Connelly’s Top Ten: Red Sox Crowned Championship Contenders

Celtics Loss Lowers Expectations

Curt Schilling’s Video Game Company 38 Studios Lays Off All Employees

Sox Rebound in Rubber Match after 4-1 Loss to O’s

Celtics Sign Stealth Point Guard?

Those of you with an eye for NBA minutiae may remember Tyronn Lue, late of the Orlando Magic. For several seasons in the early part of this decade, most notably with the Michael Jordan years of the Washington Wizards, Lue was a serviceable back-up point guard. He “won” two NBA Championships as a member of the 2000 and 2001 Lakers teams. He even played in 15 games during LA’s romp to the 2001 title. Last Friday, Lue was introduced as the new Director of Basketball Development of the Boston Celtics.

If you’re like me, you were left scratching your head. Lue, the 23rd pick of the 1998 draft, is only 32 years old, not coming off an injury, and played as recently as the 2009 NBA playoffs. Why isn’t he on a roster somewhere? Not only that, but in what line of business, other than professional basketball, apparently, is a “director” an entry-level position?

Despite the prestigious-sounding title, I think Lue’s real job is to stay in shape. Why? So that he can fill in as a back-up point guard if needed. And without taking up a roster spot! Danny Ainge is learning. This type of thing probably violates the spirit of some NBA rule or another, but, as Bill Belichick might say, it isn’t cheating if you don’t get caught. Oops! Of course, if you do get caught, just say you “misinterpreted the rules!” Excellent.

Tags: Celtics, Tyronn Lue