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Celtics waive Rasheed Wallace

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forward/center Rasheed Wallace after coming to a mutual agreement following which Wallace plans to retire.

“We would like to thank Rasheed for everything that he did for this team and organization last season,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “We would like to wish Rasheed and his family the best as they move on into the next phase of their lives. He will always be a member of the Celtics family.”

Wallace, a 6’11” center/forward, averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game last season for the Celtics. He averaged 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and shot 34.5% from three-point land during the Celtics run to the 2010 NBA Finals. The 15-year pro was originally signed by the Celtics as a free agent on July 8, 2009.

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June 15, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02204208 Boston Celtics' Rasheed Wallace reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 15 June 2010. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

Celtics sign second round rookie Luke Harangody

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed 2010 second round draft pick Luke Harangody. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Harangody, a 6’8” forward, was recently named to the 2010 AirTran Airways All-Summer League First Team after averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in five contests. He also shot 50.0% from beyond the arc in the five games. Harangody, who was drafted with the 52nd pick in the Second Round of the 2010 NBA Draft, had a storied career at Notre Dame. He was named First Team All-Big East his final three seasons and finished as the third all-time leading scorer in Big East history with 1,329 and second leading rebounder with 662 rebounds. His senior year he led the Irish with 21.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and recorded 21 games with 20-or-more points.

NEW YORK - MARCH 10: Luke Harangody #44 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish handles the ball against the Seton Hall Pirates during the second round of 2010 NCAA Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Stephon Marbury done playing in NBA

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Stephon Marbury told The Post yesterday that he is done with the NBA. He will never get a second chance with the Knicks like Isiah Thomas, whose NBA life was resuscitated by James Dolan on Friday.

“Good luck, New York,” Marbury said wryly in reacting to Thomas’ return to the Knicks as a part-time consultant. “Good luck, New York.”

Marbury, who began training Friday in Los Angeles to get ready for the Chinese Basketball Association season that starts in December, and Thomas still are next-door neighbors in Purchase, N.Y. The two are intertwined in Knicks history with their falling-out symbolizing the franchise’s plummet to rock bottom.

Celtics sign Shaquille O’Neal

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent center Shaquille O’Neal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille’s caliber to your team,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “His past experience speaks for itself and we believe that he is a great fit for our roster.”

O’Neal, a 7’1” center, posted averages of 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and shot 56.6% from the field last season in 53 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former Louisiana State Tiger is a three-time NBA Finals MVP (2000, 2001, 2002) and former NBA MVP (2000). He has been named to 15 All Star games and also has been named All-Star Game MVP three times. His 15 All-Star appearances are the second most all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 17. He is a member of four NBA Championship teams (3, Los Angeles Lakers, 2000, 2001, 2002; 1, Miami Heat, 2006). One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history (he was youngest member of this team, at the age of 24, when it was named in 1996), O’Neal also is one of just three players in NBA history to be named league MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP in the same season (1999-2000).

“I am honored to be joining the Celtics,” said O’Neal. “I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship.”

The first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by Orlando, O’Neal has posted career averages of 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He also has appeared in 214 career playoff games with averages of 24.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. O’Neal is the fifth leading scorer in NBA history (28,255 points) and is 14th in NBA history in total rebounds (12,921).

Heat sign Eddie House

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Eddie House. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

House has appeared in 661 career games (30 starts) with nine teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 17.3 minutes while shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from three-point range and 84.1 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, House averaged 7.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 17.9 minutes, while shooting 38.0 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the foul line in 68 games for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

House, who marks his second stint with the Heat, was originally drafted by Miami with the 37th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. He spent three seasons with the Heat before signing with the L.A. Clippers as a free agent. He was traded by the Clippers after one season, and spent the following season with the Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. He then spent one year with the Phoenix Suns, and another with the New Jersey Nets. He played with the Boston Celtics for the following two seasons, where he won an NBA Championship in 2008. This past season, he spent time between the Celtics (50 games) and the New York Knicks (18 games).

Celtics sign Von Wafer

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Von Wafer. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wafer, a 6’5” guard, has posted NBA career averages of 6.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 39th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Wafer posted his best statistical season when he was with Houston for the 2008-09 campaign. He posted career-highs with 9.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He also shot a career-high 39.0% from three-point land. Wafer made 11 starts for the Rockets during that season and he averaged 16.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in those contests.

Stephon Marbury to China for 3 years

The AP reports:

Former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury has agreed to three more years with a Chinese basketball team, whose owners will set up a company to produce and sell his line of athletic apparel and shoes, the team said Thursday.

Marbury played 15 games last season with Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association. The point guard was a fan favorite in the rustbelt city of Taiyuan, showing none of the defiant personality that had alienated management, teammates and fans in the U.S.

Marbury, 33, will play two more years and may be asked to become an assistant coach in the third, Shanxi said in an announcement on its website.

Poll results: Best teams in league

An InsideHoops.com poll started on July 17 asking readers to select the five best teams in the NBA gave some expected results.

The league champion Los Angeles Lakers, receiving 3,540 votes, got more support than any team, followed by the Miami Heat (3,151 votes), Orlando Magic (2,931) and Boston Celtics (2,900).

The other two teams to receive over 1,000 votes were the Chicago Bulls (1,426), who added Carlos Boozer this summer, and Oklahoma City Thunder (1,149), a talented young team featuring star Kevin Durant.

The Dallas Mavericks (873) also received support.

Celtics re-sign Marquis Daniels

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard/forward Marquis Daniels. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Daniels, a 6’6″ guard/forward, appeared in 51 games for the Celtics last season averaging 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.4 minutes per game. The former Auburn Tiger also shot a career-best 49.8% from the field. Daniels netted a season-high with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor against New Jersey on February 27. Daniels made four starts during last season and he averaged 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 65.6% from the field. Over his seven year career Daniels has posted career averages of 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 22.9 minutes per game. His best statistical season came during the 2008-09 season when he was with the Indiana when he averaged career-highs of 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game. He also made a career-high 43 starts that season.

Celtics re-sign Nate Robinson

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Nate Robinson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It is great to have Nate back and we think that he can contribute more significantly this upcoming season after a full training camp with the team,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge. “He helped us win some crucial playoff games this past postseason and we believe that we will see great things from him this coming season.”

Robinson, a 5’9″ guard, averaged 10.1 points, 2.9 assists and shot 39.0% from three-point distance last season between the Celtics and the New York Knicks. After joining the Celtics, Robinson shot 41.4% from beyond the arc in the 26 contests he played for the C’s. The former Washington Husky netted a season-high 41 points against Atlanta on January 1 and scored 20 or more points seven times in his combined 56 games last season. Originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st pick in the 2005 Draft, he was acquired by the Celtics on February 18 along with Marcus Landry from the Knicks in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker.