Boston Celtics News

Rondo remains in hunt for spot on Team USA
"After a six-day training camp in Las Vegas last week, USA Basketball trimmed its roster yesterday afternoon, and Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo is one of the 15 players (including six point guards) remaining. Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo made the announcement on a teleconference with coach Mike Krzyzewski, who praised Rondo for his will to win. Krzyzewski said he developed a relationship with Rondo over the course of the camp and said that with Rondo, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook, the point guards on the roster played with an emphasis on defense. "He's unconventionally become an NBA champion and a triple-double guy in this league,'' Krzyzewski said of Rondo. "The thing that Rondo"
Ainge talks remaining roster moves, Daniels, and Shaq
"With Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels all re-signed, there's a clearer picture of what the Celtics will look like going into next season, but team president Danny Ainge said he's still looking to make a couple more additions, particularly a shooter and a big man. Out west trying to cobble together a vacation around a constant stream of phone calls, Ainge said, "We still have to finish it up. We're still looking at a couple more players." The big man that the rumor mill has constantly connected to the Celtics in recent weeks is Shaquille O'Neal, and even though Ainge wouldn't directly address the team's interest in the 38-year old center, Ainge said there have been"
Delonte West could interest Celtics
"The Celtics have been seeking a tough-minded defender to replace Tony Allen, now that he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. And according to a source, their interest could spread to former Celtic Delonte West, who is expected to be waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves after the club acquired him in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday. West, whose full contract is not guaranteed if waived by Aug. 5, could be the moderately priced defender the Celtics seek, but of course, he would come with a plethora of issues. West pleaded guilty to weapons charges in a strange case where he was caught carrying three guns while on a motorcycle in his native Maryland last year. He received eight"
Celtics have discussed bringing back House
"In the process of surrounding their core with a solid second unit, the Celtics have had discussions about bringing Eddie House back to Boston. House, whose shooting streaks helped the Celtics win the title in 2008, was shipped to New York at the trade deadline last February for guard Nate Robinson. "It's something [Celtics president] Danny [Ainge] and I have discussed,'' House's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. "But nothing's imminent.''"
It's official: Celtics ink Marquis Daniels
"The Celtics made official yesterday the re-signing of swingman Marquis Daniels. The team announced it had signed the 6-foot-6 Daniels after his disappointing first season with the club. The seven-year veteran missed 28 games with a torn ligament in his left thumb that required surgery and averaged a career-low 5.6 points in 51 games. In the Celtics' last 25 games, Daniels sat out two, scored two points seven times and was held scoreless six times."
Core values are guiding Celtics in offseason
"The Celtics' roster is taking shape and it looks a lot like the team that reached the NBA Finals a month ago. No Shaq. No T-Mac. No Matt Barnes. No J.J. Redick. It's not terribly different than the team that took the Lakers to Game 7. Instead of breaking up the bad, they'll make another run at it with their core intact and their bench slightly tweaked. After coming within six minutes of their second title in three years, the Celtics are convinced they have the pieces in place for another championship push. In a summer marked by drastic changes around the league — LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in Miami — Boston's most significant moves were to make sure its situation"
Rajon Rondo now has national appeal
