Your Morning Dump… Where today’s the day to sign contracts

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.

Starting today, July 7, free agents may now sign contracts that were agreed upon during the past week. That includes Al Horford with the Celtics (yay!). But that isn’t the entire picture for the Celtics. Danny Ainge has more work to do to fill out the roster, deciding who to retain among Johnson and Jerebko (likely), and Sullinger and Zeller (maybe not), while also figuring out who might fill the void left by Evan Turner’s departure for Portland. Read on for a few different angles about players who may be staying or leaving.

Nearly four months away from the regular season opener, there is ample time for the Celts to make moves, and they will indeed make moves. The question is how significant those transactions will be.[…]
As it stands, the word is the Celts are looking at a core that will grow to nine with Horford. Also in the group are Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, Terry Rozier, Jordan Mickey and Brown.

That does not mean that Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko, whose 2016-17 contracts must be picked up by midnight [Thursday], won’t be on the club and play important roles. And it doesn’t mean that R.J. Hunter or even James Young can’t play their way into the main picture with strong showings in summer league and training camp.[..]
Could there still be places here for Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller? Doubtful, if only for the fact that each of the restricted free agents should get an offer that the Celts won’t match and that would preclude the players from accepting the one-year qualifying offers to stay.

Herald – Bulpett: Next steps for Celtics aren’t so clear now

Both Johnson ($12 million) and Jerebko ($5 million) are signed for one more season, but the contracts don’t become guaranteed until July 7. The trigger date for both deals was initially four days sooner, but the Celtics pushed it back to afford more flexibility while they chased after Kevin Durant. Once he signed elsewhere, Johnson and Jerebko always seemed likely to stay put. In this NBA landscape, their deals represent good value and allow Boston to keep salary cap flexibility moving forward. Plus, Jerebko and Johnson fit frontcourt needs (and could be used as trade chips, just in case).

MassLive – Boston Celtics rumors: Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko still expected to stick around for another season

Sullinger was far and away Boston’s best rebounder last season, grabbing 27.1 percent of available defensive rebounds, a number that ranked him among the best in the league on the defensive glass. He has steadily improved as an outlet passer. What’s concerning for Boston is that the next-best defensive rebounding numbers on the team for a regular came from Jonas Jerebko (19.9 percent) and Amir Johnson (19.4). The team doesn’t have an obvious rebounding presence. In Atlanta, Horford grabbed only 18 percent of available defensive rebounds.

Sullinger’s offer sheets will dictate Boston’s decision. The team ultimately might have the sort of cap space to offer him a short-term, big-money deal — something that could appeal to him, given the money that will be available on the open market next summer. But if he’s looking for a longer-term deal immediately, it might have to be elsewhere.

ESPN Boston – Celtics face conundrum with restricted free agent Jared Sullinger (includes Sully’s cryptic tweet)

On Page 2: What Horford brings to the table

One area where the Celtics need to improve next season is in defending the post. Horford, as ESPN’s Stats & Info pointed out, was one of the best post defenders in the NBA last year. Also, he brings an upgrade in shot-blocking, which was previously a Boston weakness.

More than any single attribute, Horford will be another brick in the wall of solid defenders that Danny Ainge has assembled. Unlike some of the other free agents who would’ve commanded large contracts, Horford doesn’t neglect his duties on the defensive end.

Boston.com – 4 things Celtics fans will love about Al Horford

It’s true, Celtics fans, Al Horford is really coming to Boston as a high-profile, in-his-prime, impact free agent. Never forget, Horford was the second biggest FA prize this season after that other guy. There’s no downside to this. Ainge brings in a veteran leader with All-Star talent who plays both ends of the court, without giving up any of the team’s fabled assets. Let’s get his signature on the dotted line sooner than later so the dream can be complete.

On Page 3: James Young played a good game

He had 16 points, which was the most he’s ever scored in an NBA game — Summer League, regular season or the playoffs. And in Tuesday’s win, Young drained a corner 3-ball that was arguably the biggest shot of the night. It put the game away with less than 20 seconds to play.

“The shot he made in the corner was huge,” said Celtics assistant Micah Shrewsberry, who’s coaching the Summer League team. “Just being able to have the mental focus to knock one in that kind of put the game on ice. It’s good for him. Anytime you can have positive results like that in a pressure situation, everybody builds off of.”

CSNNE – Young’s Summer Job: Take His Career To The Next Level

On Tuesday, James Young finally had the type of game we’ve all hoped for: hitting big shots while looking like he belonged on an NBA court. Sure, it’s his third time around playing in Summer League and, yes, he’s still only 20 years old, but except for that one regular season game where he scored 13 points and Tommy got all excited, James has done nothing to warrant any optimism about his future in green. So we will relish this performance while we can, and hope like hell that he manages to do it again tonight. Enjoy his highlights.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXYxRBEi_PQ]

Related: ESPN Boston – James Young and the restless

And, finally: Bulls signing Wade to team up with … Rondo?!

Dwyane Wade has informed the Bulls he plans to sign a deal with them, sources tell @TheVertical. Bulls sending out contracts now.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 7, 2016

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsUntil the ink is dry on the contract, this one is going to be hard to believe. Surprising everyone, Wade departs from the Heat as a 12-time All-Star who won three titles in Miami. Along the way, he gained a well-deserved reputation as a dirty player, so everyone figures he and the other new Bull, Rajon Rondo, will have something to reminisce about.