As expected, it is hard to keep up with all the moves in the NBA now that training camps and free agency are officially underway for the shortened 2011-12 season.
Even the Boston Celtics are overhauling their roster when that appeared almost impossible as the Rajon Rondo for Chris Paul deal fell through. On the heels of the Glen Davis for Brandon Bass swap, the signings of Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling (which I wrote about yesterday), the C's also inked free agent forward Chris Wilcox along with forward/center Greg Stiemsma.
They resigned Jeff Green to a one-year deal ($5.9 million is what they offered before the lockout) while rookies JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore also got one-year contracts.
The big news broke late tonight though as Yahoo reported that the Celtics are very close to doing a sign-and-trade that would send Jermaine O'Neal and a second player to New Orleans for David West. Yes he's 31 and coming off ACL surgery but that would be a steal for Boston since the former All-Star would have been one of the top free agents on the market before suffering the injury.
If it happens, West could sign a three-year deal worth between $27-29 million with the Celts. All Boston would need was a half decent center and they will be a contender in the Eastern Conference once again.
Stay tuned, I'm sure much more developments will occur with the possible David West deal tomorrow.
Like Dooling, Wilcox is a former lottery pick (8th pick by the Clippers, 2002) that has been something close to a bust. He's played for five teams (Clippers, Sonics, Knicks, Thunder, Pistons) and strangely enough, the only time he averaged in double-figures was the three in Seattle (14.1 ppg, 13.5 and 13.4). Last season in Detroit, he put up 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. For his career, he averages 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds while shooting 53% from the field and 64% from the free throw line.
It should tell you something that I had never heard of this Stiemsma character before today. Haha he doesn't even have a player profile on ESPN.com. Free agent big guys Michael Sweetney and Jamal Sampson were also expected in camp with rookie guard Gilbert Brown but as of tonight, none of them had shown up yet.
UPDATE 12/10: Green's deal is reportedly for one-year, $9 million dollars (twice what he made last season). If he stays with Boston and doesn't get traded, he needs to show much more of the ability that he had in Oklahoma City. For most of his short time in Boston last season, he looked lost.
UPDATE 12/11: Ok well it turns out that getting David West was all a dream (with respect to Biggie). Today, he signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Indiana Pacers. Why? I'm not quite sure, they'll never be better than average in the next few seasons. Are they really an upgrade over New Orleans?
The Celtics will reportedly re-sign swingman Sasha Pavlovic. He basically didn't do anything in 17 games during the regular season last year and then didn't play in the playoffs. He'll be stuck behind Paul Pierce, Green and Daniels.
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