"As usual, Rajon Rondo is deadpanning his way through a big moment. Just as he rarely watched the NBA prior to joining the league (his favorite sport was football, and his favorite athlete was Brett Favre), he said he hasn't thought a lot about international basketball, and the greater meaning of taking part in last week's USA Basketball camp in Las Vegas, where the goal was to have secured a place on the roster by the time the world championships begin in Turkey next month. "It's the same deal," he said, drawing a parallel between now and how he once felt about the NBA. "I'm playing with a lot of good athletes, and I have to seize the moment." What he doesn't acknowledge is that it could"
Robinson won over by Celtics
"Last season was the first time in his five years in the NBA that Nate Robinson felt what it was like to win. The Knicks were the league's model franchise for dysfunction, and that manifested in four out of five 50-loss seasons. When Robinson arrived in Boston via a trade deadline deal in February, it was like he was handed a "Get out of the cellar free'' card. Thrown into the pressure cooker of a championship-driven franchise, Robinson noticed the difference. "The main thing that stood out to me was their will to win,'' he said on a conference call yesterday. "They expect to win every night. I was like, 'Wow, this is awesome.' Being with the Knicks, we just went out and we just played. We"
Marquis Daniels signs 1-year, $2.5M contract with Celtics
"By the end of the playoffs, Marquis Daniels sounded like a player who wanted to be anywhere but at the end of the Celtics bench. After returning to the lineup in February after recovering from thumb surgery, the talented swingman never regained his rhythm. He eventually lost the faith of coach Doc Rivers, and unlike Nate Robinson was unable to rise back into the rotation during the playoffs. But both sides had a change of heart this week. The C's, tired of waiting - probably in vain - for former Orlando swingman Matt Barnes to make up his mind, agreed in principle with Daniels last night on what is expected to be a one-year, $2.5 million deal that marks a 20 percent raise over last"
Avery Bradley can't wait to play
"Avery Bradley is getting more comfortable in the Boston area, but he won't truly feel at home until he gets back on the basketball court. Bradley, who was selected by the Celtics [team stats] with the 19th pick in June's draft, has spent the past three weeks rehabilitating from surgery on his left ankle. Bradley sprained his ankle while working out for Oklahoma City on June 13 and had arthroscopic surgery on July 2. Bradley was initially expected to miss 6-8 weeks and be ready for training camp in late September/early October. He said yesterday he has experienced no setbacks. "I just take it day-by-day," said Bradley after a dedication of a Fisher House at the Veterans Adminstration"
Rondo checks in on Celtics
"Rajon Rondo's first dip in the USA Basketball pool drew a predictably cool response from the Celtics guard yesterday. Beyond stating the obvious and obligatory - that it's an honor to represent your country - Rondo's response on the second day of a six-day camp in Las Vegas smacked of a "been there, done that" quality. "I play with players like this every day," Rondo said of a group, at point guard, that also includes Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Tyreke Evans and Chauncey Billups. The 20-man field has to be cut to a roster of 12 over the next six weeks in preparation for the world championships in Turkey. But Rondo's thoughts have been elsewhere, namely, on what general manager Danny"
Danny Ainge can only wait
"Danny Ainge is on vacation out west, though he can't really break free. The Celtics general manager is waiting for a break - for a talented free agent who values signing on with a winner over signing for the higher dollars a lesser team can offer. But there are still teams out there with surplus cash - teams that haven't spent their mid-level exceptions yet - and as a result Ainge might as well be holding the most recently pulled ticket at a busy deli counter. Consider the case of Matt Barnes. The former Orlando swingman was thought to be deliberating between the Celtics and Miami, the two main teams offering winning (and a $1.6 million veterans minimum contract) over more money."
