The Celtics’ Brandon Bass said it’s always an emotional experience when an ex-teammate returns, writes Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. Rajon Rondo has promised not to cry when he comes back to Boston tonight for the first time since the December 18th trade that sent him to Dallas. Bass, who has been through the experience a couple of times already, isn’t so sure. “It was tough for me to watch the videos, man,” Bass said. “Especially when Paul [Pierce] came back. I just felt like Paul had been here his whole life and it was very emotional for him. KG [Kevin Garnett] as well.”
There’s more news from an emotional day in Boston:
- Count Jeff Green among the Celtics who were sad to see Rondo leave, according to Scott Souza of the MetroWest Daily News [Twitter link.]. Green said one of the reasons he decided to stay in Boston when he became a free agent was because Rondo was there. Green added that he never wants a homecoming reception in Boston because he doesn’t want to be traded.
- Rondo said he hasn’t thought much about free agency since the trade, although the Mavericks are an obvious favorite now, reports Sam Amick of USA Today. “My focus has been basketball, basketball, basketball, not necessarily being a free agent,” Rondo said. “I mean obviously I think [the Mavericks will] have the upside [in free agency]. I wouldn’t say it’s wide open [in terms of considering other teams], but I wouldn’t say it’s closed [solely to the Mavericks] either because obviously they are the team that came and got me and from Day One they’ve been very loyal and very supportive in this transition for me.”
- Rookie James Young doesn’t figure to get much playing time soon, but A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes that the team is noticing his improvement in the D-League. Young has averaged 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in his time with the Maine Red Claws. “He does add something that we could very well need in the near future and that is the ability to play off screens and score and make passes off screens,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. “He’s a very fluid offensive player.”