With teams around the league knocking on his door, Celtics’ free agent Leon Powe has decided to sign a two-year, $1.77 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Powe traveled to Cleveland on Tuesday to have his knee examined by the Cavs’ medical personnel, as Powe re-tore his ACL in Game 2 of the Celtics/Bulls first round series.
According to ESPN.com, a source said that Powe will sign for the three-year-player league minimum for players, $855,189. Cleveland holds a team option for a second season at $915,852.
Powe is not expected to return to the Cavs’ lineup until February. When he does, he’ll join a now-loaded frontcourt, including C Shaquille O’Neal, PF Anderson Varejao and C Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Powe had split time with Glen Davis as the backup PF to Kevin Garnett these past two years, averaging 7.7 and 4.0 rebounds with the Celtics last season. In Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals, he scored 21 points in 15 minutes en route to the Celtics taking a 2-0 lead that proved insurmountable for Kobe Bryant and the Lake-show.
Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas, Orlando and Miami all expressed interest in Powe. He opted to stay in the Eastern Conference, with the team that gives him the best chance of winning… and the best chance at getting back at the Celtics, who failed to extend him a qualifying offer this summer.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 12:31 am by bryan
The Boston Celtics have signed forward-center Shelden Williams to a contract. Terms have not been disclosed.
The forward was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.
Williams has had a quiet NBA career and is best known for his time spent with the Duke Blue Devils.
He has averaged just 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over his career, recording slightly higher numbers last year.
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 4:47 pm by steve
The Boston Celtics will keep “Big Baby” Glenn Davis, signing him to a two-year contract worth $6.3 million.
It was clear that both sides wanted to get a deal done, but it was uncertain as to whether they could find a deal that was right for all involved.
Davis had a solid second season in the NBA, blossoming into a tremendous role player and shouldering the burden down the stretch.
Without Kevin Garnett, Davis took on an even larger role with the Celtics and even knocked home a game-winning shot in the playoffs.
at 3:53 pm by steve
Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Glen “Big Baby” Davis, a key reserve for the Boston Celtics the past two seasons, is on the verge of re-signing with the team.
Davis emerged as a valuable sub for the Celtics during his two years in Boston, particularly this past season, when he averaged seven points per game. But he really came on in the playoffs, averaging 15.8 points while filling in for the injured Kevin Garnett.
“Big Baby” had been rumored to land in Detroit earlier in the offseason, but the Pistons instead opted to sign Chris Wilcox and Ben Wallace to fill out their frontcourt. Instead, Davis now rejoins a dramatically reshaped Celtics corps, highlighted by the acquisition of forward/center Rasheed Wallace and apparent departure of Leon Powe. While Wallace’s presence ensures his return to the bench, Davis should find himself firmly ahead of new addition Shelden Williams on the depth chart.
Davis undoubtedly wanted to sign with a team that would give him a chance to start, but ultimately Boston is a good fit for him. He’s the clear backup for Garnett, who’s likely to play lighter minutes throughout the regular season to ensure his health for a playoff run, and he’s also gained somewhat of a cult following in Beantown, due as much to his joyful demeanor as it is to the instant energy he provides off the bench.
Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 3:59 pm by reggy10
The Boston Celtics feel that they didn’t have a real chance to defend their NBA title last year with Kevin Garnett’s season-ending injury.
They are excited about getting him back healthy this year and the opportunity to win another title.
This is definitely a hungry group that wants to prove to the entire NBA that they are still the team to beat.
With veterans such as Ray Allen, Garnett and Paul Pierce, they know their time is running out.
at 1:00 pm by steve
The last time the public saw the Celtics, they were dejectedly heading to the locker room as the Orlando Magic celebrated a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on their home court. When the season kicks off in a few months, the Celtics will look a bit different, thanks to an active offseason by GM Danny Ainge.
Ainge’s biggest coup in the offseason involved Rasheed Wallace, the free agent center of Detroit Piston fame, who signed a two-year deal at the midlevel extension with the Celtics. ‘Sheed, now 34, arguably carries as much baggage with him as he does talent (he set the single season record for technical fouls in 2000-2001 with 41), yet the Celtics believe he could provide the frontcourt help that would be the missing piece to their second championship in three years. He will undoubtedly give center Kendrick Perkins and forward Kevin Garnett some rest during the regular season. Given the age of the Big Three (at the start of the season, Ray Allen 34, Garnett 33 and Paul Pierce 32), every minute on the bench helps.
The Boston Globe reported today that former Timberwolves center Shelden Williams (of Duke fame, during the J.J. Redick years) signed a one-year, $1.306 million contract with the Celtics. Williams could provide an insurance policy for the Celtics if their ongoing re-negotiations with forwards Leon Powe and Glen Davis fall through unexpectedly. Davis is a restricted free agent, Powe is unrestricted.
Monday, August 3, 2009 at 10:47 pm by bryan
