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.
Before joining the Golden State Warriors on a six-year, $80-million contract in 2010, Lee heard from the Celtics, who were fresh off a seven-game Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston could only offer the mid-level exception, but wanted Lee to know he would be a welcome addition if he decided not to cash in on a bigger contract. If he had signed with the Celtics, he would have joined a core that included Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.
“They called me Day 1 of free agency when I left the Knicks,” explained Lee. “At that point they had the mid-level. That was when they had the whole crew here, so it would have been a different kind of fit. And they said, ‘Look, we know you’re going to be getting a lot of big offers and this is probably just a courtesy call, but we want to let you know that we’re very interested, we love your game, and we wish you could be a Boston Celtic.'”
“I of course went the other route,” Lee said. “But I remembered that call and when they came up again this time (before agreeing to trade for him earlier this month) I think it was a perfect fit.”
After Lee joined the Warriors, the Celtics agreed to add Jermaine O’Neal into the mid-level exception. He played only 49 games over two injury-riddled seasons with the club, and Boston has not reached the Finals again.
Damn you, David Lee. And I thought we were going to become good friends. How dare you pick the Warriors and the extra $70 million over our Celtics.
I realize Boston’s chances of signing Lee in 2010 were the longest of long shots. Entering the prime of his career at 27, Lee was ready to lead a team and cash-in. No one passes up that much money.
But for a moment, imagine Lee’s skill set on the Celtics in 2011 and 2012. Do you remember how awful those Celtics team were at rebounding?
Sigh. Fast forward to 2015 and what Lee can do for this squad:
Lee easily could have been dealt to a different kind of system, one not as conducive to his skill-oriented game. But he considers Brad Stevens’ schemes, which focus on spreading the floor and using big men as facilitators, as close to the Golden State system as he would have been able to find.
“Lot of pick-and-roll, keep the floor spread,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll play some 4 and some 5. I’ve had brief conversations already with (Stevens) and Danny Ainge about what they want from me and why they brought me on. Part is what I do on the court, and part is the fact this is a young group, and I can be helpful there.”
“From playing against this team in the second half of last year, we barely held on twice,” he said. “We were down 20 in the first quarter against these guys in Boston. They’re a team that plays well with one another. The system coach Stevens put in is effective, and now it’s a matter of taking another step. What that step is I don’t know, but we’ll be a better team than last year.
I’m excited to see what David Lee can bring to our offense and rebounding. He’s a major liability in pick-and-roll defense, but I’m confident Brad Stevens will pair him with the right guys on the court to mask those deficiencies. Hell, he can’t be any worse than Gerald Wallace.
Related links: CSNNE – Better late than never: Lee a Celtic years later
On Page 2, Amir Johnson explains why he’s wearing #90.
Why No. 90? There is actually a reason behind it, though it definitely takes some connecting the dots.
“Number 90. Every number 1-34 is basically retired,” Johnson said. “My first initial number, I picked No. 5, but I know there was going to kind of be some controversy with that because Kevin Garnett won a championship. So I knew that was pretty much out the [window]. My number of course was retired (15, Tommy Heinsohn). And I recently posted a picture on my social network . . . it was a team back in the 90’s, like ’97, ’96, I played for my first organized basketball team which was the Burbank Celtics. It was a Celtics team. So I just kind of put that together. The 90’s were good. I was born in ’87 but the 90’s were good.”
The 90’s weren’t too good for the Boston Celtics, but Johnson hopes this decade goes differently with him on board.
Smart move avoiding #5. Even if the number won’t be retired for several more years, you don’t want to carry around those expectations.
No player in Celtics history has worn #90. 5 players have worn numbers in the 90s: 99 – Jae Crowder, Darko Milicic, and Roy Rogers; 98- Jason Collins; 93 – PJ Brown.
We’re having some fun with jersey numbers, specifically putting together a team of all-time Celtics whose numbers are still in circulation . Look for that post later today.
Related: Herald – Cowens big fan of Amir
The rest of the links
ESPN Boston – Patient Celtics hope they’re another step closer | Globe – Celtics complete flurry of trades, signings | 5 quick thoughts from 5 new Celtics | Thanks to restraint, Celtics future looks bright | CSNNE – Fresh new start for Jones with Celtics | Ainge with high praise for Stevens | Herald- Crowder believes in plan for future
If you missed the Celtics introductory press conference yesterday afternoon, here’s ten solid minutes.
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