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Rockets sign-and-trade Courtney Lee to Celtics in 3-team trade

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has agreed to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Courtney Lee, which will send him to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade. The Rockets will receive from Boston a Charlotte Bobcats second-round draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, forward JaJuan Johnson, guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center Sean Williams. The pick was previously acquired by Boston via Oklahoma City. Houston also acquires the rights to guard Jon Diebler from Portland. Boston completes the deal by agreeing to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Sasha Pavlovic, which sends him to the Trail Blazers.

“We are very excited that we were able to acquire Courtney Lee,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Courtney brings a vast set of tools on both ends of the court and will be a great fit on our roster.”

Lee, a 6’5” guard, averaged 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.3 minutes per game last season for Houston. During his 26 starts for Houston during the 2011-12 season he upped his averages to 14.0 points and 1.50 steals. Lee shot 40.1% from three-point range last season which ranked 15th in the NBA. Lee scored a season-high 25 points twice this past season. He recorded 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting including 3-of-5 from three-point territory against Sacramento on April 8 and he also recorded 25 points against the LA Clippers on 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. Lee has posted career averages of 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and has shot 38.6% from three in 287 career games between Orlando, New Jersey and Houston after having been picked 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by Orlando.

Johnson (6-10, 221, Purdue) averaged 3.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 36 games as a rookie with the Celtics in 2011-12. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 27th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Johnson was subsequently traded to Boston along with a 2014 second-round pick for the rights to MarShon Brooks. Johnson finished his collegiate career as Purdue’s co-record holder, with E’Twaun Moore, in wins (107), games played (140) and consecutive games played (140). He also ranked second in the program’s history in blocks (263), third in minutes played (3,856), fourth in free throw attempts (662) and games started (120), fifth in rebounds (854) and free throws (492), seventh in points (1,919), field goals (706) and field goal attempts (1,410), and 11th in double-doubles (26). As a senior in 2010-11, Johnson was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He became only the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same season. In addition, Johnson earned First-Team All-Big Ten twice (2009 and 2011) and Second-Team All-Big Ten once (2010). He was also a three-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Moore (6-4, 191, Purdue) also averaged 2.9 points, 0.9 assists and 8.7 minutes in 38 games as a rookie with Boston. He was chosen by the Celtics with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Williams (6-10, 235, Boston College) owns career averages of 4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 137 games (29 starts) with New Jersey, Dallas and Boston. He was originally selected by the Nets with the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Diebler (6-6, 205, Ohio State) was drafted in the second round (51st overall) by the Trail Blazers in the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent this past season with Greek team Panionios. Diebler, who set the Ohio State and Big Ten records for 3-pointers made as a senior, led the nation in 3-point shooting in 2010-11 (.502, 114-227 3FG). He was also picked Third-Team All-Big Ten in his final season at Ohio State.

Celtics interested in Carlos Delfino

With O.J. Mayo off the board (he’ll sign with the Dallas Mavericks) and Courtney Lee looking more like he’ll be out of the Boston Celtics’ price range, the Celtics must start to dig a little bit deeper into the free-agent pool of wing players.

Among those still available?

Milwaukee Bucks swing man Carlos Delfino, a player the Celtics have expressed some interest in according to league sources.

Delfino doesn’t have the same kind of sizzle as a Mayo or Lee signing might have, but he would definitely fill a need.

— Reported by CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics sign Jason Terry

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jason Terry. According to multiple reports, the deal is for three years, $15 million.

“Jason is one of the best sixth men in the NBA and his versatility in the backcourt is a great addition to our roster,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Terry, a 6’2” guard, was the NBA’s 2009 Sixth Man of the Year and also was a member of the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. Last season in Dallas, he averaged 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 37.8% from three-point territory. Terry has made the fourth most three-point shots in NBA history with 1,788 trailing only Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Jason Kidd.

“The Celtics have such a great tradition of winning and it was something that drew me to the team right away,” said Terry. “I look forward to getting out onto the court and helping this team in its pursuit of another banner.”

The former Arizona Wildcat finished second in the NBA last season with 138 made three-pointers and was third in the NBA in three-point field goal attempts (365). Terry has also been one of the most durable players in the NBA in recent memory playing in 1,022 of a possible 1,050 regular season games during his 13 year career. Terry has averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 38.0% from three in his career.

Ryan Hollins drawing interest from Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets have expressed interest in unrestricted free agent center Ryan Hollins, a 7-footer who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics last season, sources confirmed Tuesday.

The Hornets do not have a true center on their roster although they acquired 14-year veteran Brad Miller in a trade last week from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Miller is not expected to be on Hornets’ active roster this upcoming season because he plans to retire.

