stay positive and focused on a larger task. It’s not easy to embrace the process of rebuilding as a player. If a guy like Wallace can be the thread that keeps this thing from completely falling apart, then he’s worth the money to me. The alternative, in my opinion, is losing the whole team for the rest of the season… and I really don’t want to entertain that thought.

Page 2: Shav might actually play for the Celtics this season

“I talked to him right after I got the [Celtics] job, he was still on our roster,” Stevens said of Randolph, who was waived amid a roster crunch in the summer of 2013. “Obviously, I look forward to coaching him. This is really jogging my memory — I’m pretty sure his career high in college came against [Butler], which was disappointing at the time, obviously.”

Indeed, Randolph put up a career-high 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting with 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in only 19 minutes against Butler during his freshman season at Duke in 2003. Now 12 years later, Stevens looks forward to having Randolph on his side.

ESPN Boston: Prince, Randolph to meet C’s in LA

The remainder of Randolph’s $1.2 million salary might actually keep him in Boston for the rest of the season since there’s no reason to buy him out. But they could waive him if they want to clear a roster spot to look at a D-Leaguer or player back in the U.S. after his season abroad wraps up. I’m not going to get too excited about Shav’s return until I see it.

Prince, meanwhile, is a definite buyout candidate. The team and Prince will figure out how much of the three-plus million dollars left on his contract it will take to send him on his merry free agent way.

And Finally…

Russel Westbrook executes one hell of a postgame interview

You really should watch this whole thing… but if you want the highlight, to me, then go to :42 for

reporter: “are you upset with something”

Westbrook: “I just don’t like you.”

reporter: “you don’t?”

Westbrook: “no.”

reporter: “do you not like Nick either?”

Westbrook: “I love Nick. I don’t like you.”

See? Other point guards can be total pricks to media too. Oh, by the way, Westbrook had 17 points, 17 assists, and 15 rebounds in a win over Golden State last night.

The rest of the links:

Herald: Garden grows on Noah  |  Doc, Austin to make NBA history  |  Chicago stars run past Celtics  |  Bulls’ Butler begins to make Marq  |  CSNNE: Slumping Celtics face West Coast trip  | Rose overwhelms C’s  |  ESPN Boston: Celtics give Bulls a run before wilting  |  WEEI: Brad Stevens isn’t worried about managing feelings  |  MassLive: Bass says west coast trip “could go a bunch of different ways”  |  Globe: Bass continues to give maximum effort