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 Boston Celtics are on “a long list of teams already prepared to pursue” impending free agent DeMarre Carroll this summer, according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Deveney reported Thursday that the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons are also expected to show interest in the Atlanta Hawks forward. Carroll has followed a strong regular season by averaging 16.2 points (on 63.1 percent true shooting) and 6.4 rebounds per game during the playoffs. Though he went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury Wednesday night, an MRI revealed only a sprained left knee and he has not been ruled out for Friday’s Game 2.
Carroll’s combination of shooting (39.5 percent from downtown this season) and defensive chops would make him a good fit just about anywhere, and Boston would like to upgrade its depth chart on the wing. The 28-year-old is no star, but a stud role player who contributed to a 60-win regular season and has been one of Atlanta’s best players throughout the playoffs.
MassLive – Boston Celtics free agency rumors 2015: DeMarre Carroll pursuit already prepared?
A few years ago, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce raved to Danny Ainge about this guy that was killing it in summer pickup games with them. As Jay King brings up, it was DeMarre Carroll. Carroll has vaulted himself into quite the player for the surprising Atlanta Hawks, and it appears he avoided a major knee injury scare the other night against Cleveland. In the report linked above, it would appear snagging Carroll would be difficult and costly as the rumors say he’d fetch anything between $10-15 million per year.
Of course, that would raise a few eyebrows around here, but the silent asterisk we must all speak of when discussing new NBA deals is the anticipated salary spike in a couple of years. It’s crazy to think of Carroll, a very good role player, raking in $15 mil per year. It’s also interesting to think of how much more versatile he would make the C’s on the floor on both ends of the court. But as Jackie Mac said last night, the Celtics want to go after the next DeMarre Carroll, discover their own. The Celtics and Danny Ainge have a lot of work to do and this is his time to do it. Carroll would be another solid player to have, but he’s not one of the big stars they need. Keep that phone on, Danny and keep working it.
On Page 2, Pags takes over Boston’s 2024 Olympic bid
It was 2002, and Steve Pagliuca marveled as Mitt Romney, his friend and mentor at Bain Capital, marched into the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, serenaded by a regal fanfare. Eight years after his stinging loss in a Senate race to Edward M. Kennedy, Romney was being hailed for rescuing the Games from scandal.
“Mitt’s walking with kings,” Pagliuca mused.
Now, Pagliuca is hoping to become the next Bain Capital executive to rebound from a failed Senate run and save a faltering Olympic effort. On Thursday, he was named chairman of Boston’s bid committee, replacing John Fish, the founder and driving force behind the city’s effort to land the 2024 Games.
In taking over Boston’s embattled bid, Pagliuca must deliver a credible financial and venue plan and convince a skeptical public that the Games are in the city’s long-term interest and will not drain the public treasury.
Friends say he will draw on the financial savvy that earned him a fortune at Bain Capital, buying emerging or struggling businesses, improving their finances, and then selling them for a profit. As a co-owner of the Boston Celtics, he has also been credited with helping to assemble the front office team that brought the storied franchise its elusive 17th banner in 2008, after a 22-year drought.
Boston Globe – Pagliuca takes the reins of struggling Olympic bid
I’m not sure how much time and attention this would take Pagliuca away from his daily duties at Bain and as well as the Celtics. Personally, I was never a huge supporter of having the Olympics here, but Pags seems to think it’s still a good idea. Who knows, he could be a huge Olympics fan, or could be angling for something else. Remember, he did run, unsuccessfully, for MA state senator a few years ago. Usually with these types of things, there are more political and business things going on here, so Pags would be smart to try and jump in if he can benefit somehow. In the end, I highly doubt it will have any negative impact as part owner of the Celtics.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Brad Stevens, the basketball romantic |Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca takes over Boston’s 2024 Olympic bid
Boston Globe – Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy can relate to NBA series | Celtics will be aggressive in offseason, team president vows
Boston Herald – Avery Bradley grows as leader | Celtics Notebook: Resources offer big opportunity
CSNNE – Levine: The truth about NBA opportunity | LSU’s Mickey draft stock rises, will work out for Boston Celtics | NBA free agency: Celtics should go after everyone
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