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Timberwolves have interest in Greg Stiemsma

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as the front-runner for Greg Stiemsma, his agent tells CSNNE.com that the restricted free agent has yet to receive an offer sheet.

The Timberwolves are focused on acquiring Portland’s Nicolas Batum who signed a $46 million offer sheet with Minnesota.

“Until that’s worked out, a lot of players like Greg will just have to wait which is fine,” his agent Mike Naiditch, told CSNNE.com on Tuesday. “We understand that this is a process and will take time. We’re not in any kind of rush.”

— Reported by CSNNE.com

Ainge says Celtics did want Ray Allen back

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Saturday that he wasn’t surprised by Ray Allen’s decision to sign with the rival Miami Heat, but stressed that Boston wanted the veteran sharpshooter back and that it was ultimately Allen’s decision to depart.

“I don’t feel like we lost Ray; I feel like Ray left us to go to Miami,” said Ainge. “We appreciate all that Ray’s done, and all that him and (Allen’s wife) Shannon have done in our community. We tried to get Ray back; he chose to go to Miami.”

Speaking publicly on Allen for the first time since the soon-to-be 37-year-old signed a three-year deal with the Heat on Wednesday — accepting half the yearly salary that Boston was offering in the process — Ainge expressed gratitude for Allen’s contributions to the Celtics the last five years, but seemed slightly stung by Allen’s decision to jump ship amid Boston’s efforts to put back all the major pieces from last season.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Celtics re-sign Kevin Garnett

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed forward Kevin Garnett.

“We are ecstatic that Kevin will continue his career with the Celtics,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Kevin has greatly changed the culture since he first put on a Celtics jersey and he has come to embody everything that we want in a Celtic.”

Garnett, a 6’11 forward, averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.93 steals and 1.02 blocks in 31.1 minutes per game during the 2011-12 season. Since he joined the team prior to the 2007-08 season, Garnett has been named to four All-Star teams (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year (2007-08), has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team three times (2008, 2009, 2011) and has been named the NBA’s Player of the Week four times.

“I’m more than happy and I’m excited to be back!” said Garnett.

Garnett, the 2003-04 NBA Most Valuable Player and member of 13 NBA All-Star Teams over his career, has averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.14 steals and 1.02 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game since he has joined the Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season. A member of the 2008 NBA Championship team, Garnett upped his totals in the playoffs by averaging 17.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.29 steals and 1.12 blocks in 78 postseason games.

Celtics sign Chris Wilcox

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent forward/center Chris Wilcox.

“It was very difficult when we lost Chris last season due to his heart ailment,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “In bringing Chris back to the team, we are gaining a very versatile guy who is capable of banging down low in the paint and is able to run out on the break as well.”

Wilcox, a 6’10” forward/center, appeared in 28 games for the Celtics during the 2011-12 season and averaged 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game while shooting 59.8% from the floor. In his four starts this past season his averages jumped to 11.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. He also shot 64.5% from the field during his starts. The eighth overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft by the LA Clippers has appeared in 567 games in his career between the Clippers, Seattle, Oklahoma City, New York and Detroit and has posted career averages of 8.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and has shot 53.4% from the floor.

Celtics re-sign Brandon Bass

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed forward Brandon Bass.

“Bringing Brandon back to the team was a top priority of ours after the season had ended,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Brandon has improved as a player every year that he has been in the NBA and we believe that the best is yet to come from him.”

Bass, a 6’9” forward, averaged a career-high 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during the 2011-12 season for the Celtics. The native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana started 39 of his 59 games this past season and recorded averages of 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in those 39 games. Bass tied a career-high with 13 rebounds against New Jersey on January 4 and also set a postseason career-high in points with 27 against Philadelphia during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In his career, Bass has averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and has shot 49.3% from the field and 82.4% from the free throw line with stops in New Orleans, Dallas and Orlando before joining Boston prior to the start of the 2011-12 season.

Nenad Krstic continues playing in Russia

One of the best big men in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague is set to stay put, as CSKA Moscow announced a new agreement with center Nenad Krstic, who extended his contract until the end of the 2013-14 season. CSKA keeps an option to keep Krstic for one more year, through 2014-15. Krstic (2.12 meters, 28 years old) was chosen to the All-Euroleague first team last season, averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games. He named the 2011-12 Euroleague bwin MVP for November and earned weekly bwin MVP honors twice – in regular season Game 9 and in Top 16 Game 3. Krstic was second in accumulated performance index ranking (405) and points (312) and third in rebounds (121) and fouls drawn (104), leading the 2011-12 Euroleague in two-pointers made (178) with a 62.9% shooting percentage, in which was his first Euroleague season in seven years.

— Reported by Euroleague.net