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NEWPORT, R.I. -- Boston Celtics second-year forward Jared Sullinger clarified comments from Monday's Media Day in which he suggested he was "not close" to game shape. After going through the first day of training camp without limitations -- and surprising himself with how his body responded -- Sullinger noted that his "not close" comments were in regards to where he desires to be physically.

"Everybody is talking about that ‘not-close’ situation," said Sullinger, who underwent lumbar disk surgery in February. "When I was talking about ‘not close,’ I was talking about not close from my point of view. I’m 100 percent healthy. I’ve still got to get the rust off. I didn’t play for six months."

Sullinger spent much of the first six months of rehab restricted in movement while his back healed. He was cleared for contact activities in August and slowly has been working his way back toward game shape.

On Monday, Sullinger hesitated to declare if he'd be ready for the start of the regular season. But after Tuesday's workouts, he was happy with the early camp returns.

"I didn’t think I was going to make it through practice today," he joked. "Being six months off and then trying to get back in the swing of things, that’s really, really tough. It is what it is. Honestly, I felt better than I was last year, as far as physically. Conditioning-wise, it’s not even close. I’m nowhere near where I need to be."

Celtics first-year coach Brad Stevens liked what he saw from Sullinger.

"Jared’s come a long way from the first time I saw him work out, which was in early August after he was cleared to do full-contact drills, and just in a 1-on-1 setting," Stevens said. "He’s really come a long way with his conditioning. And he’ll just continue to get better and better. He had one of those deals where, according to what I’ve heard, he had to sit out for quite a while as he recovered from his surgery. I'm pleasantly surprised at his motor today because I thought it was really good."

Sullinger wants to use the preseason to kick off all that built-up rust.

"Everything [feels rusty]. Just timing, footwork, where to be at on the court," he said. "Just trying to figure out what I do. I had back surgery, now I’ve got to modify some things and see what I can do well. I’m very rusty at this point."

But one thing Sullinger stressed, he's 100 percent back mentally.

"I passed that point mentally in August," he said. "The first time I got back on the court, I was really nervous about moving. But now, I’m taking charges again, moving. I really don’t have no problem with it."

Read on for camp kindling from Day 1:

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WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger said his surgically repaired back is "not close" to game shape due to the inactivity that followed the February procedure and suggested he was uncertain whether he would be ready for the start of the season.

Sullinger noted he has no limitations with his back as he navigates the final stages of his rehab but said only that the rigors of training camp and the exhibition season will tell him whether he'll be ready when the Celtics tip off the 2013-14 regular season Oct. 30 in Toronto.

"Being out for six months, not playing basketball, it's really tough," Sullinger said. "I got a lot of work to do. And only training camp can help that."

Asked what he needs to do, Sullinger said, "Just get in the best shape as possible. Not playing for six months, then trying to jump into the fire, you have those days where you're really good, then you have those days when you suck. Now I just have to stay consistent."

Pressed on how long he would need to get in game shape, Sullinger said, "I just think that's with time. With training camp, practicing every day, we're back in the full flow. We're going to have games in between that. Only time will tell that."

Asked whether he might miss time at the start of the regular season, Sullinger said, "This is my first time having surgery, so I really couldn't tell you."

He did note, "I have no limitations; I'm full go. I'm back to playing, practicing, taking charges again."

The Celtics took Sullinger with the 21st pick in the 2012 draft. He averaged 6 points and 5.9 rebounds over 19.8 minutes per game in 45 appearances, and had ascended to the starting lineup before his back flared and forced him to endure season-ending lumbar disk surgery in February.

Asked when he expected Sullinger to be ready, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge initially quipped, "[Tuesday] morning," referencing the team's start of training camp in Newport, R.I.

Ainge added, "I don't know. I can't predict that. He's been moving pretty well. I think he's been moving better than I saw him last summer. I think that he needs to get in better shape and just better conditioning. I thought last year he needed to get in better shape, too. That's something that Jared's going to have to work really hard at."

Sullinger declined comment on his ongoing legal situation. The 21-year-old faces charges of assault and battery, destruction of property, and witness intimidation in connection with an Aug. 31 confrontation with his girlfriend.

"I would love to say something about it, but it's a legal matter now," Sullinger said. "And at this point, only time will tell."

Due back in court for a second pretrial hearing Oct. 28 -- two days before the start of the regular season -- Sullinger was asked whether the legal process could be a distraction as he readies for the new season.

