Boston Celtics Blog – Page 102 – NBA Blog

Gerald Green wants back into NBA

Gerald Green can jump very high. And he wants to leap back into the NBA.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Kenton Edelin, Green’s agent, said there has been interest from “a couple teams” but would not be specific. He said he has also spoken to several teams in Spain, believing that if Green does not get a shot in the NBA this season, the move to the strong Spanish league would be a bridge from the Russian league back to the NBA.

“Obviously, he wants to play for an NBA team this fall,” Edelin said. “Playing in one of the strong European markets would be a way, if not this year, the next year to get back.

“His priority is to play in the NBA this year. He’s just 24. He has plenty of time still to have a long, successful NBA career.”

But there was a time when Green first hit it big in Vegas, that all that seemed certain. He has not forgotten.

“I think of those things,” he said. “I just try to use that as motivation. I wouldn’t have believed you (if he had been told the path his career would take). It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. “

Green is certainly young enough to not give up hope just yet.

I’d guess that we see him again soon, perhaps on a one-season deal, maybe partially or not guaranteed. And then he better rock.

Lawrence Frank to be Celtics assistant

Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger reports:

How’s this for being upwardly mobile:

Lawrence Frank, who was last seen heading for the unemployment line last December after the Nets started 0-16, has agreed to be the assistant coach on a team that came within one victory of the NBA title.

The former Nets coach has agreed to assist Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics for just one season, essentially filling the role occupied by Tom Thibodeau, who left Rivers’ staff to to take the Chicago Bulls job.

“I think it’s a good situation for me – I wanted to get back and coach, and I didn’t want to sit and wait, and you can’t ask for a better situation or a better organization,” Frank said.

Nuggets sign Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed G Anthony Carter and signed free-agent F/C Shelden Williams, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Carter, 35, spent the past four seasons with the Nuggets, averaging 5.6 points and 4.5 assists in 204 regular-season games. In his 11-year NBA career with Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota and Denver, he has averaged 5.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 566 games.

This past season, Carter helped Denver to its second consecutive Northwest Division title, registering 3.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest. He started seven games for the Nuggets in 2009-10 and recorded one double-figure scoring game and one double-figure assist game.

Carter signed with Denver as a free agent each of the past three summers, returning to the Nuggets on Aug. 31, 2007, Jul. 9, 2008 and then again on Aug. 14, 2009.

Williams, 6-9, 250, averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 points in 54 games with the Boston Celtics in 2009-10 and appeared in eight playoff games as the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals. He recorded one double-double during the regular season and scored at least 10 points six times, including a season-high 14 against Phoenix on Dec. 30, 2009.

Selected fifth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2006 NBA Draft, the 26-year-old Williams has averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 244 games with Atlanta, Sacramento, Minnesota and Boston.

“We’re excited to add two veteran players with playoff experience,” Warkentien said. “They are two more pieces to the puzzle as we work to improve our team this summer.”

Celtics re-sign Paul Pierce

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed team captain and forward Paul Pierce. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“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.

Pierce, a 6’7” forward, is the Celtics third leading scorer in franchise history with 19,899 points trailing only Larry Bird and John Havlicek. The 2008 NBA Finals MVP averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in making his eighth All-Star team. The four-time All-NBA selection is the team’s all-time leader in free throws attempted and made; three-pointers attempted and made steals and is second all-time in points per game (22.5 ppg).

“I am very excited to be back in Boston,” said Pierce. “I have always said that I would love to retire as a Celtic and re-signing here will allow me to do that. I would like to thank Danny, Doc, the ownership group and the rest of the organization. I’m thrilled that they kept the core intact and look forward to getting back on the parquet with my teammates so we can bring Banner 18 home to Boston.”

The former Kansas Jayhawk was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 Draft shot a career-high 41.4% from beyond the arc this season. Pierce has posted career averages of 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

“Since day one I have seen Paul as a lifetime Celtic and this deal is another big step towards that goal. He’s a champion and a Finals MVP but also a true champion in the community,” said Celtics Co-Owner and CEO, Wyc Grousbeck.

Celtics sign Jermaine O’Neal

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

“Jermaine provides veteran leadership and experience,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge. “His talents are an excellent complement to our core roster.”

O’Neal, a 6’11” center/forward, has appeared in six all-star games and has been named to three All-NBA teams. The product of Eau Claire High School in South Carolina has posted career averages of 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with 1.9 blocks over his 14 year career with Portland, Indiana, Toronto and Miami. He posted a career-high field goal percentage of 52.9% last season with Miami.

