Celtics to Purchase Red Claws Operations

by **Sam** Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:30 pm

The following report appears in Hoops Hype. If true, I assume this means the Celts won't have to share an interest in that club with any other NBA teams.

Sam

The Boston Celtics will need to retool and get your at some point in the near future and, apparently, they've decided that the NBA Development League might be able to help them along in that regard. Danny Ainge's team is such a believer, in fact, that the Celtics are buying the basketball operations of the Maine Red Claws.

The two team's have had a pretty close relationship since the Red Claws were formed in 2009, sources close to the situation have informed Ridiculous Upside that they'll be even closer once the Celtics finalize the "hybrid" partnership in the coming weeks.

by **gyso** Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:35 am

Red Claws losing both coach and GM

Shortly after Portland's D-League team announces Dave Leitao's departure, Jon Jennings steps down to focus on The Forefront at Thompson's Point.

The Maine Red Claws basketball operations underwent a jolt Friday, leaving the NBA Development League team without a head coach and a general manager.

Early Friday, the team announced that Dave Leitao, who coached the Red Claws last season, left to return to college basketball as an assistant coach with Missouri.

Then, later in the day, Jon Jennings stepped down as president and general manager to concentrate on his role on the development team of The Forefront at Thompson's Point project.

Jennings is largely responsible for bringing the D-League team to Portland and partnering it with the Boston Celtics as an affiliate, along with Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Co-owner and chairman Bill Ryan Jr. will assume Jennings' role as team president. He said Friday night that the Red Claws are, and will be, in good shape.

"Thankfully the season doesn't start until November," he said. "All I can say is that there will be more information forthcoming in the next week or so.

"We'll be fine on basketball operations."

Both moves were surprising, especially Jennings' departure.

Under his leadership, the Red Claws became a model franchise for the D-League. This year, Maine won five of the league's six business awards, and was honored with the Best Sponsorship Activation Award for its series of summer clinics. The team is also among the league leaders in community service.

But he and Ryan had been discussing a change of responsibilities for the last couple of weeks, or since the Portland Planning Board gave final approval for the Thompson's Point project on June 5, allowing the start of construction on the $105 million project to begin this summer.

The project will include a 3,500-4,800 seat arena, hotel, sports medicine facility, parking garage, restaurant and two office buildings. It is expected to be the home of Red Claws' games beginning with the 2014-15 season.

"I am incredibly proud of the organization that we have built at the Maine Red Claws, and the staff that we have assembled," Jennings said in a statement released by the team. "We brought an unknown product to Maine in 2009, and it has grown to become a model among NBA Development teams.

"I am looking forward to the new challenge of bringing The Forefront at Thompson's Point to fruition and to seeing the Red Claws play in a brand new arena there in the not-too-distant future."

Leitao said he was contacted by Frank Haith, the coach at Missouri and a close friend, a couple of weeks ago. The chance to return to college basketball, where he spent 16 seasons as an assistant and nine as a head coach at three schools, was too much to pass up. His family, which stayed in Virginia last year while he coached in Portland, will join him at Missouri.

"That was important to me," Leitao said. "As was my relationship with Frank and my 20-plus years at the college level."

Leitao led the Red Claws to a 21-29 record last year in his only year as a professional coach. While they missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, he displayed an ability to get the best out of his players every night.

"I had a great time in Portland," said Leitao. "I learned a lot, especially about myself. When I left Virginia (his last head coaching job before taking the Red Claws), my mind-set was that I wanted to become a better version of myself.

"Dealing with all the things involved with the pro game was a great learning experience. It wasn't just Xs and Os, but learning how to deal with people."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

http://www.pressherald.com/news/red-claws-losing-coach-and-gm_2012-06-16.html

Could this have anything to do with the upcoming changes? This is the first time I have heard of the Thompson's Point project. Thompson's Point is where the northernmost Amtrack terminal is. People won't have to drive up from Boston to see the Red Claws, they can take the train!!

by **bobc33** Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:22 am

ROAD TRIP!!!

Idea

by **Sam** Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:27 am

Thanks for the additional info, gyso. How far from South Port is the arena?

Bob, I had the same idea. If even half a dozen people wanted to make a little party of it...Red Claws game preceded or followed by a good meal at one of Prtland's outstanding restaurants...it could be fun.

Sam

by **gyso** Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:38 am

Sam,

I don't know what South Port is. Did you mean the Old Port? That is the part of Portland, down near the water front where there is (was) 20 or more bars and/or restaurants in a square mile of area. Cobble stones, etc. One interesting place there is Dimillos Floating Restaurant:

http://www.dimillos.com/restaurant/

Another nice place to eat is the RiRa Irish Pub. That is where the Harvard student got kicked out for being too loud and then ended up drowning. My work's office used to be in the edge of the Old Port, which made going to lunch a treat, the few times I actually had to go into the office.

http://www.rira.com/portland/

If you googlemap "Portland Maine Thompson Point", you can see where the new arena complex will be built. For now, the Red Claws play in the Expo, which is slightly to the north-east of Thompson Point, diagonally across 295. You can see a baseball diamond next to 295, Hadlock field. That is where the Sea Dogs (the Red Sox AA team) play. The last time time I saw the Sea Dogs, I leaned against a brick wall, which was actually the exterior of the Expo.

From the Old Port to the Expo is a couple miles on Congress Street, so taxis would be needed. I could drive, but I may want to drink, so I will also be using public transportation. There is a nice bus system that could be used, but it has been years since I lived down there and used it.

I think we tried to do this a couple years ago, but the Red Claws did not play in Portland on many (if any) weekends. We will have to check their schedule.

I could be like bobc and give a tour of all the places that I used to work at!! (LOL)

gyso

by **Sam** Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:47 am

gyso,

Thanks again. I did mean Old Port. We used to have banking clients in Portland, but I haven't been there (except to pass through) for a number of years. I do recall that our favorite restaurant was Street & Company. As I recall, you could enter from the street and also (at a lower level) from the back of the building.

If we were to attend a function there, we'd probably take our cats and make a several day trip of it, visiting friends in Portsmouth too. Portland and Portsmouth are two great cities where it can be guaranteed that visitors won't go hungry.

Sam

by **bobc33** Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:10 pm

I'd be up for it, let's remember this in the Fall and see if we can make it work. I don't like going this long without seeing my fellow celtics fanatics in person.

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Celtics to Purchase Red Claws Operations

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