"It's not really a distraction as of right now," he said. "Right now we're just focused on basketball, and when that court date comes, then we'll have a distraction that day. But as of right now, I'm just focused on basketball."

Asked whether he was worried the incident might hurt his reputation, Sullinger said, "Honestly, things happen. It was a mistake. But at the same time, this really shows where my character is at, where I go from here."

MILTON, Mass. -- Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge chose his words carefully while addressing the domestic assault charges against second-year forward Jared Sullinger, but offered staunch support for the player.

The 21-year-old Sullinger is charged with assault and battery, destruction of property, and witness intimidation in connection with an Aug. 31 confrontation with his girlfriend. The woman accused Sullinger of pinning her to a bed and the floor at his Waltham home. Sullinger appeared in Waltham District Court on Monday for a pretrial hearing and is scheduled to return for a second pretrial session on Oct. 28.

Prosecutors said they intend to pursue domestic assault charges against Sullinger even though his accuser wants to drop the case.

"Jared will be in training camp, he’s in our facility working out everyday," said Ainge. "I think he’s taking care of everything in the exact right way that he should. I think Jared is a good kid. And he’s a good Celtic. And he’s a guy that we have big hopes for. We don’t think he’s done anything so wrong that he shouldn’t be part of our team today."

Ainge was mum on potential punishment, preferring to wait until the judicial process plays out. Ainge said he didn't think the situation would be a distraction for Sullinger entering the 2013-14 season.

"I don’t think it would be a distraction for Jared now, just because he knows the story. He knows, and someday you guys will," said Ainge. "But just because of the legal proceedings, it can’t be publicized and he can’t talk about it. I think he’s comfortable with where he is and what he needs to work on, and who he needs to apologize to."

Sullinger is due back in court two days before the start of the 2013-14 regular season. The Celtics visit the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 30.

Read on for more news and notes from the Shamrock Foundation's sixth annual Teeing Up for Kids Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Wollaston Golf Club.

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Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger said earlier this summer that life often provides the test before it delivers the lesson. After being arrested Tuesday, he must learn from his alleged transgression:

The Boston Celtics' official website takes a video look at Jared Sullinger's road to recovery after a back injury ended his rookie season:

 

Bonus link: Sullinger on his back: "It's completely fixed." (Masslive)

Like every good team, the Boston Celtics will enter the offseason with multiple plans of attack based on how the summer unfolds. Unlike past years, however, deciding which initial outline is Plan A isn't quite as easy to determine. The Celtics have plenty of options -- and that's not necessarily a good thing -- as each sketch has its pitfalls and promise.

While there was much more roster uncertainty last summer, at least in terms of the amount of unrestricted free agents, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was adamant that re-signing Kevin Garnett was Plan A, and the team was able to hit the ground running when Garnett inked a three-year extension before the start of free agency.

This year? You can believe Ainge when he says he's not really sure which direction the team is headed. An early playoff exit makes it an extra long crawl to the NBA draft later this month, which serves as the sort of unofficial start of roster construction for the 2013-14 season.

Over the next month, we'll hear an endless amount of speculation about which direction the Celtics might be leaning -- like the out-of-town report this week that suggested the Celtics were ready to buy out Paul Pierce -- but the truth of the matter is that it's a fluid situation, and all Ainge can do at this point is gather information about potential moves and be ready to activate his plan of choice when the moment arrives.

There seems to be four main scenarios in play this offseason:

• Keep the band together: Minimal changes, bank on health
• Goodbye, captain: Roster tweaked with Pierce departure
• Out with the old: Moving on without both KG and Pierce
• Complete teardown: Extreme makeover: Celtics edition

Over the next four days, we'll take a closer look at each possible option, gauge the potential for it to occur, determine some moves that might go along with it, and debate whether it's the best course of attack. First up: We're putting the band back together.

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BOSTON -- Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger resumed light workouts about two weeks ago and is ready to begin a 10-week rehab program aimed at ramping him back up, with the goal of being 100 percent around the start of training camp.

A lumbar-disc issue forced Sullinger to undergo season-ending surgery in February, confirming pre-draft fears about the health of his back. But Sullinger is adamant that the surgery will alleviate future concerns and believes he can be even better than he showed in 45 games this season.

