Boston Celtics Blog – Page 82 – NBA Blog

Delonte West says he is banned from the White House

The Dallas Mavericks, at the expense of owner Mark Cuban, will be visiting the White House on Monday in honor of last season’s NBA Championship.

But apparently there is one Maverick who will not get the opportunity to shake President Barack Obama’s hand.

“I’m banned from going to the White House, so I’m not going to make it,” Mavericks guard Delonte West told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “But I’m going home to D.C. I’m just not allowed to go to the White House. That’s what happens when you make bad decisions in your life. You can’t go to the White House.”

— Reported by Fox Sports Southwest

Celtics withdrew qualifying offer to Jeff Green in mid-December

If and when Jeff Green returns to the NBA — and the encouraging news heading into his heart surgery next week is that he likely will — he will have plenty of choices as to his next employer.

That’s because the Boston Celtics, in a move that was not made public, withdrew Green’s qualifying offer in mid-December, right around the time he failed his physical and had his one-year, $9 million contract voided. The move means Green is now an unrestricted free agent. Had the offer not been withdrawn, and the Celtics were under no obligation whatsoever to do so, Green would have been a restricted free agent, with the Celtics able to match any offer he might get from another team.

Asked about the decision on Friday, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, citing Green’s impending surgery, said he preferred not to discuss the matter. He did confirm it, however. It may have been nothing more than a goodwill gesture on the part of the Celtics to Green and his agent, David Falk, who said the team has been “phenomenal” in handling the situation.

— Reported by Peter May, special to ESPN Boston

Warriors sign guard Nate Robinson

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Nate Robinson, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released. According to the Contra Costa Times, it’s a one-year deal for around $1 million.

Robinson, 27, appeared in 59 regular-season games combined between the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, averaging 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.2 minutes. The 5’9” guard played a majority of the season with Boston, appearing in 55 games and averaging 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.9 minutes. In 11 starting assignments with the Celtics, Robinson averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 33.2 minutes. After being traded to Oklahoma City on February 24, 2011, he appeared in four regular-season games and three postseason games for the Thunder. He was waived by the Thunder on December 24, 2012.

Originally selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round (#21 overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft out of the University of Washington and traded on draft night to the New York Knicks, Robinson owns career averages of 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 23.0 minutes over six seasons with the Knicks, Celtics and Thunder. The Seattle native had his finest season in 2008-09 with New York when he averaged 17.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.28 steals in 29.9 minutes over 74 games. That season he finished third in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award and won the second of his three NBA Slam Dunk titles at NBA All-Star 2009 in Phoenix (also won 2006 in Houston and 2010 in Dallas).

Robinson will wear uniform #2 and join the team in Los Angeles tomorrow in advance of Friday’s game against the Lakers.

Ray Allen on fire early in 2011-12 season

The Celtics have won three straight after dropping their first three and are tied for first in the Atlantic Division, a testament to this bizarre, lockout-shortened season. But one thing that can be counted on is Allen’s immaculate conditioning and his 3-point shooting.

Allen was 6 of 7 from deep last night, raising his season percentage from .552 to .611. He leads the Celtics in scoring at 20 points per contest.

After the game, Allen stunned the media when he revealed he had been battling a cold all day.

“The minute I sat down in the locker room afterwards my nose started running and I started coughing again,’’ he said. “Any time you have any small issue, you always focus a lot more. It’s like that little bit of playing around you do, you cut that out and you focus more.’’

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Mickael Pietrus should be ready to play for Celtics by mid January

Danny Ainge said Mickael Pietrus should be ready for game action by the middle of January after July knee surgery.

“It feels great [to be in Boston],’’ Pietrus said. “Since I have been in the NBA, my goal has always been to win a championship, and I have a chance to win one so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got with my new teammates. So hopefully at the end of the year, we get what we want.’’

Pietrus injured his right knee in March while playing for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were close to trading him to the Raptors earlier this month, but Toronto called off the deal when Pietrus’s knee did not test at full strength.

“The knee is getting better every day,’’ he said. “Getting treatment with the trainer. They don’t want to put me out there right away because they know that the team really needs me, and I really need them, too.’’

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Boston Celtics off to 0-3 start

It’s too early to panic, but the Boston Celtics haven’t looked good early on in the 2011-12 NBA season, losing their first three games.

