short takes

NBA bound for Europe

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver didn't make it to Mexico in November, but he traveled to London for Thursday's Milwaukee-New York game and articulated his vision for the NBA's future in Europe.

He predicted the NFL likely will put a team in Europe before his league but said he sees a day when there will four NBA franchises there — not just one.

Silver said the league's complex schedule necessitates a European division, not just a single team. That would mean four franchises in countries — England, Spain, France, Germany — that have or will have NBA-quality arenas.

"We'd have to put both feet down," Silver told reporters. "We're not there yet. I know that as much growth as we've seen, we have a long way to go before we can sustain four franchises in Europe. On the other hand, I believe it's our manifest destiny to expand."

Trader Dan never rests

Danny Ainge is back at it.

Boston's general manager wheeled and dealed his team to the 2008 NBA title by swapping young players and draft picks he had accumulated until he was able to place Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen beside Paul Pierce.

Now he is collecting pieces again. He has made nine trades with nine different teams since the start of the season, including four trades made in five NBA business days ending Thursday. The Celtics now could have as many as 14 picks — including six first-round picks perhaps — in the next two drafts. Last week, Ainge made two separate three-way deals, including one that sent forward Jeff Green to Memphis.

Where the Rivers meet

Ainge acquired guard Austin Rivers from New Orleans one day, traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers and Rivers' dad, Doc, the next. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rivers will become the first son in NBA history to play for his father. Coby Karl briefly was a Denver Nugget in 2010, but never played for his father. George Karl was on medical leave battling throat cancer.