Your Morning Dump… Where Ainge tells Sullinger to get in better shape

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.

A day after Boston Celtics third-year big man Jared Sullinger pledged to transform his body while rehabbing from a season-ending left foot fracture, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge came down hard on Sullinger for his lack of strides in conditioning.

“Jared and I have talked a lot about [conditioning] over the past year. It’s something that we take great pride in with our players,” Ainge said Thursday during his weekly call to Boston sports radio 98.5 the Sports Hub. “Our players have really bought into our program and a lot of guys — I think every guy has met the goals that they have set in regards to strength and conditioning, body fat and weight, and all the different things our strength and conditioning coaches do on a regular basis.

“Jared just hasn’t met his goals. He’s not up to the standards that he wants and is not up to the standards that we think are in his best interests for the long-term health of his career. He’s not up to par, to the standards that we feel are necessary to be a consistent winning player and play with great conditioning.”

ESPN Boston – Ainge: Sully’s shape not good enough

When you’ve been in the NBA for three seasons and two of them have ended prematurely due to a back issue and a foot issue, there’s a problem.  Let’s actually go back a bit more: when you’re one of the best college prospects at Ohio State and go from being projected as a top 3 pick your freshman year to falling all the way to the low 20’s in your sophomore year, there’s a problem.  There’s no denying that Jared Sullinger is a talented basketball player.  But the serious injuries that have ended his first and third seasons are alarming.

Could a back injury happen without being overweight and out of shape? Sure. Could you suffer a stress fracture on your foot if you’re in shape and on the thin side? Kevin Durant is nodding as he reads this (ok, highly doubt he’s reading this).  But Sullinger could eliminate those questions, as well as his conditioning issue and being able to play more than 30 MPG without getting winded easily if he took his fitness and conditioning more seriously.  Danny Ainge is now nodding next to Kevin Durant.

In the post above, Ainge’s comments are highlighted from his weekly appearance on 98.5.  The fact of the matter is the Celtics can provide access to the best medical, training and nutrition resources around.  It comes down to the player wanting to change for themselves.  For Sullinger’s sake (as well as the team’s, if they plan on keeping him or trading him), it’s imperative that he starts working hard.  Otherwise he will be out of the league much sooner than he should be.  So Sully, go listen to some Michael Jackson, look at that Man in the Mirror and make that change.

On Page 2, George Karl would trade DeMarcus Cousins?

 George Karl’s first power move as Sacramento Kings coach was to trade for Andre Miller, a trusted old hand from his Denver days. Expect more of the same this summer. Sources say Karl would love to acquireTy Lawson—if the rebuilding Nuggets were to make him available—or any other members of his last Nuggets team, which won 57 games in 2012-13. Karl wants players who move the ball and push the tempo, and that could mean wild upheaval on the Kings roster. EvenDeMarcus Cousins, their franchise center, is not untouchable, according to a source with insight into Karl’s thinking. “At the trade deadline, everyone was available,” the person said. Including Cousins? “Every single person (on the Kings roster) was available.” Although Karl does not hold a front office title, “he definitely has control” of future personnel decisions, the source said.

Bleacher Report, Howard Beck – NBA Insider: Is It Numbers or Talent? Sorting Fact, Fiction in NBA Stats Wave

Interesting to note that George Karl has control of the Kings’ personnel decisions, according to the post above.  Even more interesting is that DeMarcus Cousins was/would be available.  As a player, Cousins’ talent is undeniable.  His attitude and demeanor however, would turn off the majority of fans in the Boston area.  While the Celtics are in no position to pass up on talent, I’m sure Cousins would get the same type of treatment from a large portion of fans, as well as media, that Rajon Rondo got.  I get it, I do. Nobody enjoys some of the theatrics but the fact of the matter is, this team lacks big time talent from all positions (except point guard, which isn’t top-tier, but it’s the strongest position on the roster).

Cousins would likely require the best picks the C’s have plus more.  It’s fun to speculate, but highly unlikely he’s even attainable.  But this is why Ainge is doing what he’s doing: to have as many assets as possible if/when guys like this become available.  It’s not THE plan, just an option in case it arises.  And if Cousins were to seriously be available, Ainge would have to sit at that Poker table.

The rest of the links:

ESPN Boston – Second honeymoon for Crowder

Boston Globe – Given a chance, Jonas Jerebko flourishes

Boston Herald – Rajon Rondo-Rick Carlisle clash inevitable

CSNNE – Ainge: Sullinger conditioning not up to Celtics’ standards | Thomas has a knack for getting to the line | Report that Rondo won’t return to Dallas is no shock | Levine: Welcome to the Celtics’ Twilight Zone

MassLive – Danny Ainge: Jared Sullinger the only Boston Celtics player who hasn’t met conditioning goals