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 have the 16th overall pick but has made it known to fellow executives that they would like to get into the lottery area (top 14).

Still, there are challenges on multiple fronts in making that happen.

The Celtics have to lock in on a particular player who they want to draft, and get as good a feel as they can as to where that player will be selected, so they know which teams to target as potential trade partners.

CSNNE: Celtics want to move up in draft, but need trade partner

The Celtics aren’t trading into the top 5. That’s just not happening, so don’t harbor any fantasies of getting the Knicks pick because they’ll need something to show their fans with that pick and the Celtics don’t have anything that trumps any of the guys available there. Even if Emmanuel Mudiay is a bust, his promise right now is too much to pass up.

So where would the Celtics go if they trade up? Well, it depends on who they want. If the team is locked in on, say, Bobby Portis from Arkansas and he works his way up the draft board, the Celtics might look to trade up to get him. Or maybe they go to the Hornets or Heat with a pick and a more proven role player to get a guy they covet.

The Celtics CAN trade up… they will just have trouble cracking the top 10 if they do.  They’ve been working out everyone under the sun so far, save for the few guys guaranteed to go at the top of the draft. They’ll get a good look at a lot of guys and they’ll keep tabs on how those guys perform in future workouts. Some will return for second and third workouts as the field narrows, and then the Celtics will have to make their decision.

Do they think their target is (or will be) an upgrade over a current player? Is another team with a higher pick looking at drafting that same player? And what will it take to get to that spot to get the guy you want?

I’m not sold on the draft being where the fireworks happen. The Celtics may move up a few slots, but I doubt there are huge deals in that will go down.

Which, of course, means gird your loins for a blockbuster.

Related links: CBS Boston: Celtics open to trade possibilities as draft day approaches

Page 2: The Celtic like to give local prospects a hand

After a well-traveled college career that surprisingly ended at tiny Georgetown College in Kentucky of the NAIA, Mattapan resident Gerard Coleman worked out for the Celtics on Friday, refreshed for the next stage of his basketball career.

The Celtics, in the midst of workouts for their four draft picks and their summer league and training camp rosters, decided to invite Coleman at the urging of former Celtics executive Leo Papile.

[…] Coleman, a 6-foot-4-inch shooting guard averaged 20.7 points in 14 games with Georgetown. He appeared on his way to a sparkling college career after averaging 13.2 points in 2011-12 with the Friars but transferred after coach Ed Cooley began filling the roster with his own recruits.

“Gerard, I saw him play in high school, we like to help local guys out when we can,” Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge said. “I think he might be the first guy we’ve had in for a workout with a Boston Bruins tattoo. It’s good to have him in.”

Globe: Gerard Coleman ready for another fresh start

As Gary Washburn notes, Coleman is probably looking for a summer league invitation more than a draft spot. Unless he somehow wows everyone, he’s going to start his career overseas, but that doesn’t mean this workout isn’t an amazing experience for him.

He’s a local kid who grew up loving the Celtics. Now he gets to say he worked out for them and have it be true (as opposed to Chuck’s go-to pick-up line “yeah, I worked out for them but then I blew out my knee and got into blogging”). Maybe he’ll latch on to a summer league team and maybe he’ll impress someone enough to go play overseas. And maybe he’ll do well enough to come back and sign a 10-day somewhere. Who knows?

I’m sure these are all thoughts that go through his mind before he goes to sleep… dreaming of the what-ifs… imagining a day where he can check into a game at the Garden.

It all starts right here for him and countless other like him. Lost in all the Towns and Okafor hype are the guys just fighting to make it… the guys trying to live a dream of playing a game for a living. Those guys who’ll be flying off to play for some Vietnamese team that’s promised him a hundred grand and hoping someday that some scout somewhere will notice. There are so many more of them than the lottery picks.

Good luck to them all. Hopefully those dreams can come true.

Related links:  Herald: Boston’s Gerard Coleman hopes long journey leads to NBA  |  SouthCoastToday:  Battle tested Coleman taking his shot

And Finally…

Celebrity chefs are getting in on the recruiting of Paul Pierce…

.@paulpierce34 if you stay with us @WashWizards Sir one more season I personally will cook for you,1 night a month..

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) May 28, 2015

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Not a bad deal… but just 1 night a month? After everything The Truth did?

Paul, if you come back to Boston, I personally will live in a tent in a far corner of your back yard and grill salmon and steaks for you whenever you ring a cowbell.

Top that, Jose.

(Via USA Today)

The rest of the links:

CSNNE: C’s to work out high-talented wings next week  |  ESPN Boston: Nothing but (wide) net: C’s evaluating all draft hopefuls  |  Re-imagining NBA mascots as cartoon characters  |  Mass Live: Draft workouts: Travis Trice calls Celtics “hungry to win”  |  Travis Trice, Scott Eatherton, 4 more participate in workout