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.
Jared Dudley has gone back to Phoenix on a three-year, $30 million deal, but the 31-year-old BC product told us he was hoping for a call from the C’s when he was a free agent this summer.
“Boston never contacted me, but I made it known I was interested in them,” said Dudley, who shot 42 percent on 3-pointers for Washington last season.
He believed he fit a need, but understood the club wants to give minutes to rookie Jaylen Brown.
Jared Dudley wouldn’t tip the scale of power in the Eastern conference, but I’d still feel better with Dudley backing up Jae Crowder this season than Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics remain in this space where they are 2nd tier challengers for the title AND rebuilding. And rebuilding teams don’t give veteran role players 3 year, $30 million contracts.
I remain wary of Jaylen Brown. I call it the Kedrick Brown syndrome.
On Page 2, Danny Ainge is thrilled with the new practice facility.
“It is a big deal,” said the Celts’ president of basketball operations. “It’s a big deal for our players, and it’ll be a big deal for our team to have two regulation courts. I mean, that’s probably the biggest thing. Our facility’s good now, but one court’s not enough. I mean, with 15 players, we need two courts. We don’t have enough space. We’re trying to build a better facility to become a better team.
“But,” he added, “we won 17 banners with one court, so it’s not, like, mandatory.”Actually, the Celtics won some of those banners with barely one practice court, having to share space at various locales. In fact, the C’s have won exactly one championship when they had a court to call their own. They moved into their current digs in 1999, skipping across town from Brandeis.
Having modern arenas with extravagant locker rooms and team planes is no longer enough in today’s NBA. A top notch practice facility is quickly becoming a must-have.
But I like Ainge’s comment about it not being mandatory. These luxuries remain the cherry on top for well-run franchises.
Look no further than the Brooklyn Nets. Three years ago the Nets and their new stadium and black unis were the darling of the NBA. Where has that gotten them except the lottery?
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