A positive spin on it
"Ray Allen was home for roughly a day following the NBA Finals before restlessness settled in. The Celtics guard had told himself to relax - even take a week or two off before doing something strenuous. "You tell yourself that," he said last week. "But it becomes a matter of feeling worse if you don't than if you do." So on the second day Allen pulled out a bicycle, headed out of Wellesley past Regis College in Weston, and found his groove on Route 20. Next thing he knew, Allen was in Framingham before finally turning around. This little burst of post-Finals energy lasted for 31 miles, which is not such a big deal for an athlete who rides his bike as much as Allen. It also points to why two"
Nate to stay with Celtics; 2 years, $8M
"The Celtics have agreed in principle with guard Nate Robinson on a new contract, a team official told The Associated Press on Friday. A Celtics spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the official confirmed the agreement to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the contract was not yet signed. The Boston Herald reported Robinson will get $4 million a year for two seasons. The former Knicks player wrote on his Twitter page Friday that he was going back to the Celtics. Robinson was acquired at the trade deadline but had fallen out of the rotation by the end of the regular season. He re-emerged in the playoffs to help Boston clinch the Eastern Conference"
Celtics re-sign Nate Robinson
"The possibility of Nate Robinson returning to the Celtics on a new contract appeared highly remote three months ago, when he had played himself into Doc Rivers' doghouse. A late-season and playoff resurrection, however, brought Robinson back into the good graces of Rivers and Friday morning, Robinson agreed to return to the Celtics with a two-year contract, according to an NBA source. Robinson Tweeted today that he was headed back to "Beantown" and the Celtics desperately needed youth and some relief for starting point guard Rajon Rondo. Robinson finally appeared to understand Rivers' system during the postseason and flourished during the NBA Finals. There was one sticking point about"
Robinson back to the point
"Although he wasn't on the conference call, it seemed Celtics president Danny Ainge overheard Paul Pierce express disappointment in the team's offseason moves, or lack thereof. Ainge yesterday secured point guard Nate Robinson, once considered to be a poor fit in the Celtics system, to a two-year contract extension worth $9 million with performance bonuses, according to two NBA sources. Robinson generated little splash as a free agent, but a two-year deal provides stability after years of career uncertainty. Considered a bust after being acquired from the Knicks along with Marcus Landry for J.R. Giddens, Eddie House, and Bill Walker in February, Robinson emerged in the postseason and was a"
Celtics all a-Twitter over Nate Robinson
"Shrek and Donkey are now officially more than a cartoon. Upon hearing yesterday that teammate Nate Robinson signed a two-year deal with the Celtics worth just over $4 million per year, an excited Glen Davis posted the following tweet under the Twitter name iambigbaby11. (Davis has gone under several Twitter ID's over the years.) "I'm so happy that Nate coming back!!! Donkey a shrek!!! Ayo baby!!! Y'all show Nate some love!! Man I love that little guy!!" Marquis Daniels, not likely to be a Celtic next season unless the free agent market for minimum contract players turns particularly barren, tweeted his own greetings: "Congrats to my lil bruh @nate-robinson on his new deal." Welcome to the"
Celtics re-sign Nate Robinson
"The possibility of Nate Robinson returning to the Celtics on a new contract appeared highly remote three months ago, when he had played himself into Doc Rivers' doghouse. A late-season and playoff resurrection, however, brought Robinson back into the good graces of Rivers and Friday morning, Robinson agreed to return to the Celtics with a two-year contract, according to an NBA source. Robinson Tweeted today that he was headed back to "Beantown" and the Celtics desperately needed youth and some relief for starting point guard Rajon Rondo. Robinson finally appeared to understand Rivers' system during the postseason and flourished during the NBA Finals."
Nate Robinson agrees to terms with Celtics
"The Celtics are about to extend their relationship with Nate Robinson, after all. The team, according to a league source, just reached agreement with their backup point guard on a two-year deal that will pay him approximately $4 million per season. Agent Aaron Goodwin, who had told the Herald early in the week that a deal could be reached by the end of the week, turned out to be quite the sage. Agreement came after a brief slowdown in talks on Thursday."
Lawrence Frank signs on with Celts
"Former Nets coach and Teaneck native Lawrence Frank has a chance to go from worst to first. Frank on Thursday joined Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers' staff. Frank will be Rivers' lead assistant next season, when the defending Eastern Conference champs hope to make another run at an NBA title. "I'm extremely excited to join a championship organization," Frank said. "I'm really looking forward to working with Doc and working for one of the best franchises in all of sports.""