There is no cause for alarm just yet, because all three games were on the road, and the team has been without small forward Paul Pierce.

One surprise, though, is that opponents of the Celtics have shot 49.6% from the field and 45.2% from three-point range in the three games. Opponents have also gotten far more steals and blocks. Boston is supposed to be a top defensive team. That hasn’t been the case, yet.

A bright spot has been the play of Rajon Rondo, who in three games is averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Also, Ray Allen’s been swishing his shots. And new addition Brandon Bass has been solid.

But, Kevin Garnett hasn’t been impressive. And there isn’t much help on the bench.

Keep an eye on Boston in the near future, especially once Pierce is back in action.

Ricky Davis seeks NBA comeback, signs contract in D-League

The Maine Red Claws today announced that they have claimed NBA veteran and former Boston Celtic Ricky Davis from the Available Player Pool.

Davis, 32, has played in 736 NBA games in a career that began in 1999 as the first round selection (21st overall) of the Charlotte Bobcats. His 12-year NBA career saw him play for six NBA teams, including three seasons with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics traded the high-scoring swingman on January 26, 2006 to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, Justin Reed, a 2006 2nd round draft pick (Craig Smith) and a 2008 2nd round draft pick (Nikola Pekovic) for Dwayne Jones, Michael Olowokandi, Wally Szczerbiak and a 2009 1st round draft pick (Jonny Flynn). He scored a career-high 20.6 ppg in 2002-03 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Davis last played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009-10 and has spent the last season and a half playing abroad in France, Turkey and China. Once considered a one-dimensional yet prolific player, Davis has developed into a formidable rebounder and steady mid-range jump shooter over the years.

“Ricky Davis brings a veteran element to the Red Claws and will undoubtedly become an instant fan favorite at the Portland Expo where many of our fans will remember him from his days with the Celtics,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “Ricky is someone who knows what it takes to get to and stay in the NBA and is someone who is hungry to return there. We are all excited to welcome him to Maine.”

A Knicks, Nate Robinson reunion not likely

Not that the Knicks were loaded at point guard to start with, but with Iman Shumpert out, they are dangerously thin now at the position. Even so, don’t expect Nate Robinson to make a triumphant return with his former team.

“We’ll look into it,” Mike D’Antoni said.

They’ll look, but they won’t touch the high-maintenance Robinson, who played in New York for four-plus seasons until he was traded to the Celtics at the trading deadline in the 2009-2010 season.

When D’Antoni was initially asked about re-signing Robinson Monday at the team’s practice facility in Greenburgh, he shot a look as if to say, are you kidding ? But his answer was more on the diplomatic side, saying reporters would have to check with interim GM Glen Grunwald.

— Via Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News

NBA decides not to suspend Kevin Garnett

The NBA has decided to not take any disciplinary action against Kevin Garnett for his scuffle with New York’s Billy Walker at the end of the Celtics’ 106-104 loss to the Knicks Sunday, which means the C’s will have him available for Tuesday’s game in Miami.

Trailing by two points with just a few ticks on the game clock, Garnett missed a jumper in which he was defended by Walker. The two exchanged words and Garnett put his hands around Walker’s neck, but was unable to grip him as Walker was moving back in an effort to avoid the contact.

When asked about the incident after the loss, Garnett scoffed, “Next question.”

— Via A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE

Boston Celtics sign Mickael Pietrus

The Boston Celtics today announced that they have signed guard/forward Mickael Pietrus. It is likely a deal for the veteran’s league minimum, of around $1.2 million.

“We are very excited to be able to add Mickael to our team,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “His skills as a perimeter defender and an outside shooter provide great versatility to the roster.”

Pietrus, a 6’6” guard/forward, appeared in 57 games combined between Phoenix and Orlando last season averaging 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He recorded 20 or more points on four occasions last season with a season-high of 25 against the Clippers on December 26 when he shot 5-of-8 from three-point land. The 11th overall pick in the 2003 Draft by the Golden State Warriors has career averages of 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 496 career games over eight seasons. He posted his highest scoring campaign during the 2006-07 season with Golden State when he recorded 11.1 points to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game. Pietrus has posted playoff career averages of 8.9 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 39.1% from three-point territory. During the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals, Pietrus averaged 10.5 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range.