"Everybody says back with a question mark; you might as well put an X through that," Sullinger said Thursday morning at a Stay in School assembly at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena, where the Celtics honored 1,500 middle school students from Boston public schools. "Because I had surgery and I’m taking my time getting back right, it won’t be a recurring injury."

Sullinger, the 21st pick in last year's draft, averaged 6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game. He had ascended to a starting role with Boston before the injury derailed his first NBA season. He said the surgery should allow his game to flourish moving forward and should be viewed only as a positive.

"Honestly, when I was playing, I was playing on one leg," said the 6-foot-9 Sullinger. "My right leg was pretty much dead. I couldn’t push off, didn’t have any strength behind it. With the right leg being the way it was, and still being able to produce the way I did, I guess it sets a bit of a foundation, but mentally I know I can play better."

Sullinger said doctors gave him the OK to resume light workouts about two weeks ago after being virtually immobile -- outside of walking -- since the surgery. Team doctors and strength coach Bryan Doo have constructed a 10-week program that will ramp up Sullinger's activity about 10 percent every two weeks.

"Maybe by September or October I’ll be 100 percent -- full go," said Sullinger.

That means, as expected, there will be no summer league for Sullinger, but he said that's not a disappointment for him and he's focused on rehabbing to ensure he's on the floor when the 2013-14 season begins.

A couple of other quick tidbits from Sullinger:

* REHABBING WITH RONDO: Sullinger said he's found added motivation by watching point guard Rajon Rondo rehab from ACL surgery. "We talk off and on, just trying to get each other’s minds right. Situations like this, you go through it alone, it’s kinda tough. But when you have someone by your side that’s trying to get back to where they were as well, it really helps you out." As for how Rondo is doing: "Rondo's doing great," said Sullinger. "Right now he’s rehabbing, and doing what he’s supposed to."

* NO HINTS ON KG, PIERCE: Sullinger said he hasn't had any communication with Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett about their futures in Boston and is like everyone else who's waiting to find out whether they will be back. "I’m the same way. I'm not the GM, I’m not Danny [Ainge], so I don’t know anything that’s happening. Regardless of what they do, I support them either way." Sullinger has talked with coach Doc Rivers and said the two try to steer the conversation away from basketball. "Sometimes you just have to let people breathe. And that’s what they’ve been doing with Doc, Kevin and Paul. Just letting them be themselves because, after a while, just talking about basketball every freakin’ day, it’s really tough. I experience it all the time and I catch myself, stop myself, because at some point I’ll need a mental break."

After the Boston Celtics' 2012-13 campaign met an untimely end, we've busted out our red pens and assigned grades to each player based on their individual performances this season. This is the 14th in a series of end-of-the-season report cards with today's focus on two players whom the team lost at midseason:

Player: Jared Sullinger
2012-13 averages: 6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 19.8 mpg, 49.3 FG%
2012-13 salary: $1.3 million

Season in a paragraph: Concerns about the stability of his back contributed to Sullinger's sliding to Boston at No. 21 in last year's draft, and, while back surgery ultimately ended his rookie campaign in late January, the 21-year-old had ascended to a starting role by that point and showed plenty of long-term potential. His natural rebounding talents allowed Sullinger to make an immediate impact, and a Celtics team thin on rebounding big men missed his presence late in the season.

Final grade: B+

Teacher's notes: Sullinger appeared in only 45 games, and that was about the only thing which might have prevented him from earning any sort of All-Rookie honors. Sullinger's teammates, including Kevin Garnett, gushed about his basketball IQ and ability to carve out an immediate role at the NBA level. Sullinger posted insane rebound rates and -- if you ignore late-season import Shavlik Randolph -- he owned the second-best number on the team in defensive rebound percentage (22.5 percent; Garnett topped the list at 25.9) and had the best overall rebound percentage (17.6 percent; Garnett was next at 15.7). What flew under the radar was how good Sullinger was defensively. Synergy Sports data shows he allowed 0.708 points per play. Among all players with at least 300 possessions defended this season, Sullinger had the third-best points-per-possession stats, behind only teammate Avery Bradley (0.697 ppp) and former Celtics swingman Marquis Daniels (0.707 ppp). The bottom line: Good things happened with Sullinger on the court as the Celtics were plus-42 when he was on the floor, but minus-60 without him.