Robin Lopez, Rajon Rondo, Tyson Chandler added to USA roster
"Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez was added to the Team USA roster on Thursday, and will be one of 21 players to participate in the national team's training camp in Las Vegas from Monday-July 24. USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement the addition of the 7-foot Lopez, along with Mavericks center Tyson Chandler and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, gives Team USA "the talent and depth required in making sure we field the very best USA Basketball teams possible." Lopez averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds a game as a reserve last season. He was also a member of the 2008 USA Basketball Men's Select Team, which helped Team USA train for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Suns assistant"
Rondo to vie with Bulls' Rose for U.S. team berth
"Rajon Rondo could play for the United States after all. The Boston Celtics point guard was among three players added to the new-look national team roster on Thursday and will take part in training camp next week in Las Vegas. Newly acquired Dallas center Tyson Chandler and Phoenix center Robin Lopez also were selected and will be among the 21 players -- including the Bulls' Derrick Rose -- who will compete for a chance to play for the Americans in the world championships in Turkey from Aug. 28-Sept. 12. None of the 2008 Olympic gold medalists were on the list, with many already saying they planned to take the summer off because of injuries or personal reasons. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant,"
Celtics add Frank to staff
"The Celtics found a coach with NBA head coaching experience to fill the spot of Tim Thibodeau, who left for the Chicago Bulls. As expected, the Celtics hired former New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank as Doc Rivers' lead assistant coach, according to a team source. Frank, 39, was fired by the Nets last November after six seasons. A one-time manager for the Indiana University basketball team under Bobby Knight, Frank ascended to an NBA head coaching role 12 years later. He was an assistant at the University of Tennessee and then with the Vancouver Grizzles before being named interim head coach of the Nets in January 2004 when Byron Scott was fired. He led New Jersey to a 25-15 mark at the"
Pierce: 'Slim pickins'
"For Paul Pierce, seeing the Celtics keeping the Big Three intact was a major step. Adding Jermaine O'Neal as a supplement for the injured Kendrick Perkins was also important. But, in truth, the Celtics have lost more than they've added this offseason, and even though he made his four-year $61 million deal official today, Pierce said it's been difficult watching the free agent carousel circle with top players passing the Celtics by. In sifting through potential players, Pierce said the Celtics place a premium on fit more than talent, but added that at this stage in the offseason, the pool is starting to thin out. "With a team that we have, you really don't call out the best talent," Pierce"
Frankly, new coach will be a net gain
"Doc Rivers added a good young coach and an experienced leader all in the same person yesterday. As expected, the Celtics will name Lawrence Frank to their coaching staff, according to a team source, giving Rivers a defensive-minded lead assistant who led the New Jersey Nets to four playoff appearances in six-plus seasons. Frank, 39, was fired by the Nets last November after an 0-16 start. A former team manager at Indiana University under Bobby Knight, Frank ascended to assistant coach at the University of Tennessee and then with the Vancouver Grizzlies before being named interim head coach of the Nets in January 2004 after Byron Scott was fired. He led New Jersey to a 25-15 mark and the"
Pierce's simple math: Additions must come
"In the past, when Paul Pierce drifted into thoughts about life after basketball, he would sometimes joke that he wouldn't mind taking Danny Ainge's job as general manager. The four-year, $61 million deal that Pierce signed yesterday will all but guarantee that he will retire a Celtic. And while Pierce still has some years left in a Celtics uniform, he still had some pointed thoughts on the team's offseason moves so far. Getting his deal done and bringing back Ray Allen for two more years were huge steps, Pierce said, in keeping together the core that brought the Celtics to within six minutes of their second title in three years. Adding Jermaine O'Neal was critical, he said, knowing the"
Lawrence Frank joins Doc Rivers on bench
"The void left behind by Tom Thibodeau didn't last for long. Danny Ainge confirmed last night that the Celtics reached agreement with Lawrence Frank, the former New Jersey head coach, to be their new assistant coach. Frank was fired last November after an 0-16 start with the Nets. Many in the league, including Nets president Rod Thorn, didn't believe the one-time wunderkind was responsible for the start. Instead, the Nets limped to their horrid start due to attempts to cut salary in preparation for this summer's free agent market. Frank, who had met with Doc Rivers and Ainge during the Orlando Summer League last week, spent the winter doing what unemployed NBA coaches do best - network"
