Jared Sullinger is a solid player in the Celtics squad. Before Isaiah Thomas came in. I thought he was their best player. He is an integral part of the Celtics team. But unfortunately. The “big” in big man is literal. Danny Ainge has been concerned with Sullinger’s weight. It’s been such a concern that it’s giving Ainge pause in terms of whether to renew Sully’s contract.
Ainge said he has “great interest” in re-signing Sullinger, but he will likely be subjected to a weight clause in his contract, much like Glen Davis had during his tenure in Boston.
“I’m perfectly fine with that,” said Sullinger, in an interview with ESPNBoston.com on Sunday night. “It’s not that I need it. It’s the simple fact that I know what kind of person I am, and I would never get back to the weight I was [this season].”
Ainge said he wants to believe Sullinger has gotten the message and will lose the weight.
“I think he understands,” Ainge said. “The question is, Can he do it?”
Sullinger is out of his walking boot and looks visibly slimmer. He claims to have lost “10 or 15 pounds” from riding the exercise bike and committing to a daily workout regimen in the pool.
“My conditioning has been the best it’s been all season because of the swimming,” Sullinger said. “I don’t really like it because it’s hard, but I feel myself getting faster.”
It seems that the injury has been a blessing in disguise. His rehab has given him a chance to lose weight and who knows. Maybe when the weight is at a good number he will progress in terms of his skills.
