Trip to see Bender works out

CELTICS NOTEBOOK

WALTHAM — To hear Danny Ainge tell it, his trip to Israel to watch Dragan Bender work out last weekend was a refreshing change.

The Celtics president of basketball operations didn’t watch the 7-foot Maccabi Tel Aviv forward in game situations but something more revealing.

They watched the 18-year-old work out against the player he’s been facing his entire life, his older brother, 6-9 Ivan Bender. The elder Bender played as a freshman at the University of Maryland last season.

“We had a one-on-none and a one-on-one type of workout with his brother,” Ainge said. “And then we watched him in a full team practice, which we actually thought was better than a game because we’d seen all his games. We’d seen him play in person in games, and because he’s not playing a major role as an 18-year-old in a tough Israeli league, we were able to watch him practice. And we thought that was more beneficial than what we’d seen in games.”

Brown visits Green

The Celtics had a busy morning with two closed two-on-two sessions that included another player on the team’s radar with the No. 3 pick in the June 23 NBA draft — University of California swingman Jaylen Brown, whose explosiveness and athleticism have sent him up the board.

Brown’s shooting is considered the weakest part of his game, but as evidenced by Marcus Smart, that shortcoming hasn’t scared the C’s off high lottery candidates in the past.

“I thought he looked very good,” Ainge said of Brown. “It was an excellent workout. We had a lot of players in this morning. I don’t know what our number’s up to now, 40 or 50. And we’ve been around the country, traveling and watching all the players around the country, and agent workouts and so forth.

“It’s just good to get to know the players that we’re considering in the draft,” he said. “It’s good to watch them in their environment. But I think more importantly just getting to know them, and seeing some of their strengths and weaknesses, and where they are at this stage of their careers.”

Ainge holds court

Ainge, as usual in these workout situations, was on the floor with the players. He truly cherishes taking an active role.

“I love the players. I’m not like one of those guys that think the players are changing. They’re great kids,” he said. “And they’re coming in here, and they’re working so hard, and flying around the country to different teams and job interviews.

“And I don’t really work them out as much as our coaches do. I may give them little tips, but more than anything I try to relax them. . . . You don’t get to see them for a week and let them play through some of the anxiety and pressure that a lot of them are feeling. So I go out to dinner with them, take them out to lunch and try to talk about their lives, and come in and let them shoot early before they actually start the workouts.”

Said Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca: “They really appreciate it. I talked to many of them because obviously not many general managers have been a star player, a scout, a coach and a general manager. Very few have had that whole gambit all the way from AAU to college and the pros, and there’s a lot of wisdom there.

“So these guys hang on every word. And then they leave the facility, I think happier than when they came in. But it is a grind.”

Red’s influence

Pagliuca and fellow managing partner Wyc Grousbeck made sure to include the late Red Auerbach, who hired Ainge into the front office, in the conversation when the contract extensions for Ainge and coach Brad Stevens were discussed.

“Both (the coach and GM jobs) were held by the incomparable Red Auerbach,” Grousbeck said. “I personally believe that Red would be very happy. This is the right thing for the Celtics, you represent excellence and Celtic pride on and off the court. These are the exact people we want to run the Celtics.”

Pagliuca recalled Auerbach’s reaction the day they decided to hire Ainge.

“First Red was jumping up and down as much as he could at 85 years old, when he strongly recommended that we hire Danny,” he said. “We look forward to another great run.”