Celtics extend partnership with Red Claws three more seasons
Seven-foot center Fab Melo was an absolute monster with the Red Claws, but couldn't put it together for the Celts. |
According to the Red Claws Twitter handle, the Celtics have extended their partnership with the D-League affiliate team for three more seasons:
The Red Claws and @celtics agree to three-year extension - through 2017-18! A great day for #CrustaceanNation! pic.twitter.com/nKV7T5Yn35— Maine Red Claws (@maineredclaws) August 31, 2015
The Red Claws have been useful for Danny Ainge and Boston, particularly as an outlet for developing young guys who otherwise wouldn't be getting minutes. Stints in Maine proved useful for Avery Bradley as he developed in his early years. Kris Joseph and MarShon Brooks also logged time with the Red Claws, as did last year's rookie out of Kentucky James Young.
Young put on a show with the Red Claws in a few games. His flashes of potential in Maine constitute cause for some excitement, but then again Fab Melo was a monster in the D-League and that didn't exactly pan out for Boston. . .
Likely related to assignments like Young, the Red Claws also own the title of most watched D-League team. Hopefully the affiliation continues to be a nice tool for the Celtics as they evaluate young potential over the next few years.
Average Viewership Rankings by Team: 1) Maine- 3,643 2) Texas- 3,412 3) Reno- 3,157 4) Los Angeles- 2,844 5) Santa Cruz- 2,670— Kevin Danna (@kevo408) August 28, 2015
Most-Watched games of 2014-15: 1) 80,236 (Fort Wayne at Maine 12.4.14) 2) 27,061 (Reno at LA 12.20.14) 3) 17,835 (SCW at Texas 11.21.14)— Kevin Danna (@kevo408) August 28, 2015
Photo courtesy of Otto Kitsinger/NBAE via Getty Images