James Young got pretty familiar with Maine last season, and he's going to get an early taste of it this year as well.
Just days after the Celtics announced they picked up his third-year option, James was assigned to their D-League affiliate the Maine Red Claws on Tuesday.
He'll be joined by rookie Jordan Mickey.
James has been inactive for the team's first three games, while Mickey has been active for the last two. There's a good chance Mickey would have been inactive for the season-opener as well, but Kelly Olynyk's suspension and R.J. Hunter's sickness opened a spot for him.
Young averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.7 minutes over 31 games last season. He averaged 4.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game during the preseason.
He played in 17 games for the Red Claws last season and averaged 21.5 points, including shooting 44.2 percent from beyond the arc, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.9 minutes per game.
The Celtics head to Indiana on Tuesday. Rather than make Young and Mickey travel with the team and sit on the bench, they'll get some extra practice in with the Red Claws, who don't open their season until Nov. 12.