Boston Celtics Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Rumors: Celtics, Jackson, Casey

March 25th, 2012 at 11:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Atlantic Division race could be the most exciting in the NBA, with the Sixers clinging to a half-game lead over the Celtics and the Knicks sitting just three games back. The winner gets, at worst, the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference — though for practical purposes, it could be the fifth seed, as winning percentage, not seeding, determines home-court advantage in the postseason. If the playoffs started today, the Sixers would go on the road for Game 1 against the fifth-seeded Hawks, who have a better record. Here's the latest from the NBA's northeastern corner:

New Celtics center Ryan Hollins has always looked up to Kevin Garnett, and they bonded during the lockout, writes Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com. Their relationship might explain why the Celtics chose Hollins to shore up their front line this week.
Phil Jackson looms as a coaching candidate for the Knicks and other teams, but girlfriend Jeanie Buss says no teams have been in contact with Jackson, David Singer of Los Angeles' 710 ESPN Radio tweets. (Hat tip to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com)
In The New York Times, William C. Rhoden takes a look at how involvement in a scandal at the University of Kentucky set Raptors coach Dwane Casey on a path away from college and toward the NBA. In an appreciation, Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun wonders whether Casey might be the greatest coach in the team's 17-season history. That's a stretch for a guy who's 16-33 in less than one full season.

Jeff Green Eyeing Return To Celtics?

March 25th, 2012 at 7:03pm CST by Chuck Myron

Free agent forward Jeff Green is out for the year after surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm, and the Celtics voided his contract when he failed a preseason physical. Nonetheless, he's been attending the team's home games this year, occasionally sitting on the team's bench, and CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely believes it's clear Green prefers to re-sign with Boston as an unrestricted free-agent this summer (Twitter link). Michael Lee of The Washington Post adds, via Twitter, that Green still has a home in the Boston area.

Green's pending unrestricted free agency comes about by an odd set of circumstances, and that's not simply because of his heart ailment. When the Celtics voided the one-year, $9MM offer after his failed physical, they also withdrew their qualifying offer to him, making him an unrestricted free agent instead of a restricted one, which allows any team to sign Green to a deal without giving the Celtics a chance to match it.

Perhaps Green feels a debt of gratitude over the move, which the Celtics didn't have to make. Still, with the expiring contracts of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics will have plenty of cap space this summer, and with Green coming off surgery, he won't command the type of contract he otherwise would. The former No. 5 overall pick has career averages of 13.9 PPG and 5.5 RPG, and was acquired by the Celtics last year at the trading deadline.

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Hollins, Garnett, Knicks

March 24th, 2012 at 10:45am CST by Zachary Links

Last night the Sixers took care of the Celtics at home, winning 99-86 thanks in large part to a 37 point outburst in the third quarter. More importantly, Mickael Pietrus has been cleared to travel after his scare in Philly. Here's more out of the Atlantic division..

Celtics coach Doc Rivers is pushing the newly acquired Ryan Hollins to improve his rebounding, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. For his part, the 7-footer said that joining the C's was a no-brainer upon released by Cleveland.
Rivers told CSNNE's Greg Dickerson that he absolutely wants to see Kevin Garnett back with the Celtics next season. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has surprised many with his strong play this season as he's averaging 15.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG.
Knicks big man Tyson Chandler says that the team didn't quit on coach Mike D'Antoni, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. As for the Knicks' recently improved play under Mike Woodson? "Sometimes you hear the same message from a different person,'' the center said, "and for whatever reason it registers."

Celtics Sign Ryan Hollins, Waive Chris Wilcox

March 23rd, 2012 at 9:13am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have officially signed Ryan Hollins and waived Chris Wilcox, according a team release. The moves leave Boston with a full roster of 15 players.

Hollins, 27, was waived by Cleveland earlier this week. The 7'0" center has struggled this season, averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games for the Cavaliers. However, the Celtics were in need of frontcourt depth, having lost Wilcox to a heart condition and Jermaine O'Neal to season-ending wrist surgery. Wilcox was facing unrestricted free agency at season's end, so Boston will just have to pay his salary for the rest of 2011/12.

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com first reported that the Celtics were expected to land Hollins, while USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reported an agreement had been reached.

Celtics Expected To Sign Hollins, Waive Wilcox

March 22nd, 2012 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

2:54pm: The Celtics will sign Hollins after he clears waivers and passes a physical, tweets USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt. If Hollins still needs to pass through waivers, the signing is far from official, as we learned with J.J. Hickson. But it appears Boston will land Hollins later today.

1:43pm: The Celtics are working on a contract for the recently waived Ryan Hollins, and are expected to cut Chris Wilcox if they land Hollins, reports A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).

Hollins, 27, parted ways with the Cavaliers earlier this week in a move Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal characterized as a mutual decision. The Celtics, in need of a big man after losing Jermaine O’Neal for the season and missing out on Ronny Turiaf, were reported to be the frontrunners to land Hollins. Blakely adds that the Celtics may continue to search for a big man even if they sign Hollins (Twitter link).

