Rivers: Celtics Close To Adding Player

1:09pm: Following up his earlier tweet, Blakely writes that the Celtics hope to add a player today, and expect to make a move by Friday at the latest. Blakely adds that Boston is keeping an eye on potential buyout candidates like Chris Kaman and Lamar Odom, just in case they become available.

"You want to wait for that," Rivers said. "You don't want to sign a guy and then another guy (you're interested in) buys out. It's a game of chicken, but it's hurting us. We literally need a body. We just need anybody."

12:51pm: If a move is imminent for the Celtics, don't expect it to involve Ronny Turiaf, says Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. Although Turiaf "drew immediate interest" from Boston, he still needs to clear waivers, and agent Mark Bartelstein says his client may take some time after that to make a decision on where to sign.

10:44am: The Celtics are "close" to adding another player, coach Doc Rivers tells A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (Twitter link). Blakely adds that the player is likely a big man. The Celtics have been lacking frontcourt depth with Chris Wilcox and Jermaine O'Neal out.

Boston's roster currently sits at 15 players, so the team would have to make a corresponding move to make room for a new addition. O'Neal is perhaps the likeliest Celtic to be cut or bought out. Rivers said last week that he doesn't expect the veteran big man to play for Boston again this season, and O'Neal is rumored to be seeking a buyout. Resolution on his situation, whether that means a buyout or wrist surgery, was expected to come early this week.

As for the player the Celtics may be adding, Rivers said on Friday that recently waived Blazer Chris Johnson is "an absolute option" for Boston.

View Comments (1)