“When the opportunity arose for me to join an organization like the Celtics, I could not refuse,” said O’Neal. “I cannot wait to get to Boston and start to practice with the rest of the team in pursuit of a championship.”

Celtics re-sign Ray Allen

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

“Re-signing Ray has been a priority of ours this offseason and this move will allow us to stay at a championship level,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Allen, a 6’5” guard, set an NBA Finals record during Game 2 of the 2010 Finals when he connected on eight three pointers (including seven in a row). The former UConn Husky has added two All-Star appearances in his three seasons in Boston for a total of nine career All-Star appearances. Allen has shot 39.2% from beyond the arc (524-for-1,337) since he joined the Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season when he helped the Celtics to their 17th championship. Allen became the sixth Celtic to record his 20,000th career point while wearing the Celtic green when he netted a three-pointer against Washington on December 10, 2009.

“I am ecstatic to be back in Boston,” said Allen. “I cannot wait to get onto the court and get back to work with the rest of the team in pursuit of Banner 18.”

Allen is currently ranked second all-time in three pointers made and attempted in NBA history. He also is currently ranked 28th in NBA history in total points scored with 20,965.

“Ray Allen represents class and excellence both on and off the court. We are thrilled he will help lead the team’s quest for Banner 18,” said Steve Pagiluca, Celtics Co-Owner.

Clippers sign Ryan Gomes

The Los Angeles Clippers Thursday signed free agent forward Ryan Gomes. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gomes, 27, averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 76 games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. A teammate of recently signed Clippers guard Randy Foye in Minnesota from 2007-09, Gomes has appeared in a total of 374 games in his five-year NBA career with Boston and the Timberwolves and brings career averages of 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 307 total starts to Los Angeles.

“I think Ryan Gomes is an excellent addition to our team,” said Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Ryan is a proven, hard-nosed veteran presence who is a consistent inside-out scorer with great character who has had a positive impact on every team he has been a part of.”

The six-foot-seven, 250 pound Gomes led Minnesota in scoring 10 times last season and recorded his 4,000th career NBA point on Feb. 17, 2010. Gomes was traded by Minnesota to Portland in a draft day trade, and subsequently waived by the Trailblazers on June 29.

The all-time leading scorer in Providence College history with 2,138 points, Gomes was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 50th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. After a sparkling college career, Gomes played two seasons in Boston before the Celtics traded him to Minnesota on July 31, 2007 along with Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two 2009 First Round draft picks in exchange for Kevin Garnett.

The Waterbury, Connecticut native enjoyed three solid seasons with the Timberwolves, putting together an impressive Ironman streak of 203 consecutive games played that came to an end on Dec. 14, 2009. Gomes averaged a career-high 13.3 points in 2008- 09 when he started a career-high 76 games.

Celtics sign Semih Erden

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed center Semih Erden. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s rumored to be a one-year deal, but we assume it’s nonguaranteed.

Erden, a 7’0” 240lbs center, was selected by the Celtics with the 60th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The native of Gaziosmanpasa, Turkey was a starter for Fenerbahce Ulker this past season when they won the Turkish League championship and averaged 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Erden shot an impressive 62.4% from the field during the 42 Turkish League games that he played in last season. Erden will be competing for Turkey in the upcoming 2010 FIBA World Championships to be played in his native country.

Paul Pierce will re-sign with Celtics

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

Celtics fans no longer have to be concerned about or debate the future of Paul Pierce. He will remain in Boston for at least four more years after his agent, Jeff Schwartz, and team president Danny Ainge agreed on a deal late last night.

Pierce, 32, will earn more than the expected $61 million over the life of the contract. The eight-time All-Star and 2008 NBA Finals MVP will likely retire as a Celtic, which is something he said was a goal.

Pierce wasn’t a free agent for long after opting out of the last year of his previous contract…

Pierce earned $19.7 million last season and was eligible for a maximum contract, beginning at $20.78 million, but he accepted $5 million less to stay home and retire a Celtic.

Celtics sign rookie Avery Bradley

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Avery Bradley. All rookies selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, so this is a standard, expected signing that must adhere to the rookie salary structure.

Bradley, a 6’2” guard, was the team’s First Round pick (19th overall) in the 2010 NBA Draft. The former Texas Longhorn averaged 11.6 points, 1.29 steals and shot 37.5 percent from beyond the three point arc during his only season in college. The Tacoma, Washington native was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and also was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. As a senior at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, Bradley led the team to a 33-0 record was named ESPNRISE.com High School National Player of the Year and was ranked the number one prospect nationally by ESPNU.