What's next? The Celtics have Sullinger under their control with as much as four years remaining on his rookie pact. Next season he'll earn $1.4 million. So long as back problems are in the rearview mirror, then Sullinger will again have the opportunity to carve out a role in Boston's frontcourt. While Sullinger faces the same obstacles as most undersized power forwards, he showed he could overcome most of those hurdles with his IQ.

Player: Leandro Barbosa
2012-13 averages: 5.2 ppg, 1.4 apg, 1.1 rpg, 12.5 mpg, 43 FG%, 38.3 3PT%
2012-13 salary: $854,000

Season in a paragraph: A late training camp addition, Barbosa hooked on for the veteran minimum and, despite no guarantee of playing time, found a role as what Doc Rivers dubbed the team's initial "wild card," providing instant offense in short minutes. Barbosa put his ball-handling talents on display when he received a spike in minutes after Rajon Rondo tore his ACL in late January. All Barbosa did was help Boston win seven straight games before tearing his own ACL in a loss in Charlotte on Feb. 11 (just 17 days after Rondo's injury, with Sullinger's loss sandwiched in between). The Celtics ultimately traded Barbosa's contract (along with Jason Collins) to Washington in a deadline deal for his "wild card" replacement, Jordan Crawford.

Final grade: B

Teacher's notes: The former Sixth Man of the Year arrived content to compete for playing time in a crowded backcourt, and injuries opened doors as he appeared in 41 games for Boston. Better known for his scoring efforts, Barbosa quietly set career highs for both assist rate (19 percent) and turnover percentage (9.1). His 2.76 assist-to-turnover ratio was second best on the team behind only Rondo (2.84).

What's next? Barbosa, set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is rehabbing after February surgery. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said then that the team desired to bring Barbosa back if the option presented itself. That will ultimately depend on Barbosa's recovery and Boston's roster movement this summer. If the Celtics hang on to Crawford, then there's likely not as much of a need to add someone like Barbosa. Ironically, while big-ticket offseason additions like Courtney Lee and Jason Terry struggled to make a consistent impact during their first seasons in Boston, it was Barbosa who found a way to make an impact off the bench despite his late arrival and bargain price tag.

Honor roll: Click HERE to read past report cards.

Don't agree with teacher? Just want to sound off on the 2012-13 season for Barbosa and Sullinger? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

BOSTON -- The realization that his rookie season was over set in for Jared Sullinger when he woke up the morning after taking himself out of a game against the Sacramento Kings in late January. The pain in his back wouldn't even allow Sullinger to walk.

"The only reason I walked was off pure determination to get to the hospital," Sullinger said. "Hopefully that puts an image in your eyes."

Doctors diagnosed the 20-year-old Sullinger with herniated disks that had bulged and had to be reset. Less than 48 hours after the back flared, he underwent corrective lumbar surgery, ending his rookie season after 45 games.

The pain made the decision to go under the knife easy. You could say Sullinger didn't even have a choice.

"No, they didn’t come to me saying, ‘We think you should have this.’ They came in and said, ‘We’re going to have this,’" Sullinger said. "I never thought about playing through it when I woke up that next morning and couldn't even walk."

Sullinger, Boston's top first-round pick (20th overall), had emerged as one of the Celtics' best rebounders and most consistent big men. He averaged 6 points and 5.9 rebounds over 19.8 minutes, while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. Those numbers spiked in January, when he averaged 7 points and 7.2 rebounds over 23.2 minutes per game while elevating to the starting lineup.

Red-flagged before the draft, which contributed to his slide from a lottery pick, Sullinger admitted he was hoping the back wouldn't be an issue until later in his career, but the rigors of the NBA season forced the issue. He hadn't experienced any pain prior to the Sacramento game, but landed awkwardly chasing a rebound in the opening minutes and said his back simply went out.

The long-term prognosis is encouraging and should prevent any recurrences of this issue. Sullinger, reclining in a chair while meeting with reporters before Wednesday's game at TD Garden, suggested having surgery this early in his career was a blessing.

And he has maintained his sense of humor despite the setback.

"I haven’t been doing anything besides Twitter and playing video games," Sullinger said. When a reporter asked if he was worried about a potential thumb injury from those hobbies, Sullinger quipped, "No, no. Arthritis in the future, yes, but no thumb injuries."

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BOSTON -- Jeff Green and Courtney Lee visited teammate Jared Sullinger at the hospital during Saturday's offday and reported he's in good spirits after undergoing season-ending back surgery on Friday.

