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.

The Celtics already picked up their team option on Sullinger for next season, but he will become a restricted free agent in 2016. Boston wants to see results before it commits to a long-term deal.

Ainge said he has “great interest” in re-signing Sullinger, but he will likely be subjected to a weight clause in his contract, much like Glen Davis had during his tenure in Boston.

“I’m perfectly fine with that,” said Sullinger, in an interview with ESPNBoston.com on Sunday night. “It’s not that I need it. It’s the simple fact that I know what kind of person I am, and I would never get back to the weight I was [this season].”

Ainge said he wants to believe Sullinger has gotten the message and will lose the weight.

“I think he understands,” Ainge said. “The question is, Can he do it?”

ESPN Boston: Sullinger facing heavy burden

This is a very good piece on Jared Sullinger’s struggles with his weight. And I can say on a personal level that I completely understand where he’s coming from.

As I like to say quite often, these guys are all human beings. They’re human beings with a particular skill set that allows them to have a job that pays them a ridiculous amount of money. But no amount of money will change your body chemistry, or who you are at your core.

So when Sullinger talks about watching guys tear through the postgame spread with a hint of jealousy in his tone, I get it. Because he’s a guy who could probably eat the whole damn table, but unlike some guys in the room, he’s going to gain weight when others will maintain theirs.

That’s just how it is with some people. That’s how it’s been with me my whole life too. And I’m sure some of you get it too.

The advantage Sullinger has is a professional team of highly trained individuals on his side… and the motivation of millions of dollars as a reward for staying slim. The key for Sully is to understand that he needs to make a lifestyle change, and find the right plan to keep his body strong and fueled, but not fat.

It’s a process. It’s not going to happen overnight. I’m sure, like most people, he has bad habits that he needs to break (he mentions late-night eating in the piece as one). If he does this the right way, he can slowly wean himself off those habits and into a better pattern of eating that will help him get back down to a manageable weight.

Temptation is hard to resist. It’s harder with the pressure of a professional career hanging in the balance, because for a lot of people, succumbing to the call of delicious, fatty food is actually a “screw it, I can’t do this today” kind of attitude. It’s the “I’ve had a shitty day, so I need to just be happy” thing… which is why they call it comfort food.

I think Sullinger can do it because it’s not only his professional career, but his overall life and health that hang in the balance. It sounds like obesity is something that runs in his family. He’s never going to look like Brandon Bass, but if he can accept that and get to a point where he’s just in the best shape Jared Sullinger can be, he’ll be ok. There’s no clause in his contract that says he needs to have a six-pack… he just needs to keep his playing weight down to about 260… and not the 300 that he got to this season.

If he doesn’t, then Danny Ainge will look elsewhere for his long-term solution for a stretch 4.

If anything, I’m encouraged by a young man who is finally coming to terms with his need to change his habits. Here’s a kid who has been successful in basketball his whole life despite eating the way he has. I’m sure he spent the first part of his career resisting the team as they told him he needed to change because he’d become a potential lottery pick the way he was.

I’m looking at this as his rock-bottom moment. Battling your weight your whole life is not an easy thing. This has to be where he changes his ways.

Related links:  MassLive: Sullinger opens up about weight issues to MacMullan

Page 2:  It looks like Isaiah Thomas is coming back tonight

That might explain why the Celtics assigned rookie James Young to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, on Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas’ return against the Heat would be one of those full-circle moments considering it was against the Heat on March 9 when Thomas injured his back after falling after a foul delivered by Dwyane Wade.

Young being shipped back to the D-League isn’t the only domino to fall upon Thomas’ expected return after missing the previous eight games because of the injury.

His return will mean added depth for Boston has they enter the final stretch of the regular season in the middle of a tightly contested race to the playoffs.

CSNNE: 5 ways Thomas’ return will impact the Celtics

With Miami’s loss last night, the Celtics have an opportunity to move into a tie for the 7th seed with a win tonight. The Heat lost their 5th straight road game last night, and are now 2-8 in their last 10 away from Miami.  The Celtics, meanwhile, are 8-2 in their last 10 at home.

Couple all that with the return of Isaiah Thomas against that dirty son of a bitch who put him out for 8 games and we’ve got ourselves a hell of a set up for tonight’s game.

Obviously Thomas adds a dynamic go-to scorer that the Celtics haven’t had down the stretch of close games. They’ve won 5 of their 8 games without Thomas with ball movement and floor spacing on offense. Thomas should just slide right back into his role to make what we saw against Brooklyn a whole lot more deadly.

Check out the sets they ran against the Nets to put them away late in the game Monday night. Imagine Thomas in there running those instead of Phil Pressey.

If the Celtics win tonight and Charlotte and Indiana lose, They’ll have at least a 1.5 game cushion for the last playoff spot. And remember, the Celtics pay Indiana and Charlotte again next week. A win tonight would be HUGE.

Related links:  ESPN Boston: Thomas on track to return vs. Heat

And Finally….

It does not appear Paul Pierce is good at redecorating…

The Wizards forward is accused of trashing his $30,000-a-month Manhattan apartment. The apartment’s owners, Anuragini Pandey and Rajeev Tewari, are suing Pierce and his wife, Julie, for more than $425,000 in damages and back rent.

According to the New York Post, Pandey and Tewari claim Pierce “ripped out wooden floors and window blinds, broke a glass door, damaged marble countertops and stained the bathroom floors, among other wreckage.”

The suit also claims Pierce replaced the wooden floors with pink carpet.

Pink carpets? Maybe his daughters made demands that had to be met.

Or maybe a couple of people realize that to Paul Pierce, $425,000 is weekend spending money and they want a piece of the action.

The rest of the links:

Herald: Evan Turner gets free rein  |  Globe: Evan Turner’s turnaround has been impressive |  CSNNE: Stevens: Turner more comfortable in C’s system  |  WEEI: Hot Celtics might not only make the playoffs, but have a chance to advance  |  MassLive: “Uncle” Gerald Wallace a great guy, straight shooter