Boston Celtics Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Knicks, Humphries

April 27th, 2012 at 7:02pm CST by Daniel Seco

With Tyson Chandler battling the flu, the Knicks may be without their star center in Game 1 against the Heat when playoff action gets underway on Saturday in Miami. The Knicks would turn to Jared Jeffries to man the paint if the team's defensive star in unable to play. Let's take a look around the rest of the Atlantic Division to see what else is making news and headlines.

The Celtics' continued success this season amidst injuries and setbacks can be traced to the team's tightly-knit roster, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Head coach Doc Rivers maintained a sense of calm and confidence in his squad even when the team's early season record had pundits convinced that the Celtics would struggle to make the playoffs. "I like our spirit," Rivers said. "We're showing resolve. You can see the camaraderie; it's just a good group, a good group to coach. And the future will say how good we are as a basketball team. But they're a good group to coach, and I'm a coach, so that's good."
Newsday's Al Iannazzone says the Knicks need to see significant production out of offseason signings Baron Davis and Mike Bibby if the team hopes to be competitive against the Heat. The two veteran point guards have stepped up their play considerably in the wake of Jeremy Lin's season-ending injury, but need to continue to do so on a nightly basis heading into the playoffs. For Bibby, being a contributing factor means hitting open three-pointers, a likely scenario given the Heat's struggles defending beyond the arc, while Davis simply needs to keep himself healthy.
The Nets are excited about the opportunity to move to Brooklyn and play in a new arena, especially unrestricted free agent Kris Humphries, who hopes to re-sign with the team, reports Nets.com's Ben Couch. "I've been to Brooklyn a lot," Humphries said. "We did a ton of stuff in the community there, and our community involvement staff and the PR team, everyone did a great job, getting us familiar with Brooklyn, helping connect us in the community, so I think we'll be able to hit the ground running, if I'm here, and for the guys who are here next year."

Atlantic Rumors: Williams, Lopez, Raptors, Wilcox

April 27th, 2012 at 12:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard that Gerald Wallace will seek a multiyear guarantee this summer. Here's a few more items out of the Atlantic Division:

Deron Williams told reporters, including Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record, that he hopes to sign a new contract before the Olympics, which will get underway in late July (Twitter link).
Brook Lopez "made it very clear" to the same group of reporters that he loves being a Net and hopes to re-sign with the team (Twitter link).
Doug Smith of the Toronto Star thinks the Raptors should trade their first-rounder if they don't land the first overall pick. He argues that the team will have a lottery pick arriving in Jonas Valanciunas, and would be better off with a veteran player rather than another rookie.
Chris Wilcox, recovering from heart surgery, was waived by the Celtics a few weeks ago, but plans to attend the team's playoff games against the Hawks. Wilcox told Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com that he'd like to be a Celtic next season: "I want to finish what I’ve started here. I thought this was a great opportunity for me and things were working out well, and I went to the doctor to get a check up and things just changed."
Asked by Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times if he'd exercise his early termination option this summer, Lou Williams said he has yet to decide. John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported last weekend that the Sixers guard would opt out of his deal.

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Deron Williams, Sean Williams

April 23rd, 2012 at 8:14pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Nets are playing their final game in New Jersey tonight, against the Sixers, and many of the franchise's most prominent figures took part in a ceremony tonight, including Micheal Ray Richardson, Darryl Dawkins, Kenny Anderson and, via video, Jason Kidd. Here's the latest on the Nets of today, as well as other news from the division:

Nets CEO Brett Yormark talks about reasons why the franchise found the New Jersey market so difficult in a Q&A with Dave D'Alessandro of the Star-Ledger.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie had harsh words for the Nets upon their departure, saying "there will be no tears shed on my part," as Jenna Portnoy notes on NJ.com. The governor also tweeted a video of his comments (hat tip to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News).
Avery Johnson is optimistic Deron Williams will re-sign with the Nets, Bondy tweets, though the coach won't say why he feels that way.
Sean Williams was surprised to learn that the Celtics were interested in signing him, observes Peter May of ESPNBoston.com. Williams is looking to put his troubled past behind him, as A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes.

