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Celtics Acquisitions Hope to Rekindle Tradition

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As David Lee and Amir Johnson sat down behind a podium Monday afternoon at the Boston Celtics practice facility in Waltham, Mass., they took a lengthy, skyward glance around the perimeter of the gym, gazing at the 17 championship banners that hung from the top of the wall.

Johnson, a 10-year NBA veteran, is in search of his first title, while Lee earned one just a month ago as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Regardless, the new Celtics duo couldn’t help but stare in wonder and appreciate Boston’s tradition as they prepared for their introductory press conference, alongside newcomer Perry Jones III and returnees Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko.

“We definitely know Boston is a championship city and it’s definitely great to be a part of just looking at all the banners,” said Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward who signed with the team on July 9. “It just makes you want to have one up there yourself.”

Lee, a 32-year-old forward who was officially acquired from the Warriors via trade Monday morning, said his eyes caught on the 1968 banner, which was partially burned in a fire.

“It’s not quite as white as the rest of them,” the 6-9, 32-year-old forward jokingly observed, nodding up toward the browned memento.

Surely, it’s more tarnished than the one Lee helped bring to Golden State this past season. He’s hungry to add another one to his and Boston’s resume, and believes his playoff experience and veteran presence can help the C's take the next step toward returning to glory.

“I’m just going to come and do what I do, play my game and bring experience,” said Lee, who boasts career averages of 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 10 NBA seasons. “Bring leadership to this team that already has a lot of good guys on it, and I think we can make an even bigger jump [than the team did last season].”

He said one of the main reasons he chose to come to Boston was the team’s unbreakable chemistry, which he compared to that of the Warriors.

“The biggest thing is the character and the chemistry of this team,” said the two-time All-Star, who has split his decade-long career between Golden State and New York. “After experiencing what I had the last couple of years in Golden State and how tight-knit of a team we were… I’ve been in this league a long time and I don’t think I want to go back the other way, because I’ve seen both sides of it.

“I talked to coach [Brad Stevens], talked to Danny [Ainge] and they really wanted me here. We almost got it done last time in free agency, so it’s a place that I’ve always thought about, and of course the hometown support, it’s just an unbelievable sports town; a town that loves their basketball and [is] a great place to play.”

Jae Crowder said he felt the hometown love for the C’s when he first stepped into the Garden last season, and that’s one of the major reasons he wanted to come back.

Recalling his arrival last December, the 6-6 forward said, “It was everything I envisioned and more. Walking in here and feeling the pride that everybody has, from GMs to coaches, to the city… it’s what a player wants to be a part of and that’s what I want to be a part of.”

During Monday’s press conference, Ainge expressed excitement for the return of the 25-year-old tenacious defender.

“[Crowder is] a big part of our future,” said the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. “[I] really like the element of his versatility that he brings, being able to play the 2, 3, 4, play lots of positions and bring a lot of passion and intensity to the game.”

After spending two-plus years in Dallas playing limited minutes for the Mavericks, coming to Boston allowed Crowder to earn more playing time and establish himself as well-respected professional.

One of their new acquisitions, Jones III is trying to accomplish a similar goal in Boston. The athletic 6-11 forward did not see the floor as much as he had hoped during his three seasons in Oklahoma City, and sees the change of scenery as an opportunity make a name for himself, while helping an up-and-coming team.

“I’m just happy to have a fresh start,” said Jones, who was acquired from the Thunder in a trade on July 14. “It’s something that I feel like I needed, and I needed to be able to play the way I’m capable of playing and play with a new group of guys – a great group of guys, at that – in a great city.”

A great city, indeed, one that has more NBA championship banners than any other in the world.

And with a quintet of fresh acquisitions, all hungry to rekindle tradition, Boston is hopefully back on track to raise a fresh, stain-free banner once again.