Marcus Thornton to the Red Claws

[chilidawg]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/02/28/celtics-draft-pick-marcus-thornton-joins-red-claws-after-season-australia/fhzNg3y0ecaVIwGp3TXxHO/story.html

So how does this work?  Is he now on the roster, taking up the open slot?  Is he a standard D-Leaguer and we've lost his rights?  Or is there a third option I don't know about.

Will be good in any case to get a look at him.

[saltlover]

No, he has signed a contract with the Red Claws independently of the Celtics.  He will get paid the pro-rated D-league salary while he's there.  The Celtics still retain his rights.

Also, reading the article I've learned he has terrible taste in pizza.  Ledo Pizza was literally the worst pizza I've had in my life.  I couldn't finish a single slice of cheese pizza, which has never happened to me before or since.  To request that as your first meal returning from home -- wow.

[chilidawg]

So can we do the same with some of our picks from the upcoming draft?  That would seem to solve some of the roster crunch issues.

[TA9]

I just saw this:

Thornton averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.

and thought: UGH That's horrible.

But to answer your question. I think that the Red Claws will claim him as a "free agent" meaning that we won't have to sign him in order to assign him to the D-League. If I remember correctly OKC did something similar when they drafted Josh Huestis last year. They drafted him and then let him sign with the Oklahoma City Blue team (D-League) without signing him to his rookie contract.

[saltlover]

So can we do the same with some of our picks from the upcoming draft?  That would seem to solve some of the roster crunch issues.

If the draftees want to, yes.  Presumably the Celtics determined that Thornton would be willing to do so, which is why he was selected.  D-league pay is terrible however, (my memory says $25,000 a season) so that's mostly going to be attractive to fringe players unlikely to otherwise be drafted.

[TA9]

So can we do the same with some of our picks from the upcoming draft?  That would seem to solve some of the roster crunch issues.

If the draftees want to, yes.  Presumably the Celtics determined that Thornton would be willing to do so, which is why he was selected.  D-league pay is terrible however, (my memory says $25,000 a season) so that's mostly going to be attractive to fringe players unlikely to otherwise be drafted.

The salaries in the D-League have three tiers $13,000, $19,000 or $25,000, which is why (just to substantiate saltlover's comment) a lot of draftees wouldn't want to get drafted if it results in playing in the D-League for a year.

[chilidawg]

Thanks, might be a good solution for those 3 #50ish picks we have.

[tarheelsxxiii]

In a situation like his, then, is the player free to be called up by any NBA team (rather than just the team that drafted him)?

[saltlover]

In a situation like his, then, is the player free to be called up by any NBA team (rather than just the team that drafted him)?

No.  Because the Celtics have his draft rights, no other team can offer him a contract without acquiring said rights, or if the Celtics renounce those rights.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I just saw this:

Thornton averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.

and thought: UGH That's horrible.

Sooo, he'll fit right in with the Celtics. 

[csfansince60s]

I just saw this:

Thornton averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.

and thought: UGH That's horrible.

Sooo, he'll fit right in with the Celtics. 

I'm a big Ainge supporter, and in the greater scheme of things, a mistaken pick that late is probably inconsequential, BUT....

...another ****' guard, really, and a TINY chucker (his height, not his propensity to chuck) at that???

Dakkari Johnson, Singh, Takoto.....all positions of need.

I really don't get it.

[saltlover]

I just saw this:

Thornton averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.

and thought: UGH That's horrible.

Sooo, he'll fit right in with the Celtics. 

I'm a big Ainge supporter, and in the greater scheme of things, a mistaken pick that late is probably inconsequential, BUT....

...another ****' guard, really, and a TINY chucker (his height, not his propensity to chuck) at that???

Dakkari Johnson, Singh, Takoto.....all positions of need.

I really don't get it.

Simply because Thornton most likely expressed a willingness to not sign an NBA tender for one or more years, which may not have been the case with other players.  Take Takoto for instance -- he signed his tender with Philly, was released in training camp, and now he can sign anywhere.  With the roster crunch the C's were expecting and ended up developing, there was no room.  If Ainge really wants Takoto, he could go sign him today since he's a free agent.

[D Dub]

I just saw this:

Thornton averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.

and thought: UGH That's horrible.

Sooo, he'll fit right in with the Celtics. 

I'm a big Ainge supporter, and in the greater scheme of things, a mistaken pick that late is probably inconsequential, BUT....

...another ****' guard, really, and a TINY chucker (his height, not his propensity to chuck) at that???

Dakkari Johnson, Singh, Takoto.....all positions of need.

I really don't get it.

Simply because Thornton most likely expressed a willingness to not sign an NBA tender for one or more years, which may not have been the case with other players.  Take Takoto for instance -- he signed his tender with Philly, was released in training camp, and now he can sign anywhere.  With the roster crunch the C's were expecting and ended up developing, there was no room.  If Ainge really wants Takoto, he could go sign him today since he's a free agent.

I also seem to remember Thornton rating as the top athlete the pre-draft combine. 

[Green-Bananas]

Thanks for the update chilidawg...TP

He did pretty good considering, only garbage mins he got in the summer league.
 
21 pts vs Miami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loZ5Dl1AQlo

He'll finally get a serious look, its up to him now.

[greece66]

Very good points and TP to Saltlover- answered many of my questions on D-League and second rounders.