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.

The retired numbers are a growing issue, although many new Celtics won’t admit that. Many of those considered to be prime numbers — 1, 2, 3, 10, 21, 22, 23, 32, 33 — are retired, leaving some of the Celtics to look like cornerbacks — rookie R.J. Hunter is wearing 28 — or defensive linemen such as Johnson and Crowder.

Should the Celtics consider revising their retired-jersey policy to allow current players to wear some of the untouchable numbers, while maintaining tradition?

Other sports organizations have created rings of honor or other ways to laud former players without retiring numbers. Or they have allowed players to wear numbers that had been retired.

Globe: Should the Celtics un-retire numbers for current players to wear?

This was my initial reaction to reading the headline in the Globe…

I want to just say “no, this is a silly story that’s filling space on a dead Sunday in August.” I feel like that’s mostly the right reaction to have here. If you’re a player and you have to choose a different number because an awesome player also had that number, tough shit. Welcome to a great organization. Start your own legacy with your own number.

But…

It’s a dead Sunday in August so let’s entertain this notion just for fun. Maybe we’ll find some validity in there while we do.

As of right now, if we assume Kevin Garnett’s #5 is off-limits, the only numbers from 0 to 20 that are open are #4, #9 and #20… the latter two formerly belonging to champions and All Stars (and members of our All “Number Still In Circulation” Team) Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

I’m not sure what the plans are for either of those numbers at the moment. I don’t think, at this point, that either of those goes up. Both were on a path, but those paths obviously got derailed, and I personally find it hard to make the argument for either of those numbers to be retired.

Regardless, it is tough to get a good number in Boston. The available “good” numbers are either retired or taken, leaving guys to pick into the 40’s and higher. For some guys, their number is part of their identity. If you’ve never been in a locker room, you may not get what the fuss is about, but I can assure you that there are some guys out there who are adamant about their numbers.

Let’s envision a scenario where Kevin Durant decided he wanted to leave OKC next summer. Let’s pretend that Boston is in the mix, and that Durant REAAAALLLLYYY wants to keep his number 35. What should the Celtics do?

35 is an especially tough number because not only is it retired… it belongs to the late Reggie Lewis. He can’t be asked if it’s ok. And considering it’s retired in his memory, it may seem especially disrespectful to assign it to someone else.

But, on the other hand, it’s Kevin Durant. And he wants to play in Boston and he wants his number. What do you do?

That, of course, is a bit of an outlandish scenario, but it’s not an impossible one. A transcendental player wanting to keep his identity for marketing purposes wouldn’t be surprising in 2015. Would it be enough to cost Boston a free agent? I doubt it. But as time marches on and the recent generation of spoiled, “everybody gets a trophy” kids become elite athletes chasing $30 million contracts, I can see it happening sometime down the line.

If it happens… trust me, I’ll be shaking my head just as hard as you. But, since we’re down this rabbit hole… what do the Celtics do if it does become an issue?

Does the un-retiring of numbers come into play? Does the suggestion that some kind of committee select “untouchable” numbers from the lot and then create a sort of “ring of honor” for the rest of the players work?

Does the team ask players on a case-by-case basis? Would the team go to Lewis’ wife and say “hey, hate to bug you, but we’re about to get a superstar and he wants your dead husband’s number… can he have it?”

The ring of honor, or other sort of “team Hall of Fame” is a great idea, but maybe not for a team already a couple of dozen retired numbers deep. It would be weird to see some kid get drafted in a few years and hold up Dennis Johnson’s #3 at a news conference. Hell, it might even be unfair to the first lot of kids wearing these un-retired numbers since they’ll be asked “do you even know who Jo Jo White is?” or “You’re wearing Tommy Heinsohn’s number in front of him every game… feel any pressure?”

This feels like a sort of made-up problem at the moment because in the end, these guys are just going to go play basketball. They’re just numbers after all.

But if we’re going to say that about the numbers still in circulation, wouldn’t that apply the retired ones too? Do any of Robert Parish’s accomplishments go away if someone else wears 00? No. We’re not changing the past by giving someone a number that a great player has worn.

It’s an interesting August debate. And it’s not an issue right now. But maybe it will be someday… which might mean someone in the team offices is already looking for the answer.

And Finally…

Some Evan Turner highlights from the NBA Africa game.