Could a relocation be in the future for the Maine Red Claws?

2017 Celtics draft pick and current New York Knicks guard Kadeem Allen playing for the Maine Red Claws. Photo via Michelle Farsi 
Just about a month ago it was announced that the ownership of the Boston Celtics would be purchasing their former G-League affiliate team the Maine Red Claws barring league approval.
The deal is still not officially complete, but that hasn't stopped new rumors from swirling. This week, The Worcester Sports Scene of Worcester, Massachusettes reported that city counselor Sean Rose wants to try and bring the Maine Red Claws to "The Heart of the Commonwealth" as a result of the Celtics' purchase.
The idea comes in light of the very recent news that one the numerous development teams of the Boston Red Sox, the Pawtucket Red Sox of Rhode Island would be moving to Worcester. Set to begin in 2021, they will receive a brand new 10,000 seat ballpark and could be renamed the Worcester Red Sox.

Now, it looks like there may be some talk in the future of pairing them with the NBA G-League team and building up the brand and reputation of Worcester as a big-time city. Currently located in Portland, Maine, the Red Claws being relocated would put them much closer to the action in the Boston area in the seconded most populated city in Massachusettes.

It would be just about an hour away from the TD Garden as opposed to the 2-hour trip the Celtics and the Red Claws currently hold between them. While that isn't too much of a difference, being closer seems pretty beneficial. The Celtics and the Red Claws have had a very good partnership over the past decade when it comes to developing their young players with guys like Avery Bradley, Terry Rozier and most recently Robert Williams III having all spent some significant time there.


While I'm not quite sure it is entirely necessary, I can't deny having an official Boston Celtics' development team closer to home would be cool and most likely very popular.

However, all of this is just rumors and talk for now. Neither the Red Claws nor the Celtics have made any mention of not only relocating but the purchase as a whole, as both clubs committed to staying silent about everything until their deal was officially done after their initial announcement.

All we know for sure at the moment is that the Red Claws at the very least will be playing in Portland next season for their schedule is already set and the process for relocation would take at least a couple of years. For now, we will just have to wait and see what the future may hold for the G-League team and hope the purchase by the Boston Celtics goes as planned and is completed by this fall.



You can follow Thomas Desmond on Twitter @td_654.