Maine Red Claws

On February 25, 2009, the NBA G-League awarded the city of Portland, Maine, with an expansion franchise.[4] On July 21, 2009, the Red Claws announced Austin Ainge as the first head coach of the team.[5] During the 2009–10 season, the Red Claws were the only D-League team to sell out all 24 of their home games. This streak continued until the 2011–12 season, ending the streak at 48 consecutive games.

On June 21, 2012, the Red Claws announced that they had entered a hybrid affiliation with the Boston Celtics, making the Celtics the Red Claws' sole affiliate.[6][7] For the team's first two seasons, their affiliation was split between the Celtics and the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). For its third season, the team's affiliation was split between Boston, Charlotte and the Philadelphia 76ers.[8]

The Red Claws made their first playoff appearance in April 2013, entering the playoffs as the eighth seeded team and being swept by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in a best-of-three-game opening round series.[9][10][11]

On July 16, 2014, the Red Claws announced that Mike Taylor would not return for a third season as the team's head coach. He had a 45–55 record as coach over two seasons with the team.[12] He was replaced by Canadian Scott Morrison after 11 seasons as the head coach of Lakehead University's Lakehead Thunderwolves. Morrison spent the 2013–14 season as a D-League assistant.[13] On June 21, 2017, Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics head coach, named him as an assistant coach with the Celtics.[14]

On July 25, 2019, the Celtics announced they would purchase the Red Claws franchise from original owners Bill Ryan and Bill Ryan, Jr. Before the sale, the Red Claws had been one of the few remaining independently owned NBA G League franchises. Their sale to the Celtics continued the trend of NBA teams purchasing their G League affiliates.[15] The sale was finalized on October 15, 2019.[16]

On April 2, 2009, "Red Claws" was announced as the winning name after a name-the-team contest.[17] Voters in the contest could choose from the Red Claws, Beacons, Crushers, Destroyers, Swarm and Traps. The name and logo give homage to the lobster fishing industry, a major economic engine of the New England area. The use of "Red" in the team's name also serves to pay tribute to longtime Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach.[18]

• Bill Walker – assigned by the Boston Celtics on November 21, 2009
• Alexis Ajinca – assigned by the Charlotte Bobcats on November 30, 2009
• Lester Hudson – assigned by the Boston Celtics on December 15 and December 26, 2009
• Sherron Collins – assigned by the Charlotte Bobcats on December 8, 2010
• Avery Bradley – assigned by the Boston Celtics on January 14, 2011
• Craig Brackins – assigned by the Philadelphia 76ers on February 7, 2012
• Fab Melo – assigned by the Boston Celtics on November 14, 2012
• Kris Joseph – assigned by the Boston Celtics on November 14, 2012
• MarShon Brooks - assigned by the Boston Celtics on January 1, 2014
• Rajon Rondo – assigned by the Boston Celtics on January 15, 2014
• Vítor Faverani - assigned by the Boston Celtics on January 25, 2014
• Vander Blue - assigned by the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2014
• Jordan Mickey - assigned by the Boston Celtics on November 5, 2015
• Terry Rozier - assigned by the Boston Celtics on November 5, 2015

• Lester Hudson – recalled by the Boston Celtics on December 20, 2009
• Bill Walker – recalled by the Boston Celtics on December 23, 2009
• Alexis Ajinça – recalled by the Charlotte Bobcats on February 2, 2010
• Sherron Collins – recalled by the Charlotte Bobcats on December 21, 2010
• Avery Bradley – recalled by the Boston Celtics on February 7, 2011
• Craig Brackins – recalled by the Philadelphia 76ers on March 2, 2012
• Rajon Rondo – recalled by the Boston Celtics on January 15, 2014
• Jordan Mickey - recalled by the Boston Celtics on January 16, 2016

• Boston Celtics (2009–present)
• Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2012)
• Philadelphia 76ers (2011–2012)

• Official website