Keeping Rasheed Wallace in their plans
"Celtics management may be under the impression Rasheed Wallace is retiring, and his contract is their prime bait in trading for a quality replacement. But don't tell that to the players. Jermaine O'Neal, in not getting with the program, talked Wednesday of how he would like to see his old Blazers teammate come back to the Celtics. O'Neal can be forgiven. He's new to the game plan. But Paul Pierce had a similar response to the 'Sheed question yesterday. In the minds of some, apparently, the big guy can still play. "I'm not sure," the Celtics captain said of whether he believes Wallace is actually going to retire. "I've texted him a couple of times. I think it's still up in the air. I"
Paul Pierce seeing future
"Paul Pierce officially did his part yesterday by signing a four-year, $61 million contract that will pay him less next season ($15 million) than if he had decided to stay with the one year and $21.5 million left on his old contract. Though Pierce clearly fortified his long-term security, he also helped the Celtics in the short term, because by taking less money next season with his new deal it allows the team to spend more on his supporting cast. So there it is - Celtics' ball, with more free agents getting signed away by other teams each day. "We have to add a lot right now," Pierce said in a conference call. "We have to add a whole bench, when you think about it. We need a backup point"
Celtics re-sign Pierce to four-year deal
"The Boston Celtics have re-signed captain Paul Pierce. The club made the official announcement Thursday, six days after a team official said it had reached an agreement to keep the star forward. The Boston Herald had reported that the contract is for four years with Pierce and the Celtics having a mutual option for the fourth year. He had opted out of the final year of a contract for 2010-2011 that was to pay him US$21.51 million next season."
Ainge: Shaq unlikely for Celtics
"Boston Celtics president of basketball operations said Thursday morning that he has spoken with free-agent Shaquille O'Neal about the possibility of coming to Boston but thought it unlikely that a deal would get done. "I don't think that Shaquille is that much of a possibility," Ainge said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI. "The door is not shut but I don't think it's a real possibility right now. Certainly not our top priority.""
Matt Barnes gone to Heat or Celtics?
"Matt Barnes, who started 56 games at small forward for the Magic last season, apparently has heavy interest from two of Orlando's main East rivals: the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Those with knowledge of the situation say Barnes is strongly considering the Heat or the Celtics, among several other teams. The Barnes' camp still contends that the Magic have not offered him a contract and have moved on after signing free agent guard-forward Quentin Richardson."
Pierce officially re-signs with Celtics
"The Boston Celtics announced Thursday that they have officially re-signed forward Paul Pierce. The deal was agreed to earlier in free agency. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, ESPN's Ric Bucher reported at the time of the agreement that it was a four-year, $61 million deal. "Paul has been a cornerstone of our franchise for the last decade and we could not be more pleased that he is returning to the team," said Celtics president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge."
Ex-Piston Rasheed Wallace's status in Boston still unclear
"It is unclear whether Rasheed Wallace's playing days in Boston are over. The former Piston announced his retirement after the Celtics lost in the NBA Finals in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Wallace averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds during the regular season. He had big games against Cleveland and Orlando in helping the Celtics to the Eastern Conference title. Since Wallace has not commented on his retirement, there's speculation he has had second thoughts about retiring. He'll be 36 on Sept. 17."
Davis feels good about future
"Glen Davis did not want to talk about Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Not that he's moved on, he remains in pain. The excitement that was generated from the re-signings of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and the addition of Jermaine O'Neal has motivated Davis, who should get an increased role with the impending retirement of Rasheed Wallace. Davis flourished during the second half of the season and was pivotal in the Game 4 Finals win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 18 points. Yet in the final three games of the series, Davis scored 6 points in 61 minutes as the Celtics fell short of their goal."
