That means the Celtics have 13 guys guaranteed under contract heading into training camp, meaning one spot is up for grabs with guards Jamar Smith, Dionte Christmas and rookie Kris Joseph expected to be vying for it. Dooling leaving helps all those guys immensely, it gives them better odds of making it.
Dooling wanted to spend more time with his family which is understandable and you have to respect his decision since he was at the end of the line. The weird thing was that the Celts signed him to a veteran's minimum deal in July. It sounds like a cliche but his value at this point was about mostly off the court contributions, rather than games. Even in the short time he was here, you could sense that he was a great leader that everybody respected. Boston will need someone else to step up and be watchful of Rajon Rondo next season, who is always liable to be a pill.
Milicic is famously known as one of the biggest busts in the last decade of the NBA. The No. 2 pick by the Pistons in the 2003 draft, ahead of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh among others, the native of Yugoslavia has never done anything remotely close to justify that spot. This will be his sixth NBA team in 10 years (Pistons, Magic, Grizzlies, Timberwolves-twice and Knicks).
Obviously with that deal, there is no risk on Milicic and he actually provides a decent backup for a position that basically didn't exist last season for the C's: center. Kevin Garnett played there most of the year and stiff Jason Collins was also signed this offseason to provide more bodies (and fouls). For his career, Darko has averaged 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in 18.5 minutes.
Since Nenad Krstic's brief spell in Boston two seasons ago, the Celtics have lacked a big goofy European. If nothing else, Darko should fit the bill well in that regard.
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