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.

Boston continues to fly up the charts, moving from No. 10 to No. 3 in this latest iteration. Celtics GM Danny Ainge has put the team in a perfect position to make a major leap. They have a bounty of draft picks the next two years, major cap space, one of the best head coaches in the NBA and an intriguing group of young players that somehow managed to win 48 games this season.

Of course, the Celtics will have to make the most of all of those assets to earn this high a ranking. Looking at Ainge’s track record in the past, it feels like a good bet. Ainge might be the best deal-maker in the league, with the possible exception of San Antonio’s R.C. Buford. In short, no team is better positioned to be a challenger to the Cavs in the East for the next three seasons.

ESPN – 2016 NBA Future Power Rankings

Well, well, well. The Celtics rank third in ESPN’s projections of future success — a far cry from 24th just two years ago. The Cs rank behind  only the last two NBA Finals’ participants: Golden State and Cleveland. The trove of picks hasn’t changed during the Cs two year ascent up these rankings, but everything else has: Brooklyn’s precipitous fall from fringe playoff team to league doormat came to fruition, making the trove of picks all the more attractive; Brad Stevens is considered not only an elite, but, given the nature of the league, a long-tenured head coach; Danny Ainge and company are nothing if not experienced, but the last few years has confirmed that he and his crew are a savvy bunch capable of a highly effective rebuild; and finally, the players on the court are either different or further along now than they were in 2014 — gone are Jeff Green, Rajon Rondo and Gerald Wallace and in are Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics are at a crucial moment, where a trade, free agent signing, or two, and a few more high draft picks will cement their status among the top of the league in future potential and prolonged competitiveness, or where things may fall short and the Cs become nothing more than a nice story: a somewhat competitive team that sticks around the first and second round of the playoffs, but never becomes a true contender.

Whatever the outcome, there’s no questioning that the pieces are all in place. The league is on notice.

On page 2, considering giving up my future kid’s college education fund to go to game seven tonight

An unknown buyer purchased a pair of floor seats for Game 7 at Oracle Arena between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder for $29,000 on Ticketmaster, according to ESPN.

That purchased highlighted what was overall one of the mot expensive tickets to buy in the recent history of the NBA. According to TiqIQ, the average list price for the game was $960 per ticket, the second-highest after the 2013 NBA Final Game 7 between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs ($1,346 per ticket)..

The remaining tickets for Game 7 were put on sale by the Warriors on Sunday, and they sold out in under five minutes. Those tickets ranged in price from $230 to $2,150.

Warriors vs. Thunder – Game 7 floor seats sell for $29k each

Hey, John & Chuck — If you guys want to send me tonight to cover the game on behalf of the site, I’m already out in Los Angeles this weekend. I’m happy to hop on Red Force One and shoot on up the California coast. Just say the word and transfer the funds and I’ll be court-side and will come through with a great game recap.

I’ll just wait to hear from you guys any minute now.

Rest of the links: CSNNE – NBA Mock Draft 6.0