"He was in a positive mood," Lee said. "After surgery you're going to be sore and drugged up on the medicine, but he was happy to see the people that I went with. I'm sure he was happy to see Jeff also. I talked to him a little bit. He was able to get up and walk around a little bit, because that's something he's going to have to do to keep the blood flowing and whatnot.

"They said he'll be out for like six weeks, as far as not being able to do anything, and then after that he'll be able to move around do little stuff, as far as with weights and whatnot. But he's in good spirits."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Sullinger was released from the hospital on Saturday evening. He's kept in touch with his rookie via text and suggested he's doing well.

Jeff Green confirmed that after his visit. "He's in good spirits. He's doing well. I mean, it's just a patient waiting game now until he's better."

Lee said Sullinger didn't seem discouraged at the abrupt end to his rookie season and said the two focused on a brighter future.

"We just talked about him moving forward and how he was able to get this done at 20 when he's young," Lee said. "His body's going to recover and heal faster than if he was 28 or 30. So we were just trying to address all the positives out of the situation."

A handful of thoughts from Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge after Jared Sullinger underwent season-ending surgery on Friday:

On the decision for Sullinger to get surgery now: "He’s just not going to be effective, managing the pain was not a good option for us the rest of this year. And the uncertainty. His age, youth -- I think all those things are factors [in the decision to do surgery immediately]. It’s tough because I feel like we are still a good team [even after losing Rajon Rondo]. That was the tough blow [losing Sullinger]. We’ll just have to find a different way to win."

On Sullinger's long-term health: "Jared is going to be fine. We feel like this is the best thing for Jared’s long-term health."

On frontcourt depth, opportunities for rookie Fab Melo: "Actually, the center spot is probably our deepest spot with [Kevin Garnett], [Chris] Wilcox and [Jason] Collins playing and all healthy. I don’t know. We’ll see how [Fab Melo] progresses. We still want him to play, so we may be sending him up and down [to the Maine Red Claws of the D-League] still. We're grateful we can do that this year."

On potential roster moves moving forward: "I don’t know any of that yet. I'm not sure. We have three weeks before the trade deadline ends, and we’re trying to maintain flexibility. By that time, by the trade deadline date, we will have a full [15-man] roster, one way or another."

BOSTON -- With Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger set to miss the remainder of the 2012-2013 season after undergoing back surgery on Friday, a greater emphasis will be put on forward Brandon Bass' role.

"As far as me playing and me getting more minutes, I don't want that to be based on nobody going down," Bass said before Friday's game against the Orlando Magic. "So it's a sad thing that Jared's going out and that he had to have back surgery. I don't even know what that's like. So I just wish him the best in that case. And me, personally, I just feel like I've just got to continue to get better and just be more consistent. For me, that's just me, and I feel like that will help the team."

Bass was one of Boston's most consistent big men last season, but an increase in reliable frontcourt players this season -- including Sullinger and Jeff Green -- has limited Bass' minutes and he's seen his role fluctuate between that of a starter and a reserve player. While Bass recently pointed to fewer minutes as a reason for his inconsistent play, he took greater responsibility for his efforts on Friday.

"My role has been my role. It's just that I wasn't playing well," Bass said. "When you're not playing well, you go to the next option. It's business, man. So, I just have to play better."

Bass said he's had discussions with head coach Doc Rivers about what his role with the team is.

"We have (conversations), but they don't even matter, though, because when you're performing -- you have to perform," Bass said. "If you're performance slacks up then everything else slacks up. So, you've just got to be on top of your game every night."

Bass highlighted scoring and rebounding as two areas he wants to see improvement in.

"I just think that me rebounding better and making shots will take care of everything for me, personally," Bass said. "It doesn't have anything to do with anybody else."

Asked if he's ready to take on a role similar to the one he held last season as the Celtics' primary option at power forward, Bass said: "The work is put in, it just has to happen."

Rapid reaction after the Celtics announced rookie center Jared Sullinger underwent lumbar disk surgery Friday and will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season:

* WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: The Celtics won't get much sympathy around the league, but the injury bug continues to feast on Boston. News of Sullinger's season-ending surgery Friday comes hot on the heels of Rajon Rondo's surprise diagnosis of a torn right ACL on Sunday. Boston lost two starters in the span of five days, and suddenly, the Celtics have a 13-man roster in which two players are out for the season and their once-bountiful depth is being tested (where have you gone, Darko Milicic?!).

