Option a real pick-me-up after hard work

His playing time fluctuates according to who is hurt, and whatever matchups dictate his presence, but Guerschon Yabusele received a nice vote of confidence this week when the Celtics picked up the option on his contract for next season. “I’m pretty happy. I was really happy when I learned they wanted to keep my third-year option,” Yabusele said before last night’s game against Milwaukee. “It’s been great. I’m going to keep working hard and prove to them I can stay on the team, I can play with them guys and help them on the court. “Of course it is (encouraging. I’m working hard every day at practice. I try to be there lifting every day, trying to stay in shape. I’m just trying to prove to them that I’m ready and I’m working all the time. … I’m really trying to prove and show that I can help the team win some games, make some shots, but defense also. Just go with the flow and win some games.” Though the Celtics will incur a luxury tax hit for picking up Yabusele’s option, the move made sense because of the young big man’s upside, according to coach Brad Stevens. “Obviously, those are front office decisions but whenever I’m asked for my opinion — which I obviously was with all of those guys — I think Guerschon has a high upside,” Stevens said. “Guerschon has played in a group with a lot of accomplished 4s and 5s and there haven’t been a lot of minutes. We’ve had a chance to see his development up close in practice . . . . We’re excited to have him back. His opportunities certainly will come and go this year if we continue to stay healthy, but we think he’s got a bright upside and a bright future.” Brown sits out With foot trouble the injury du jour for the C’s — Daniel Theis is sidelined with a partial plantar fascia tear — Jaylen Brown is now hobbled. The Celtics forward missed last night’s game after missing most of the morning shootaround “He’s got a sore foot and they’re going to go next door to an orthotics specialist and talk to him a little bit about it,” Stevens said. “If there’s something they can do, otherwise, he didn’t go through much this morning, so I don’t know how likely it would be that he would play.” Brown’s absence changed how the Celtics approached Giannis Antetokounmpo , the Bucks star who returned last night after a brief stint in concussion protocol. But if this weren’t an early season game, Brown is sure he would have been available. “I’ve had plantar whatever you call it before toward the bottom of my foot — this is the first time I’ve felt it toward the top. Different area,” said the Celtics forward, adding he’s had soreness in the foot for roughly a week. “It’s been manageable. Now it’s kind of flared up, and it’s causing me a little bit more pain than I would like. “It’s pain across the foot, so any time I put pressure down, when I take off or run, I feel pain shoot around the foot,” he said. “If it was a playoff game, I’d definitely be trying to play through it, but the concern is we have an 82-game season, so they are kind of reeling me back, but we’ll see how it goes.” Brown is fine with a cautious approach. “Not too disappointing. I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to keep me out long term, I just have to manage it properly, keep it from flaring up,” he said. “I definitely want to be on the floor as much as possible and continue to stay in rhythm, because it’s going to be a challenge all year to staying in rhythm. Hopefully I’ll be able to feel a lot better tomorrow, closer to 100 percent.”