O'Neal puts faith in Celtics
"The last time the world saw Jermaine O'Neal, the Celtics had just finished picking him apart. Boston had defeated the Miami Heat in five games in the first round of the playoffs, and O'Neal was in the visiting locker room at TD Garden. His 14 years in the NBA had all left him short of the Finals, and he'd gone into recent seasons wondering if making the playoffs at all was a tangible goal. After that loss, O'Neal was asked if he would ever consider playing for a team like the Celtics. The truth was that it didn't take long for the thought to cross his mind. He became a free agent for the first time this summer. He had suitors — from the Heat, a team he knew was trying to lure LeBron James"
Losing Tony Allen puzzles Danny Ainge
"There is still a trace of puzzlement in Danny Ainge's voice when asked about Tony Allen, who earlier this week agreed on a three-year contract with Memphis worth approximately $9.5 million. The Celtics offered their former guard similar dollars over the first two years, but didn't want to guarantee the third season. Allen, who had professed a strong desire to stay, left town over that difference. He was said to be on vacation yesterday and unavailable for comment. But according to Ainge, only Allen could answer that question. "We wanted Tony back," the Celtics general manager said following yesterday's press conference to introduce Jermaine O'Neal. "We tried to get him back. It was not a"
Jermaine O'Neal eagerly accepts new duty on Celtics
"Not that he needs much of a road map, but Jermaine O'Neal sees the terrain clearly. He understands that as of now he is the Celtics' starting center on opening night, and two months later he will be Kendrick Perkins' relief. O'Neal, a 14-year veteran who signed a two-year contract with the Celtics worth just over $12 million yesterday, wants everyone to know that he is an ubuntu guy. "When (Perkins) comes back it's his position to have, and I'm just here to do my job," said O'Neal. "I don't want to step on anybody's feet or cause any issues. I'm just here to win. There's a couple of situations where I talked to teams and I probably wouldn't have wanted to back up anybody. But this"
Hunter: NBA lockout is possible
"In response to NBA commissioner David Stern's assertion that the league lost $370 million last season, the head of the players' union claimed Wednesday that Stern's numbers are as much as $370 million off base. Union director Billy Hunter made that statement in a telephone interview with ESPN.com, saying the commissioner's assertion of the severity of the owners' financial woes "just doesn't hold water." His comments illustrated the fundamental differences the sides are facing as they work to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one due to expire next June 30."
Nuggets add reserves Williams and Carter
"It's been a busy day for the Nuggets. The team has agreed to terms with post player Shelden Williams and backup point guard Anthony Carter. Both are one-year deals for about the league minimum of $1 million per season, multiple sources confirmed. Williams, 26, is 6-feet-9, 250 pounds. He was a reserve last season for the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, averaging 11.1 minutes per game. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebbounds in 54 games played."
Allen flashback sheds light
"The star power overwhelmed the reality of it all. Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade were all so decorated — the gold medals, the NBA Most Valuable Player awards, the Finals MVP trophies — it was hard to see past the shine of all that. The Miami Heat have assembled a super team, the NBA's X-Men, and the general thought, without having seen them on the floor, is that they will dominate the league for years. Yet Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith reminded the world that it might be giving the Heat their rings without asking them to earn it on the floor. To the Celtics' Ray Allen, seeing the reaction to the Heat's new Big Three was like déjà vu."
For Ray Allen, Celts are home
"It was the same old, same old. Ray Allen's four children, ranging in age from 17 to 1, chased a ball across the floor of the Celtics practice facility yesterday afternoon. The two youngest were covered by sack-like green jerseys featuring their dad's name and number. Deep down, Allen knows it never could have been any other way. Though he looked at other situations in other playoff cities for more money, the two-year, $20 million contract Allen signed with the Celtics yesterday was the only one he wanted. "We just wanted to make a decision that was best for us moving forward, being here and having peace of mind," Allen said of the role his family played in the decision to return. "My kids"
Nate Robinson going Green again, close to deal with Celtics
"Though the Celtics failed to reach a resolution with Tony Allen, and paid the price Sunday night when the guard and the Memphis Grizzlies agreed on a three-year contract, talks with the team's other remaining free agent continue to progress. Aaron Goodwin, the agent for Nate Robinson, said yesterday the two sides could reach a deal by the end of the week. "Things are going well," Goodwin said. "We're just trying to get something worked out. But both parties are talking." According to a league source, the Celtics offered Allen an amount similar to the $3 million he will receive annually from Memphis but were unwilling to guarantee the third year as the Grizzlies did."
