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, who has fallen out of Brad Stevens’ rotation, and would welcome a move to a playoff team that has a role for him, is not drawing suitors.
“David Lee was tough for Golden State to move all of last year,” said the source. “And it finally came down to him being moved for Gerald Wallace. David Lee has no value. It’s his contract. David Lee’s value comes in if they get one of these big name players.”
Herald: Celtics bide time in trade market; Isaiah does some recruiting
Well first of all… no shit. Of course no one wants David Lee. The Celtics don’t even want him. That’s not the point, really.
The Celtics aren’t shopping Lee to say “here, take this guy because he might help your team.” The Celtics have Lee around to match salaries in a bigger deal.
An unforeseen issue with Lee’s expiring deal being a draw is the ballooning salary cap. Two thirds of the league will have enough cap space this summer to offer someone a maximum contract. The notion of acquiring anyone just so he could go away in a cap move isn’t quite as appealing as it would normally be. So the suitors for David Lee’s cap-clearing deal aren’t as plentiful as they might have been in the past.
Which means the Celtics, if they’re intent on actually moving Lee and getting him for something, have two choices.
1: Sweeten the deal more than normal. If they want someone to take Lee off their hands, they’re going to have to give something else of value to make it more palatable, like a better pick or player than they might otherwise have offered.
2: Take less back in return. Instead of using his salary to match another bigger-salary guy, maybe it’s used to facilitate a 3-team deal where the Celtics get back a role player or future picks.
It’s not IMPERATIVE the Celtics deal David Lee right now. They’re going to buy him out by the end of the month if they can’t trade him. But it would be nice to see an asset get used to improve the team somehow.
Personally, I think the Celtics are much more likely to play the “facilitator” role at the trade deadline. There is buzz around the league that the Celtics are letting it be known that they’re willing to be a third team to help trades happen, and we know they’ve played that role before (it is, indirectly, how they ended up getting Isaiah Thomas).
So that means as the rumors heat up over the next week, watch for those deals between other teams that include some form of the phrase “a third team will likely be needed to facilitate the deal.” It could be a way for the Celtics to consolidate some of their assets without giving away some of the players they like.
Page 2: Isaiah Thomas is LOVING All Star weekend…. Well, most of it.
The appreciation has been overwhelming. The weekend began in rather humbling fashion when Thomas encountered Hall of Fame candidate Allen Iverson at an event Thursday night. Thomas said he met Iverson before but this was their first substantive conversation, one little man to another.
Iverson, listed as being 6 feet tall, made a career out of diving into the paint against bigger defenders, the crashes to the floor likely shortening his career. Iverson, 40, has been following his understudy, so much so that he was fluent on Thomas’s moves.
[…] Thomas said, “Other than talking with Kobe [Bryant] — Allen Iverson was the second-biggest thing of my career. We talked for about 10, 15 minutes and he said how much he loves my game and how much he watches all my games. For somebody to say that, like him, pound-for-pound the best player ever, like that was unbelievable.”
Globe: For a little man, Isaiah Thomas has a big fan club
Isaiah Thomas has had perma-smile plastered on his face since the day he was announced as a reserve. To meet one of his heroes and talk to him for a while is a nice capper for Thomas.
I don’t want to jinx anything, so I’m going to couch this as best I can. As of right now, Isaiah Thomas is having his best year as a pro. He’s leading the Celtics to the third seed in the East, he’s an All Star for the first time, and he’s gotten to have extended conversations with two of his heroes (Kobe and Iverson).
All I’m saying is I’d really like to see Isaiah continue this roll of his. Things are going pretty good for him, and I’d like this dream season of his to continue.
Isaiah Thomas was one 3-pointer away from taking the Taco Bells Skills Challenge trophy home to Boston.
Instead, he’s left Air Canada Centre with an empty feeling after falling to big man Karl Anthony-Towns in the championship round.
“I would’ve been fine losing to a guard. I’m low-key – I’m upset right now,” Thomas said with a smile after the challenge came to an end. “I lost to a big. I let the guards down.”
Thomas is so competitive that he’s definitely upset about this… at least a little. It was fun to watch, though. In fact, I enjoyed All Star Saturday. I thought it was pretty fun this year…. speaking of which…
Related links: Globe: All Star notebook, Towns upsets Thomas | Herald: Thomas falls short vs. Towns | CSNNE: Thomas enjoying special moments as Star | Watch: Thomas laughing with Al Horford | Did Horford ask Thomas about playing in Boston?
And Finally…
Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine can fly. I swear they sprouted wings and flew.
Gordon had two pretty sick dunks. This one with the mascot spinning in a circle is entertaining.. and the way he cups the ball and spins is sick.
This dunk… this dunk was insane. This was one of the best dunks in contest history.
Zach LaVine ended up winning… and these two dunks from the foul line were insane. Catching the alley oop… and A WINDMILL?? Oh man…
The rest of the links
Globe: Shaq’s farewell tour with Celtics hit a dead end | Herald: Celtics getting plenty of respect from stars | CSNNE: Garnett taught Towns “breathing technique” | Blakely: Love deal unlikely without third team | Stevens makes All Star break visit to Butler game | ESPN Boston: Thompson dethrones Curry
