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.

“Right now,Brandon is with us and Brandon may be with us next year and the year after that as well,” Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations, told CSNNE.com prior to the Celtics’ 93-87 loss to Houston on Friday.

Bass, who is set to make $6.9 million this season, will become a free agent this summer and can sign with any team of his choosing. However, it was widely believed that he would hit free agency donning a different uniform.

A league source told CSNNE.com that the market on Bass has been “pretty cold” thus far, but added that could change in the days leading up to the trade deadline.
[…] I think he’s better right now than he’s ever been in his career. And I think his upside is still ahead of him.”

CSNNE: Ainge: Bass’ skills continue to peak

[wakes up] [pours coffee] [opens laptop] [reads Ainge’s comments] [spits out coffee] [shops for new laptop]

Was that your morning too?

OK, let’s break this down. Danny Ainge doesn’t make comments like this just to make them. So let’s dive into what’s really going on here. I see three scenarios.

Scenario, the first: Danny Ainge is speaking truthfully and honestly

Let me state unequivocally that I do not believe in this scenario at all. However, whether we believe this is probable, we have to admit, since he said these words, that it’s now possible.

In Bass, the Celtics have a very conscientious individual who takes his job quite seriously. He has said in the past that he eats very well not because he likes the food that he eats, but because it properly maintains his body and health. He’s clearly a hard worker on and off the court. He’s not a guy to complain, regardless of how much he’s been jerked around over his time in Boston when it comes to his role and minutes. When called upon to start and play big minutes, he simply goes out and does his absolute best on the floor.

In short, this guy is a prime example of a true professional basketball player. He takes his job seriously, he prepares himself as well as anyone, he often performs up to his expectations, and he takes direction well. He ticks off all the boxes in the job description, which makes him a great addition to any team in any situation. On this Celtics team, he serves as an example to the other guys on the team, to show them that if you treat your body and mind like tools with which you perform your profession, you will get the maximum ability out of yourself.

A lot of young guys don’t see the game that way. They’re too caught up in themselves to have that mindset.

A chef will spend hours seasoning pans before they’re ready to be used. A chef’s knife is meticulously cared for and constantly kept sharp. The kitchen is maintained at a level of precision where cooks can blindly reach for items and know that they’re going to be there. This is all just in preparation to do a single job: make food.

Young NBA players often disrespect their bodies by pumping them full of fast food and grease because they’re barely 20 and they’re able to burn it all no problem. But keeping a guy like Bass around to teach young players how to treat themselves like a chef treats a kitchen, or NASCAR mechanics treat the cars, or any skilled tradesman treats the tools of that trade, has significant value.

The Celtics will have a lot of cap space next year, and even more the year after when the cap explodes to $90-plus million. Keeping Bass around at a mid-level contract won’t really hurt the team, and it will keep a true pro around to help a young team that will still need that in-locker room guidance. Hell, I’ll even go so far as to say he could be the next captain if he’s re-signed.

That’s how much respect I have for Bass and how he approaches the game.

Scenario, the second: Danny Ainge is sending a subtle message to Jared Sullinger

Jared Sullinger has had an up-and-down season. On some nights, he’s backing guys down and hitting jump hooks in the lane, stepping out and hitting 3’s, rebounding like a fiend, and taking charges.

Then some nights… well… some nights he plays like he did last night. Enamored with the 3, lackluster on D, and largely invisible.

His leap from rookie to sophomore year was very encouraging. His scoring average more than doubled, his increased minutes gave him more chances to rebound and put up double-doubles, and his PER went from a couple of points below average to a couple of points above.

Fairly or not, I think people expected to see a little more progress from Sullinger this year. It’s not to say he’s been bad. He’s actually been a tiny bit better than he was last year. His PER is up to 17.7, which isn’t bad. It’s better than Bass’ 16.3, and it’s 15th among power forwards in the NBA.

But Sullinger is still prone to bad habits. He is taking 3.4 3-pointers per game, and still only hitting 29.7% of them. His total rebounding percentage is down to 15.6% this year, the third straight year in which he’s grabbing a lower total percentage of rebounds (this is largely to a 3% drop in offensive rebounding. His defensive rebounding is even from last year). And often, he seems to get really frustrated on the floor, even sulking in certain moments.

And perhaps most importantly, Sullinger is under contract for one more year before he enters restricted free agency.

So it’s entirely possible that Ainge is tweaking Sully a little bit by saying “hey, we have a guy here in Bass that can fit very well in the 4-spot. Maybe we don’t want to trade him away. Maybe we want to wait and see what ol’ Sully is going to really amount to before we make a decision.”

It could be a little jolt to Sullinger to let him know that while he very well could be the future 4 for the Boston Celtics, it’s not really as locked up as you might think.

I’ve been a Sullinger fan, and I’m hoping that a few of his issues could be fixed simply by having better teammates to take some of the burden off of him and space the floor better so he can work on the post more. I think a team with better wing scoring threats will move Sullinger into a more natural inside-out scoring mentality, and the heavy reliance on 3’s is as much a systematic issue as it is his infatuation with taking them.