* AGE AIN'T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: For all the hoopla about Boston's advanced age in recent seasons, the past two campaigns have seen the team's youngest players fall victim to the most serious maladies. It was then-21-year-old Avery Bradley who was lost in last year's playoffs due to shoulder woes, while then-25-year-old Jeff Green missed an entire season due to a heart ailment. This year it's 26-year-old Rondo and 20-year-old Sullinger lost at midseason.

* RED FLAGS WERE THERE: For the first 44 games of the season, the Celtics were able to celebrate landing the steal of the draft. Red flags had forced Sullinger to fall from a potential lottery pick into Boston's lap at No. 21. While the team announced it expects Sullinger to be ready for the start of training camp next season, the league's worries about Sullinger's ability to stay upright were justified. The lingering question is whether Sullinger's back will remain an issue moving forward or whether this surgery might stabilize the issue long term.

* WHO WILL STAND UP? The Celtics were still deep at the guard spot after the loss of Rondo, and have installed a ball handler-by-committee of Bradley, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa to defray his loss. It's not quite as easy up front without Sullinger. Brandon Bass can slide back into the starting role that the rookie had recently taken over, but the depth is mighty thin there. Top reserves behind Bass and Kevin Garnett are Jason Collins, Chris Wilcox and rookie Fab Melo, who hasn't played a single NBA minute. The Celtics were already in the market for big-man help, and that need only grows with the loss of Sullinger.

* WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE? Even after Rondo went down, the Celtics were resigned to trudge ahead despite their roller-coaster play through the first half of the season and kept their eyes on lofty championship goals. Can the team overcome the loss of Sullinger as well? With the trade deadline looming a mere three weeks away, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge must quickly decide the best path for his franchise. Does he look to add some established talent to mask the loss of Rondo and Sullinger, or does he turn his attention to the future when those players will be back on the floor?

BOSTON -- Boston Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger underwent back surgery Friday to repair a lumbar disk and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.

He is expected to be ready for the start of the team's 2013-14 training camp later this year.

Sullinger, red-flagged before June's draft because of back issues, had been experiencing soreness before spasms chased him from Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings after four minutes of play. After undergoing tests on Thursday, the decision was made to fix the problem rather than attempt to manage the pain the rest of the season.

"We knew this could happen. We knew it a month before the draft that this could happen and at some point it probably would happen," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We were hoping it would be a summer thing, rather than the middle of the season, but it happened now. He was playing great and the good news is we know he can play. We know he'll be a very good player and, in the long run, this will make him healthier."

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge admitted the news that Sullinger would require surgery came as a bit of a surprise, particularly on the heels of Sunday's news that Rajon Rondo had been lost for the season due to an ACL tear. But the team had braced itself for potential issues with Sullinger's back.

"I don't think it's out of the blue. He's been having some soreness," Ainge said. "I guess the fact that he had season-ending surgery was out of the blue. I don't think anybody thought that four or five days ago, but I think it's the best thing for Jared."

Later Ainge added: "The doctors feel like this is a great thing for Jared long term and that it's just frustrating that it hurts us here and now. In the long run, this is the best thing for Jared in his career."

Hop HERE to read the full story on Sullinger's surgery.

(Note: This story was updated from an earlier version.)

Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger (back spasms) did not participate in the team's morning shootaround, according to a team spokesman. His absence leaves him doubtful for Friday's visit from the Orlando Magic.

Sullinger left Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings after just four minutes when the spasms left him unable to stay on the floor. Brandon Bass would be the most likely candidate to rejoin the starting lineup in Sullinger's absence.

Concerns about Sullinger's back forced him to slide to Boston with the No. 21 pick in last year's draft. Celtics coach Doc Rivers downplayed his concern about Sullinger's back on Thursday.

"No, I’m not that concerned," said Rivers. "Could he miss games? Like I said [Wednesday], here and there he may. But it’s not anything career-threatening or anything like that."

The Celtics are expected to activate their other rookie first-round pick, Fab Melo, to add an available body. With two open roster spots and Rajon Rondo lost for the season with an ACL tear, there's an open active spot for Melo to occupy, even as he recovers from a quadriceps injury that led to his recall from the D-League earlier this week.

Melo remains behind veterans Chris Wilcox and Jason Collins on the frontcourt depth chart.