Wilcox is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a heart issue which required surgery. Cutting him would open up a roster spot for the Celtics, though his $3MM cap figure for this year would remain on the team’s books. Wilcox is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Celtics Rumors: Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rondo

March 22nd, 2012 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

With the Celtics' Big Three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett potentially playing their last season together in Boston, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports talked to the Celtics stars about the trade deadline, the offseason, and their history. Spears also shares a few interesting trade and free agent tidbits along the way. Here are the highlights:

The Heat are expected to make a strong push to sign Allen this summer, a source tells Spears. Miami will almost certainly be a taxpaying team next season, so the club would only have a mini mid level exception to offer the sharpshooter.
Allen on the possibility of returning to the Celtics in free agency: "First of all, the team has to be willing to have me back. Then you have to look around to see what’s acceptable and who is capable of having me on the team and then you go from there. It’s hard to really say."
Coach Doc Rivers wouldn't be surprised to see Allen or Garnett, who are on expiring contracts, back in Boston next year: "I think people assume they won’t be back next year. I don’t know why there is that assumption. [Garnett and Allen] are free agents, but you can sign your own free agents last time I checked…. I don’t know if we will sign them both. We may sign one. But they’ve been great for us. Our [free agents] are probably the best ones and we will have the most money."
Rivers added that he thinks Garnett's first choice would be to return to Boston.
According to Spears, the Celtics were seeking first-round picks in exchange for Allen or Garnett at the trade deadline. Their asking price for Pierce was "a young star," and they were also only willing to move Rajon Rondo for an elite player.

Celtics Frontrunners To Sign Hollins

March 21st, 2012 at 10:34pm CST by Sean Highkin

The Boston Herald is reporting that the Celtics are considered by league sources to be the frontrunners to land free agent center Ryan Hollins when he clears waivers.

Hollins was waived on Tuesday by the Cavaliers, and the Celtics have been rumored to be interested, especially in light of the news that Jermaine O'Neal will miss the remainder of the season.

Hollins, 27, averaged 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games with the Cavaliers this season. He is in the final year of a three-year deal worth $7MM, and is making $2.4MM this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Buyout Updates: Hickson, Hollins, Cook

March 21st, 2012 at 3:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Boris Diaw is the latest player to be bought out by his team, as he and the Bobcats parted ways today. Rumors continue to swirl about where he and other free-agents-to-be could land, with the latest report suggesting Diaw could be headed for San Antonio. Here are the most recent updates on where bought-out players could sign, and who might receive a buyout next:

J.J. Hickson is still expected to sign with the Warriors if and when he clears waivers, tweets SI.com's Sam Amick.
In addition to sharing a few notes on what the Cavaliers' offseason could bring, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio provides an update on Ryan Hollins in his weekly chat — the big man is drawing interest from the Celtics and Mavericks, according to Amico.
Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star adds the Pacers to the list of potential suitors for Hollins (Twitter link).
Brian Cook is unlikely to pursue a buyout from the Wizards, his agent tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Atlantic Notes: Williams, D’Antoni, Celtics, Diaw

March 21st, 2012 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

Dwight Howard's decision to waive his early termination option and remain in Orlando may have surprised his agent, writes Ken Berger of CBS Sports. According to Berger, Dan Fegan was "telling anyone and everyone that Dwight was Brooklyn-bound." D12's unexpected decision is a reminder that no one knows exactly what a player is thinking, Berger says, pointing out that the same goes for Deron Williams, who will explore free agency this summer.

Here are a few more notes out of the Atlantic Division:

Speaking of Williams, he told reporters, including Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post, that he's looking forward to the Nets' new arena in Brooklyn: "[The Barclays Center] is going to be state of the art, it's going to be the best arena in the NBA hands down. I’m excited to see it when it’s complete and hopefully play there."
Nothing that happens for the rest of this season will affect Williams' decision on whether or not to sign with the Nets this summer, tweets Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger.
Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo thinks Mike D'Antoni will return to the sidelines soon, but says it won't happen for his team, according to Mark Hale and Marc Berman of the New York Post. Colangelo says the Raptors are "in the first year of what I hope will be a long-term relationship" with coach Dwane Casey.
Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com fields reader questions in a mailbag focused on potential free agent pickups for the Celtics.
Ben Rohrbach of WEEI.com wonders if Boris Diaw, who agreed to a buyout with the Bobcats, could be a candidate to sign with the Celtics.

Latest On Buyouts: O’Neal, Powell, Heat

March 20th, 2012 at 10:09pm CST by Chuck Myron

Earlier tonight we took a look at last year's buyout recipients and how they've fared since. Now let's dive into some of the buyout rumblings from this evening:

Contrary to what we heard before, Jermaine O'Neal insists he and Celtics GM Danny Ainge never had talks about a buyout, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (Twitter link). O'Neal says he did what he could to get his injured left wrist back in playing shape, Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald reports, but simply couldn't avoid season-ending surgery. One of the procedures he's considering could be career ending, tweets Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
J. Michael Falgoust and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today round up the buyout candidates. There's not much new here, but they do add the Nuggets to the list of teams interested in Josh Powell, which includes the Suns and Celtics.
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel shared a few Heat-related items after Miami's 99-95 comeback win over the Suns tonight. Even though Derek Fisher appears headed to the Thunder, he thinks Mike James or Anthony Carter would be better point guard pickups because of their defensive abilities. And, after an inauspicious first career start by Dexter Pittman, the need to sign another center, like Ronny Turiaf, is as pressing as ever.