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.
Lee wouldn’t have much value to the Rockets, who might just buy him out. Besides offering some flexibility with the hard cap Houston is working under this year after using its non-taxpayer mid-level exception, this trade is all about getting one of Boston’s huge stockpile of picks to flip in another trade. That could work out like when the Rockets traded Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors for a lottery pick that ended up being a key part of the James Harden deal months later.
ESPN Insider–or just read Chuck’s piece from yesterday.
It’s December 18th, and I would like to think that this is the craziest trade rumor we’re going to see this season. But I doubt it. Boston has a gigantic pile of picks, a better selection of players than Philly, and the strings for this particular franchise are pulled by Trader Danny. Folks, we are in for seven months of absolutely loony-tunes level speculation from every corner of the NBA universe. Much of it delivered via Twitter in pseudo-Bill-Simmons style, I expect. “Evan Turner, David Lee and Brooklyn pick to Milwaukee for Jabari Parker, OJ Mayo and MCW. Who says no?” or, say, “Two second rounders + Jason Terry for Marcus Smart–make the call”
Regarding the trade proposal above, I don’t share Chuck’s lack of hatred for this pitch. Plainly, it provides Houston with a ton of flexibility while saddling Boston with a lengthy contract on a player with a questionable future, either that or it’s basically throwing away a first rounder on an experiment.
I don’t dislike Dwight Howard, the person. I think his overall problem is that he’s a 7 footer with a massive frame who just really doesn’t like playing basketball. And, for crying out loud, what else is there for him to do? Kid’s probably had basketball shoved down his throat since he was so-high, and quite obviously, he hasn’t taken to it. To me, that kind of attitude is not a good fit for the Celtics at all. Instantly, the highest paid player on the team would be the guy with the worst work ethic.
Page 2: Where Tyler and Jonas are waiting for their turn
As players like Phil Pressey and even Kris Humphries have discovered before him over the last two-plus seasons, and fellow Celtic Jonas Jerebko is beginning to discover now, someone has to withstand long periods of inactivity on a roster where there isn’t a well-defined top eight- or nine-man rotation.
Zeller and Jerebko both got a call from Brad Stevens on Wednesday and responded well — the former with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting and a hand in defending and fouling Andre Drummond, and the latter with three fourth quarter 3-pointers that very nearly turned the game.
One of the big problems with the Celtics’ depth is that it’s depth at, like, two positions. At the same time, it’s a testimony to Brad Stevens’ ability as a coach that these guys are ready and are–even if privately upset about their lack of playing time–still good teammates. Stevens’ candor, I think, buys him a lot of credibility with the guys on the team. These guys are adults. If they don’t realize at first that you’re just telling them what they want to hear, they’ll figure it out pretty quickly. The team also seems to be pretty tight. You saw guys cheering on James Young’s performance against New Orleans, and after Wednesday night’s game Crowder had good things to say about Jonas and Tyler.
Page 3: Where Marcus Smart is back on the court
Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart resumed on-court basketball activities this week and is trending toward a return later this month or in early January, according to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
…
Smart has been sidelined since Nov. 20 after suffering a subluxation of the proximal tibfib joint when he banged knees with Brooklyn’s Thomas Robinson while trying to defend a layup attempt. Smart has missed Boston’s last 14 games — a stretch during which the Celtics are 7-7 — and would stand to miss at least six more if he’s not able to return until the new calendar year.
The Celtics have maintained a high level of defensive play without Smart, but Boston’s defensive rating over that 14-game span is 100.2, ranking 11th in the NBA in that span. For the season, Boston is tied for fourth in the NBA with a rating of 97.8.
Chris Forsberg summing up Ainge’s comments from his regular Toucher & Rich appearance and reminding us why Smart matters. The numbers don’t lie: Boston’s defense, while still solid, has dropped off dramatically since Smart went out with a sibluxootion sublixation partial dislocation of the tibular dislocated flibural lower body injury.
Finally: Iman Shumpert’s cool under pressure
On Wednesday morning, Shumpert’s fiancée, Teyana Taylor, gave birth to the couple’s baby girl, terrifically named Iman Shumpert Jr. But apparently the big moment wasn’t without some drama. Taylor, who documented the event in an Instagram post, said she didn’t realize she was in labor until she could feel her baby’s head. She then delivered the baby in her own bathroom, with Shumpert assisting by tying a pair of red headphones around the newborn’s umbilical cord until an ambulance arrived.
Nice choice of names there Iman. Also, you got paid this off-season. Go out and buy yourself a new set of headphones. Let Teyana put those in little Junior’s baby book. Or, you know, just throw them away because, gross. Seriously, though, gotta hand it to both Shump and Teyana for keeping their heads in a pretty crazy situation.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston: At top of Danny Ainge’s holiday shopping list? A go-to scorer
CSNNE: Jerebko hopes shooting struggles are over | Ainge: ‘Never a good idea’ to bring in disruptive players
NESN: Marcus Smart Resumes On-Court Work, Could Return By End Of December
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