Odds & Ends: Horford, 2014, Celtics, Hudson, Cavs

April 23rd, 2012 at 5:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Hawks center Al Horford will return from a pectoral injury on Thursday after saying earlier today he thought he would miss the playoffs, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

As Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes, Horford's comments over the last few days sent mixed signals on his playoff eligibility, so this latest development shouldn't come as too much of surprise. Still, it's a huge boost for the Hawks, even though he'll be limited to 15 minutes a game in the first round. Atlanta's frontcourt has been so depleted lately that Josh Smith started at center against the Knicks yesterday.

Here are a few more Monday links from around the league:

One Western Conference executive tells Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld that he believes the 2014 free agent class could be even better than the heralded group from 2010. Unrestricted free agents Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Danny Granger could be joined by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, who are among those with player options.
The Celtics did their homework before they signed Sean Williams, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Although Williams has had off-court issues in the past, the Mavericks informed the Celtics that they had not waived the 25-year-old for disciplinary reasons.
Signing with his hometown Grizzlies was a dream scenario for Lester Hudson, says Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio writes that Cavaliers GM Chris Grant and his scouting staff seem to have an eye for D-League talent, having signed Hudson and Donald Sloan this season.

Odds & Ends: Evans, Lewis, McGee, Bradley

April 21st, 2012 at 12:11pm CST by Zachary Links

On this day in 1996, the Bulls defeated the Bullets 103-93 to finish the season with a 72-10 record, which eclipsed the 1972 Lakers‘ 69-13 mark. The W also earned Chicago their 33rd road victory, the most ever in a season by an NBA team. Here’s a look at today’s items from around the Association..

Tyreke Evans‘ agent, Arn Tellem, was in town yesterday for a meeting with Kings president Geoff Petrie and management about his client, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. The two sides didn’t talk about a contract extension or a potential trade for Evans but did discuss where he stands with the team going forward.
Wizards forward Rashard Lewis is a likely candidate to be bought out this summer, but the 32-year-old believes that he has plenty of basketball left in him, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
There are still times when JaVale McGee misses Washington, but the big man is happy to be with the Nuggets, writes Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. McGee won’t say much about his impending free agency but says that he wouldn’t mind coming back to Denver.
Avery Bradley has gone from question mark to future cornerstone for the Celtics’ long-term rebuilding project, writes Paul Flannery of WEEI.com.

Celtics Sign Sean Williams, Waive Jermaine O’Neal

April 20th, 2012 at 6:36pm CST by Luke Adams

6:36pm: Williams joined his new teammates at shootaround today. The BC product told the Boston Herald that he likes Boston and that he has matured since he was suspended twice in college:

“It’s not about my career – it’s more about my life and getting better in everything. All of your experiences, you take them with you. Hopefully you make the best out of the next step you take, every day.

“I like Boston. In the league you get to know everybody pretty well. I played summer ball with some of the guys, and I played with Keyon (Dooling) in New Jersey. Just try to come in and get to know everybody, get a feel for them, and hopefully they get a feel for you. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and this is a very tight-knit organization led by Doc and KG, and the key is to fall in line and follow those leaders. Then you work hard every day.”

9:38am: The Celtics have officially signed Sean Williams and waived Jermaine O'Neal, the team announced in a press release. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported yesterday that the pair of roster moves was expected.

Williams, 25, spent most of the season with the Mavericks before he was waived to clear a roster spot for Kelenna Azubuike. The Mavs shuttled Williams back and forth between their NBA squad and their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. While the big man appeared in just eight games for Dallas, he played 27 games for the Legends, averaging 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game. Because he was waived prior to the March buyout deadline, Williams will be eligible for the postseason and will provide frontcourt depth for the Celtics.

O'Neal underwent surgery on his left wrist in March, sidelining him for the season. Since he was in the last year of his contract, there was no reason for the Celtics to keep him on the roster. He'll become a free agent and figures to sign with a new team this summer.

