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.

“It’s quite a challenge but I felt like we’ve got enough players right now with the signing of Lou Williams, the trade for Roy Hibbert and then myself and we have arguably the best player in the game still,” Bass said. “When he is healthy he is a monster still. If he is healthy he’s right up there with the best players in the league, that’s LeBron or whoever the best players in the league are.

“When Kobe is healthy, 19 years in the game he is still elite.”

NOLA.com: Brandon Bass looking forward to opportunity with Los Angeles Lakers

Let me start with…

Now that we gotten that out of the way.

I love Brandon Bass. It’s a shame the Celtics situation wasn’t different because he’s the type of guy you just really want around your team. I like him so much that I’m not even mad that he’s a Laker.

So… is Brandon Bass crazy?

No, I don’t think so. If you gave Bass a dose of sodium pentothal and asked him to list the top players in the NBA, there’s no way he puts Kobe at the top of that list. Not anymore. I respect Kobe’s resume, but everybody knows the guy’s not only on the back nine of his career, he’s lining up his last putt.

Is Brandon Bass high?

Well, considering the audacity of his statement, you might think so. But the rest of his interview is pretty lucid. There’s no talk of championships. The closest he got was

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to take Brandon Bass as a player and as a brand to the next level,” said Bass, who will be reuniting with coach Byron Scott when was the coach of New Orleans Hornets when they drafted him in the second round in 2005. “Los Angeles is such a big market and you have the Lakers that’s a big stage, especially if we can turn it around, make the playoffs and just change the culture back around like it was a few years ago.”

As an aside… Brandon Bass the brand?  More like BRANDon Bass… AMIRITE?? Oh wait… that doesn’t really work, does it?

Anyway. No, Bass doesn’t seem high.

Is Brandon Bass just a good teammate?

Yup. He might be more than that, actually.

Bass knows if he wants to get the ball, he’s gotta  get on Kobe’s good side. And there’s no better way to get on Kobe’s good side than a little verbal fellating?

Brandon Bass is 3o. He’s probably got 5 years or so left to make a bunch of money and maybe turn a few of the other irons he’s got in the fire into some business opportunities. He’s an aspiring rapper (and he’s not bad) so being around a few studios is probably a good thing. He’ll get opportunities that weren’t available to him in the Boston metropolitan area.

Bass is one of those guys that actually does benefit from the Los Angeles/New York thing. A star can be a star anywhere in today’s connected world, but a guy who’s spent a decade as a largely unknown (as far as mainstream America is concerned) role player can benefit from living in that world.

So cozying up to Kobe is probably more than just “gotta support the team,” it’s a means to an end. Maybe get a few extra passes, score a few extra buckets, play a few extra minutes, and get seen by a few extra people. For all we know, Bass is going to have people passing out head shots to the celebs sitting courtside…

“Hey, Brandon’s available for cameos in your show.”

Can’t get mad at a guy who’s trying to get his business in order. Bass isn’t going to play until he’s 40. Sometimes you gotta pucker up and kiss a little ass to get what you want.

Page 2: Scal, Bonner, and the epic game of knockout that will make your day

.@scalabrine vs #MattBonner in knockout. #WhiteMamba vs #RedMamba pic.twitter.com/2XJ9FaUZCl

— Luke Bonner (@LukeyBonner) August 6, 2015

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Big finish. #RedMamba vs #WhiteMamba @Scalabrine @SeedsofPeace pic.twitter.com/Iw9KYSJOlU — Luke Bonner (@LukeyBonner) August 6, 2015

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Where else have we seen a battle this epic?

Related links: CSNNE: Watch Scal and Bonner face off in a game of knockout

And Finally…

Congratulations to Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte, who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. This guy is one of the best, and this is a well-deserved honor.

The rest of the links:

MassLive: Celtics came “really really close”to picking Pat Connaughton   |  Celtics add Malcom Miller and Coty Clarke to training camp roster