If you’re a Celtics fan in Maine and haven’t checked out a Red Claws game yet, January might be a good time to get on that. Earlier today, C’s coach Brad Stevens told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe that Rajon Rondo could spend time with Boston’s D-League affiliate before he gets back on the NBA hardwood. Stevens, who is known as a forward-thinking coach, envisions the D-League being used more often for players returning from injury in years to come. More out of the Atlantic..
- The Knicks took some heat for their signing of Chris Smith over the summer and their release of him today has raised the ire of someone rather important to the organization. “You know the sad thing about betrayal? It never comes from an enemy,” read the caption of an Instagram pic that older brother J.R. Smith tweeted out. Smith won’t lose any money over being cut loose as his deal was fully guaranteed for the rookie minimum.
- Pending free agent Carmelo Anthony is less-than-thrilled with how things are working out with the Knicks this season, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. “This is not how I envisioned it, this is not how we envisioned it coming into this season,” said Anthony. “But it is what it is at this point. We can’t be crying about it. We’ve got to find a solution to it, got to take it one game at a time and figure it out.”
- Terrence Ross has shined for the Raptors in the wake of the Rudy Gay deal, writes Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.