But….

A little tweak now and then from the boss to let you know not to let your guard down isn’t such a bad thing. Don’t get too comfortable in the NBA, especially as a 22-year-old. In the end, everyone’s replaceable on this team.

Scenario, the third (and most likely): Danny Ainge is talking up a trade chip

“Whoooo boy, did you see the way this car handled that turn? Wow, I mean… I know you’re going to drive by a lot of lots that have cars with some shinier coats and prettier features, but let me tell you something, friend…

“For my money, there’s no better car on any lot than this one right here. Reliable? This thing will get you from point a, to points b, c, d, e, and f without making so much as a knock or jiggle. Dependable? Let me tell you something… they just don’t make cars like this one anymore. All these new ones have fancy computers that will go haywire for no reason. You know how your laptop just freezes on you? Doesn’t that piss you off? Do you want your car to do that too?

“Nuh uh, me neither, buddy. This ol’ fella right here will do right by you. You can park it, get plowed in for a week, go dig it out and it’ll start like you just parked it there last night. Driving all day in 100 degree weather? You won’t know cuz this thing will keep you cool and comfy like you’re driving a convertible in San Diego.

“No my friend… and let me real frank with you here… between you and me, I’d love to keep this one for myself… I really would. This would be my go-to vehicle… I’d drive it all day and be proud to be seen getting in and out of it.

“Buuuuuuuutttt…. the Missus would get reaaaaaal pissed at me bringing another car home. You feel me, right buddy? I mean, I just can’t, no matter how much I personally, truly, deeply love this car.. I’d rather see it go to a good home than go home myself and get another ear full from the ol’ ball and chain HA HA HA HA HA… AM I RIGHT? You understand… I can tell you get it.

“So… yeah… I think you’re just the right guy to give this car a good home.

“HOOOO MAN… are you hearing me right now? I’m talking about this car like it’s a stray puppy. But that’s how much I care about it. So… whaddya say? Are you the right guy to take care of my baby here?

“Let’s talk financing.”

Danny Ainge… used car salesman.

Page 2: Brad Stevens is very happy to not be Jacque Vaughn right now

Earlier this week, team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told the Boston Herald, “I plan on being here for a while, and I plan on Brad being our coach for a while, and I plan on us turning this thing around.”

Given the young and imperfect roster in Boston, patience and faith were always going to be important. Ainge knew going into the process that he would need to stick by Stevens through tough campaigns, long losing skids, stretches when locker-room frustration would build. But Ainge also believed he hired someone equipped to handle that difficult environment, manage the personalities on the roster, and focus on the task at hand.

“I’ve said it from day one here, the biggest thing is that our ownership and our leadership team have been very good with me and been very supportive,” said Stevens. “At the end of the day, you’re really just focused on coaching your team as well as you can. I mean, you’re doing it to the best of your ability every day. I think when I was going through at Butler and we were having all kinds of success, I just kept learning and re-learning how important it was to not focus on anything but coaching your team. And then I’m here and we’re experiencing our fair share of growing pains, and it’s the same answer.”

Mass Live: As Jacque Vaughn deals with hot seat, Brad Stevens appreciates Boston Celtics’ support

I’ve said it a million times, but I think Brad Stevens is the right coach for this situation.

I’ve always said that first-time NBA coaches do best when they’ve got a young roster with which to work and grow. These coaches grow and learn with their players, as opposed to guys like Doc Rivers who have a heavy over-reliance on veterans.

Of course, I know how that sounds considering Stevens has overly relied on veterans like Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace, and now Tayshaun Prince rather than play James Young, but I think we have to take that as an isolated case. Young got hurt in the first game of the pre-season and fell behind. Then, as he made strides in the D-League, he hurt his shoulder. And THEN, he got sick and missed more time. All the while, the team’s situation and needs changed slightly, putting Stevens in a tough spot.

Stevens is balancing the need to win and get positive reinforcement for the lessons he’s teaching, and growth of young players. Remember, Young is still only 19-years-old. You can just as easily make the argument that a cautious approach of learning the lessons on the sidelines and D-League is as valuable as throwing him into the pool and seeing if he can swim.

As much as I’ve been an advocate of playing Young more, I do think there is value in making him earn those minutes… maybe more than other players. At 19, the need to earn your NBA keep is as valuable a lesson as the in-game “this is how you properly run a high pick-and-roll.”

I think Stevens’ job is as secure as it gets this season and next. Next season, though, could be pivotal in the sense that if the Celtics make some moves and regress, then there will be pressure on Stevens’ 4th year to be successful… or the Celtics could be in a position where the 5th year of their rebuilding plan would include a decision of whether a more seasoned, playoff-tested coach will be better suited to take the reins from there on out.

That’s a long way from here, and if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Stevens at least finishing his contract in Boston.

Related links: ESPN Boston: Stevens and security