Ray Allen Unsure About Future With Celtics

April 20th, 2012 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Ray Allen came close to being traded out of Boston last month, and will again face the possibility of changing teams this summer. Talking to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald about his impending free agency, Allen suggested that he'd prefer not to settle for a one-year deal this offseason.

"I don’t want to go into this season, like I have in past seasons, worrying about whether I was going to be traded or not," Allen said. "For all of us, you deal with that over the course of your career, but wherever I end up after this summer, that has to be the No. 1 mandate. At this time I owe it to my family to be ultimately selfish, because I’ve been a very unselfish team player, and I’ll always do that. But when it comes to myself and my family, I have to make sure that I don’t rock their worlds or put them off kilter in any fashion."

Allen is in his fifth season as a Celtic, having signed a two-year deal in July 2010 to remain in Boston. Asked about whether he'll be wearing a Celtics uniform next season, The 36-year-old said it's "hard to say" and acknowledged that his best chance to earn one final ring could come in another city. Whatever happens this summer, the veteran sharpshooter definitely wants to continue his career, and isn't ready to talk about retirement yet.

"The landscape always changes over the summer," Allen said. "Just from what I see around the NBA, there’s a lot of teams that look forward to having me. I just want to be somewhere where I’m valued, cherished and I can go out and play."

Celtics Close To Signing Sean Williams

April 19th, 2012 at 5:37pm CST by Michael Pina

With a notoriously depleted front court that's forced Kevin Garnett to man the center position, the Celtics are close to signing free agent center Sean Williams, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. To make room, Boston will waive Jermaine O'Neal.

After playing eight games with Dallas earlier this season, Williams was waived by the Mavericks on March 22. The timing fortuitously came just one day before the league's deadline to give Williams eligibility to play beyond the regular season and into the playoffs for the Celtics.

With the foul prone Greg Stiemsma serving as Garnett's backup, and the recently signed Ryan Hollins filling in as the team's emergency big man, the signing of Williams gives Boston an athletic 25-year-old center to help in case the team suffers yet another injury during the postseason.

Odds & Ends: Magloire, Curry, Hudson, Stiemsma

April 19th, 2012 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

A few Thursday odds and ends from around the Association….

The Raptors hope to bring Jamaal Magloire back next season, coach Dwane Casey tells Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.
Stephen Curry told reporters, including Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, that "it would be great" if he and the Warriors could work out a contract extension this year. However, he acknowledged that it may be difficult for the two sides to agree on his value right now, given his injury-plagued 2011/12 campaign.
Lester Hudson's second 10-day contract with the Cavaliers has expired and Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wonders if he'll be re-signed. It's believed that Hudson is drawing interest from teams besides Cleveland, says Reed.
If you're going to tank to score a good draft position, this is the year to do it, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Greg Stiemsma is "absolutely" interested in returning to the Celtics next season, as he tells Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com.
Hornets GM Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams deserve to be retained by new ownership, writes John DeShazier of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Celtics Rumors: Allen, Pierce, Mayo

April 19th, 2012 at 9:49am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics clinched their fifth straight Atlantic Division crown last night, but it was no ordinary division title for the Big Three, writes Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com, who notes that the team was two games under .500 at the All-Star break.

Even as the Celtics locked up the Atlantic, the latest updates out of Boston revolved around yesterday's report about failed deadline deals involving Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Let's round up a few of them….

Doc Rivers appeared on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan Show and addressed the Allen and Pierce rumors, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The Celtics coach confirmed that the Allen trade was close, though he says it was GM Danny Ainge that called the veteran guard about the deal.
Rivers on the failed Pierce-to-the-Nets trade: "That wasn't close at all. That had no chance."
Allen deserved better treatment from the Celtics, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Washburn says Allen's demeanor has changed over the last few weeks, and that the likelihood of the sharpshooter returning to Boston next season may have diminished.
According to Donny Marshall on CSNNE, O.J. Mayo didn't have much interest in becoming a Celtic, and the Nets turned down the proposal involving Pierce.