Perkins undergoes successful knee surgery, may miss 5-6 months
"Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins underwent successful surgery Monday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. According to the team, Perkins officially underwent arthroscopic knee ligament reconstruction with meniscal repair at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. The surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by Dr. John Richmond and Jason Rand, PAC."
Celtics eye injury prone Josh Howard
"The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls have shown "serious interest" in free-agent forward Josh Howard, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. While the Bulls could have the salary-cap space to sign Howard, depending on what happens with their offer sheet to J.J. Redick, the Celtics would need a sign-and-trade to arrange a deal because they have already used their midlevel exception on Jermaine O'Neal."
Allen opts for security in Memphis
"The Celtics had seen the best and the worst of Tony Allen over his six seasons in Boston, and that body of work was not good enough to convince the team to give Allen three guaranteed years. So Allen jumped on a three-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday. "All I am at liberty to say is that we have come to terms with Tony Allen, and expect to sign a contract soon,'' Memphis general manager Chris Wallace said."
Tony Allen lured away by Grizzlies
"Tony Allen's desire to remain with the Celtics was so strong this summer, even his mother was surprised last night by news that the guard is about to leave after six seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies. "It's very unfortunate, him leaving, because I thought he would stay," said Ella Allen. "I am very surprised, but my son makes his own decisions, and I support him 100 percent. "He is definitely going to miss the Celtics - it's a great team with great people," she said. "I know he is going to miss his friends. He really liked those guys. I'm sure he hates to leave." But the Celtics, despite holding Allen's so-called "Larry Bird rights," were apparently unwilling to go over the salary cap, or"
Grizzlies add former Boston Celtics defensive stopper Tony Allen
"The Grizzlies have agreed in principle to a three-year contract with Boston Celtics unrestricted free agent Tony Allen, multiple NBA sources with knowledge of the negotiations told The Commercial Appeal. Allen, 28, will earn $3 million for the 2010-11 season. Allen is expected to receive five-percent raises, making the total value of his contract about $9.5 million. The 6-4 swingman averaged 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 54 games last season for Boston. Allen was particularly effective defending Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the NBA Finals. A defensive-minded player, Allen just completed his sixth season with the Celtics. His signing with the Grizzlies is"
Three big reasons to be afraid
"Regarding this LeBron thing: May we talk a little basketball? Good. But first, may we attempt to put the Thursday night developments in perspective one more time? 1. "The Decision.'' You perhaps think the hourlong program was an embarrassing mess that did not reflect well on anyone, be it LeBron James, Jim Gray, or ESPN. And your point is? The instant we heard that James's decision would be announced in that type of format, on that network, who didn't know it would be a horror show? My information is that it was actually Gray's idea, that he pitched it to LeBron right-hand man Maverick Carter and things went from there. ESPN is in the business of 24/7/365 sports programming, so its"
T. Allen still unsigned
"The Celtics have not signed backup guard Tony Allen, according to his agent Mike Higgins. The two sides are still in discussions, he said. Allen, who averaged 6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 54 games last season, embraced his role as a defender for the Celtics, guarding everyone from Dwyane Wade to Kobe Bryant. The unrestricted free agent has An unrestricted free agent, Allen has reportedly drawn the interest of the Lakers, Nets, Heat, and Bulls. Celtics president Danny Ainge has said that he would like to bring Allen back into the fold."