Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Has anyone seen Gerald Wallace? If so, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens would like to speak with him:
“I’m anxious to meet Gerald,” Ainge admitted before the team’s annual golf tournament to benefit the Shamrock Foundation. “I met him before when I was doing television (more than a decade ago), but I haven’t had much conversation with him. He’s really the only one (of the players on the current roster who hasn’t been in contact).”
Ainge seemed reasonably convinced – although he did (perhaps inadvertently) add a qualifier – that Wallace will be in Waltham for Monday’s media day.
“He’ll be in town, I think, next week. I’ll be watching closely and then we’ll sit down.”
Fabulous. Sounds like Crash has embraced the trade to Boston and is super excited to work with his new teammates.
Wallace has ten million reasons to be in camp on time. He may not like the idea of playing for the Celtics, but he will be here.
As for the worst kept secret in Boston:
“My understanding and the last time that we’ve had discussions about it is that it’s very indeterminate still, but it sounds like it would be unlikely that he would be playing at the very start of the season,” C’s coach Brad Stevens said from the team’s annual charity golf tournament. “What that means beyond that, I think that’s going to be on his doctors, the training staff and him making the call on when he’s ready. I’ve told him from Day 1, ‘Come back when you’re ready,’ because I think it’s really important that he feels really good when he’s back and ready to play.”
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge put it more succinctly: “I would be shocked.”
“I don’t think that we would ever succumb to the pressure of bringing back a player from an ACL too soon,” said Ainge. “We’ve got to do what’s right for him. Maybe if he was 37 and it was his last year, but he’s just still so young and he’s our best player and we can afford to make any mistakes in judgment on when to bring him back.”
Look for Avery Bradley, Phil Pressey and (vomit in mouth) Jordan Crawford to man the point guard position in Rondo’s absence. In other words, expect absolute chaos on the offensive end until December.
Here’s the bright side to Rondo’s stubborn personality. He will play when he’s ready. He’s not going to take the rehab slow as part of some stealth tanking mission.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Olynyk’s bruised chin | Support for Sullinger | Nothing imminent on Bradley extension | WEEI – Celtics answer questions, create more | CSNNE – Bradley, Cs not close on extension | Ainge would be shocked if Rondo ready for opener | Herald – Rondo won’t be ready | Sullinger looks toward season | MetroWest – Time to shine for Green
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