Boston Celtics Blog – Page 141 – NBA Blog

Clippers sign Ricky Davis

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed veteran free agent swingman Ricky Davis to a multi-year contract, it was announced by Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Carrying career averages of 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 31.1 minutes, Davis tallied 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 82 games played for the Miami Heat during the 2007-08 season. The 6-foot-7-inch Iowa product also connected on 420-971 FG (.433), 135-333 3FG (.405) and 155-197 FT (.787) on the year.

“We believe he will be a good addition,” Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor said. “His versatility and ability to shoot from the outside will spread the floor and help our low post players.”

Davis turned in his most productive NBA season in 2002-03 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 20.6 points, 5.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 79 games played.

Davis was originally selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round (21st overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, after one season at Iowa where he tallied 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

How to determine schedule for any team

The Oklahoman (Mike Baldwin) reports on a team’s 82-game regular season schedule: “Four games against division opponents. Four games against six out-of-division conference opponents. Three games against the remaining four conference teams. Two games against teams in the opposing conference. A five-year rotation determines which out-of-division conference teams are played only three times.”

Rumors Talk: Hawks need to keep Smith

July 27: It would be a real shame if the Hawks and Josh Smith are unable to work out a long-term contract and instead wind up having to sign-and-trade him, especially after the team made the playoffs last season. Not that qualifying for the postseason is hard when playing in the Eastern conference. Myself, a few other InsideHoops.com guys, Chuck Nevitt, JR Rider and Leon Smith could probably pull it off. Still, the Hawks are fun to watch, show promise to get a bit better, and have a squad that’s decent to cheer for. Losing Josh Childress to a faraway overseas land hurts, but if a bench guy or two steps up a bit and shows some improvement, he’ll only be missed a little. His afro, on the other hand, will be tougher to replace.

Anyway, imagine if a team like the Celtics were able to land Smith. If that happened I’d imagine they’d use him as a super-sixth man. They have championship chemistry in the starting lineup and shouldn’t mess with that. Imagine Smith getting 28-32 bench minutes on a 60-win Boston squad. Sweet, huh?

I’m just tossing Boston out there for the fun of it. Obviously every team in the league would love to have Smith, and he’d start for almost all of them.

Aside from being good and still young, Smith is also extremely exciting to watch. He sells tickets. The Hawks need to keep him, even if it means overspending a little.

Celtics re-sign Eddie House

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Eddie House. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“I am excited to have Eddie back this year,” said Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ Executive Director of Basketball Operations/General Manager. “Everyone knows how big Eddie was for us in the Finals this year, and we think Eddie will continue to be a key contributor as we work to win Banner 18.”

House, a 6’1”, 175lb sharp-shooting guard, shot 39 percent from three-point range last season, including 41.2 percent during the NBA Finals, during which he scored nine points in the second half of the Celtics’ record-setting Game 4 comeback win in Los Angeles on June 12th. In his eighth year in the league, Eddie scored in double figures 23 times last season while averaging less than one turnover per game.

Celtics re-sign Tony Allen

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

Allen, a 6’4”, 213lb guard, has spent his entire four year career with the Celtics after being drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy recorded career highs in minutes (1373), assists (114) and points (494) in 75 games last season as he worked to return from his January 2007 knee injury. Allen posted averages of 6.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game during the 2007-08 campaign. In his 11 starts last season Allen averaged 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.45 steals in 29.2 minutes per game including a 16 point performance in a 110-91 victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on December 31, 2007. The Celtics had a 9-2 record in games that Allen started last season. Allen has posted career averages of 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.01 steals in 236 career games.

Celtics keeping Tony Allen and Eddie House

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: The Celtics agreed to terms with guards Eddie House and Tony Allen to return, general manager Danny Ainge announced today. Both will get two-year contracts (though House’s second year is a player option, according to an NBA source). House’s deal was made using a portion of the team’s $5.5 million mid-level exception. According to the source, House will make $2.7 million next season and $2.9 million the year after if he excercises his option.

InsideHoops.com reaction: Good move by the Celtics. Both players are worth signing. Still, the team does need to replace James Posey, who was like a combination of Robert Horry (clutch shots in the playoffs) and Bruce Bowen (good defense on key swingmen) when it mattered most.

Though, hats off to Paul Pierce for guarding Kobe in the Finals about as well as Posey did.

Darius Miles comeback attempt

SI (Ian Thompson) reports: Darius Miles is trying to become the first player to return from an injury that was deemed to be “career-ending” by the NBA. If he were to sign a new contract and play in 10 or more games this season, his $9 million salary would go back on Portland’s books — though his return would not affect the Trail Blazers as badly as has been advertised. Miles underwent microfracture surgery to repair his right knee in November 2006. He hasn’t played since, and he was released by the Blazers in April after the “career-ending” judgment was made by an independent medical examiner appointed by the NBA and the players’ union. In recent weeks, Miles has had workouts — ranging from two hours to less than 30 minutes — with the Nets, Celtics, Suns and Mavericks, all of whom controlled the terms while asking Miles to compete against other players.

Hornets to get James Posey

The Boston Herald reports: According to an NBA source, free agent forward James Posey has agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Hornets. The Celtics had been offering three years at the full mid-level exception.

InsideHoops.com says: This hurts Boston. Posey was their best role player, by far. He exceeded all expectations, especially when it counted most. The Hornets still need more pieces to push them to the top but Posey is a very good addition. Hopefully he stays hungry despite getting his contract.

Gerald Green must learn fundamentals

The Dallas Morning News (Eddie Sefko) reports: Fundamentals were never ingrained in Gerald Green because he could always get by on his outrageous physical talent. Carlisle said Green jumps higher than any player he’s ever seen and that he’s also a good outside shooter. But Green has never learned to translate his physical gifts into great defense or ball-handling ability. “I just didn’t take advantage of my opportunities,” Green said. “I blame myself, nobody else. … I’m a new guy and ready to get after it.” Green averaged better than 10 points with Boston in his second NBA season, which is partly why he was included in the trade that brought Kevin Garnett (and a championship) to Boston. A struggling Green was traded to Houston, which cut him after one game.

2008-09 Salary Cap set to $58.680 million

The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap for the 2008-09 season will be $58.680 million. The new Cap goes into effect immediately as the league’s “moratorium period” has ended and teams can begin signing free agents and making trades.

The tax level for the 2008-09 season has been set at $71.150 million. Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million.

The mid-level exception is $5.585 million for the 2008-09 season and the minimum team salary, which is set at 75% of the Salary Cap, is $44.010 million.

For the 2007-08 season, the Salary Cap was set at $55.630 million, the tax level was $67.865 million and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million.