Boston Celtics Blog – Page 69 – NBA Blog

Kevin Garnett no longer speaking to Ray Allen

Ray Allen still considers Kevin Garnett a friend even if their communication has apparently been cut off.

On Friday, Garnett said he is no longer speaking to longtime Boston Celtics teammate Allen after he signed with the rival Miami Heat over the summer.

Speaking Saturday after his first official practice with the Heat, Allen said he was disappointed at Garnett’s sentiment.

“That’s a shame,” Allen said. “I’m a good person to talk to on the phone. … I’ve been in weird trade situations the last few years. You always felt you had one foot in and one foot out so I can’t worry about it.”

— Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Keyon Dooling plans to stay retired

So much for Keyon Dooling wanting to join the Miami Heat.

The Orlando Sentinel had reported Saturday word was the point guard, who had been waived by Boston on Friday with the belief he would retire, had interest in the Heat. But the native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., denied that.

“No truth!” Dooling wrote in an email to FOX Sports Florida. “I will never play NBA ball again.”

After he was waived by the Celtics, Dooling’s agent, Kenge Stevenson, had issued a statement announcing his client would retire.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

Boston Celtics waive Keyon Dooling, who will retire

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived guard Keyon Dooling.

“Keyon has decided that he has given the NBA twelve good years and that it’s time to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family,” said Dooling’s representative Kenge Stevenson. “He will never forget his time in Boston with the Celtics.”

“We’ll miss Keyon’s spirit and energy, both on and off the court,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “The whole Celtics family wishes him well as he enters the next phase of his life.”

Dooling, a 6’3” guard, averaged 4.0 points, 1.1 assists and 0.3 steals in 46 regular season games with the Celtics last season. During the playoffs Dooling shot 39.3% from beyond the three-point line which was tops on the team. Dooling netted a season-high 18 points at Miami on December 27 including four three-pointers.

Celtics to sign Darko Milicic

The Boston Celtics plan to enter training camp next week with a slew of new faces, with Darko Milicic being among them.

A league source confirmed to CSNNE.com that Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, will sign a one-year deal with the Celtics next week for the veteran’s minimum.

The signing of Milicic will give the C’s 14 guaranteed contracts heading into training camp which begins Sept. 29.

When the Celtics signed Jason Collins, it was believed that Collins would be the final big man added to the mix.

— Reported by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE

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Boston Celtics hire Jay Larranaga as assistant coach

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have added Jay Larranaga to their coaching staff as an Assistant Coach.

Larranaga comes to the Celtics from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League where he was their head coach for the past two seasons. As coach with the BayHawks, Larranaga led the team to playoff appearances in both seasons and accumulated a record of 60-40. He also had eight players receive promotions to the NBA during his tenure. Larranaga has also served as an assistant coach at Cornell University and as head coach of the Irish National Team for two seasons. Larranaga played collegiately at Bowling Green University and played professionally in Italy, Spain, France and Greece for 12 years.

Brian Scalabrine may retire from NBA

After 11 NBA seasons as a popular and quirky figure as a player, Brian Scalabrine said his playing career is likely over.

Scalabrine told Yahoo! Sports he has turned down a chance to stay with the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach and has agreed to broadcast 11 early season Boston Celtics games for Comcast Sports New England on what he called “a trial run.”

Scalabrine had wanted to play another season in the NBA, but conceded, “There was zero interest [in me]. Not some, but zero.”

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

Celtics still expected to sign Jeff Green

Let’s start with the obvious here: Jeff Green (still) isn’t formally a member of the Boston Celtics. Yes, his deal has been termed imminent since early July and, yes, a month later, there’s still wrinkles to be ironed out.

What exactly those hurdles are isn’t clear, but those close to the situation have hinted that its simply contract language, something that’s slightly more difficult after Green missed all of last season due to a heart ailment.

That said, neither the Celtics nor Green’s camp have given any reason to believe that a deal won’t eventually be consummated — and neither seems in a particular rush to finish it up. Green attended an introductory press conference last month and hasn’t shied away from talking about his excitement to play for the Celtics next season.

But here’s one reason his contract is truly noteworthy: Whenever this deal is finalized, it’s expected to be the biggest total payday the Celtics hand out this offseason with a reported four-year pact at a value of upwards of $9 million per season. With a deal like that, Boston is essentially committing to Green as a core member of their future (a four-year deal would run longer than even the three years remaining on Rajon Rondo’s current deal).

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Brian Scalabrine not ready to retire from NBA

“I’d be discouraged if I just quit,” said Scalabrine, who remains without an NBA team after being told by the Bulls he will not be invited to return. “Everyone keeps telling me it’s not quitting (taking an already offered TV job). But I want someone to tell me, ‘We don’t want you.’ I’ve always been a tough cut to make. I want someone to tell me I’m not good enough. I just want to see what happens.”

And so Scal—the White Mamba of the Bulls, Veal Scalabrine with the New Jersey Nets in two NBA Finals, the fan favorite of the Boston Celtics’ 2008 championship team—contemplates one of the most remarkable runs in pro sports history, 11 years in the NBA despite every guy in the park thinking they could take him.

They couldn’t, really, because Scal was there because he deserved to be there. He just never looked like he should or would or could. And maybe that’s why they chanted for him, “Scal-uh-Bree-Nee, Scal-uh-Bree-Nee.” Maybe because he was there it was like they could be also. They knew they couldn’t be Michael or Magic or LeBron. But, Scal, yeah, maybe. Sort of like the NBA version of Sandra Bullock. Yeah, I could date her…

— Reported by Sam Smith of Bulls.com

Celtics rookie Kris Joseph preparing for camp

“Getting to meet the veterans, bond with the guys, learning from everybody, not just Paul Pierce who plays my position, but learning from a guy like [Kevin Garnett] and learning from Rondo,” Joseph said when asked what he’s looking forward to most about training camp. “They’ve been around for so long that I can learn from each and every one of those guys and just be like a sponge and take everything that they’re telling me, while still using my own skill set. But listening to those guys can only do positive things for me in the future.”

If Joseph doesn’t make the final roster, he could latch on with the Maine Red Claws, as part of Boston’s recently announced single-team affiliation with the D-League club. But should things work out in his favor, he stressed the importance of accepting a bench role and delivering consistent energy.

“Definitely just coming off the bench and being some type of a spark,” Joseph said of where he could carve out a niche. “Rebounding the ball, just being a high-motor guy for the team off the bench, whether it be 5 minutes, whether it be 10, just coming off and doing what I do best — rebounding the ball, try to excel in transition, and things like that.”

— Reported by Greg Payne of ESPN Boston

Courtney Lee may start at SG for Celtics

Lee’s currently pegged as the team’s starting shooting guard, due to Terry’s preference to come off the bench and Bradley’s recovery from shoulder surgeries, but that could change if Bradley’s ready to play at the start of the season. Lee chose to stay tight-lipped on the conversations he’s had with Rivers about his role, but he did say he’ll come off the bench if that’s what the team requires.

“I just want to win. I’m not the coach, so whatever Doc feels will help the team, it’s his decision,” Lee said. “So I’m just going to go out there and just play.

“[Coming off the bench is] the same as starting the game. You’ve just got a job and a role to go out there and fulfill. You’ve just got to be professional and handle that.”

Having cited Boston as a playoff-caliber team, Lee was pleased to see Ainge execute the other moves he did in order to keep the C’s competitive for seasons to come, namely the re-signings of players like Garnett, Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox.

— Reported by Greg Payne of ESPN Boston