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.

“We didn’t spend one second discussing an extension for him,” said Sullinger’s representative, the estimable David Falk. “Danny [Ainge] wasn’t in a position to give the max, so there was really nothing to talk about.

“I’ve never done a contract extension for a rookie who didn’t make the max since 1996. You have to understand I’m not a rookie in this league. The GMs all know.”

That is not to say that Falk necessarily believes Sullinger is worthy right now of a maximum contract; he just sees no benefit in agreeing to a number before the marketplace has a chance to weigh in.

Sullinger will be a restricted free agent next summer after the Celts give him his $3.27 million qualifying offer. The club remains intent on staying flexible during this rebuilding process, and, unless Sullinger and/or Tyler Zeller wanted to come in for a bargain price, neither was going to be extended. The Celts clearly feel they’re better off not getting locked in to anything pricey.

And there were — and are — certainly questions about Sullinger as he gets into his fourth NBA season. The Celts weren’t happy with his weight, and even after an intense summer of workouts they are interested to see if he stays with the program and how well he holds up over the course of the year.

So far, so… very good.

Boston Herald – Bulpett: Jared Sullinger’s agent excited to bring him to free agency

During the preseason there was much discussion and speculation regarding the contract extensions of Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger.  Zeller was starting and playing well while Sullinger was the last man off the bench, looking lethargic and playing poorly.  My how things changed quickly.  The two have essentially reversed roles, and now Sullinger’s agent, David Falk, is talking a max deal.  Ok so maybe he didn’t technically say he wanted a max deal for Sullinger, but it’s David Falk… he wants a max deal for Sullinger.  Falk is legendary in the NBA agent lore, with Michael Jordan being his most famous client.  He played a huge role in NBA salaries going bonkers in the 90’s, and is the main catalyst for creating the Jordan brand of Nike.

Look, Sullinger has played surprisingly well and has arguably been the C’s best player thus far.  That actually speaks volumes about this team thus far but that’s a whole other issue.  But let’s be real here… Sullinger is not getting a max deal from Danny Ainge.  He’s a good player but if he’s one of the pillars of a team you’re calling a contender, well you’re in trouble.  Falk is also legendary for talking up his clients better than anyone in the business (remember, he’s Jeff Green’s agent and we recall hoe he made Green seem like a franchise player).  If I’m Ainge, I make a mental note of it and nod my head.  I don’t care how much the cap is going up. Sullinger is not a max level player.

Page 2: Jae Crowder’s DNA is made of defense

For Celtics forward Jae Crowder, every night brings a new homework assignment in front of the glow of his television. No matter whether it is an off day, or if it’s late after a game at TD Garden, he invariably turns on NBA League Pass and starts to study.

Sometimes he watches a defender or a team he admires, looking for approaches that he could adopt. Sometimes he watches an upcoming opponent, gathering intelligence about offensive tendencies. One player might show weakness when double-teams arrive; another might hesitate in pick-and-roll situations.

Crowder, who often guards the opponent’s most dangerous scorer, uses the information to complement scouting reports. His identity is his defense, and despite having the physical gifts, he knows that without preparation, his edge would be minimized.

“You study the opponent and study the game plan and just have to be confident in your work,” he said. “You have to know your opponent and you have to be active. That’s all it is.”

Boston Globe – Celtics’ Jae Crowder is a student of the defensive game

Through seven games, Jae Crowder is leading the NBA with 3.4 steals per game.  In the above story, each steal has been studied and it proves what our eyes tell us: Crowder is all hustle and leaves nothing out on the floor.  He’s the perfect type of role player that Boston fans love.  He always plays hard, says the right things and just wants to win.  The Celtics got a solid player in the Rondo deal and at the time most people felt he was simply a throw-in to make numbers work.  Instead, Crowder has worked hard enough that the numbers work for him.  He’d be a valuable piece on any team so C’s fans should feel thankful to have him.

The rest of the links:

ESPN Boston – Would Celtics consider trading picks for DeMarcus Cousins? | 5-on-5: Should Kings fire George Karl? Trade DeMarcus Cousins?

Boston Globe – On the Parquet: Let’s talk Celtics offense, draft picks & Rondo | Jeff Van Gundy is a blunt force as an analyst

CSNNE – Blakely: Cousins needs to be surrounded by proven veterans |  Ainge: Sullinger bounced back by playing ‘like a madman’ | Celtics Talk: Can C’s land a superstar? Guest: Marc Spears

MassLive – Boston Celtics’ David Lee feeling rhythm now that he no longer feels tired on the court | Boston Celtics rumors 2015: Jared Sullinger’s agent says contract extension was never an option