Celtics And McGee Fail To Sign Deal
Talks between the Boston Celtics and 7-footer JaVale McGee have ended after the two sides failed to agree to terms.
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge had previously acknowledged on Thursday that the two sides were close to signing a deal, but it would later fail to materialize when McGee insisted on a player option for next season. The Celtics wanted a team option.
“JaVale is a long, athletic guy, and we don’t have that type of player — an above-the-rim offensive and defensive player,” Ainge said earlier Thursday on Boston sports radio 98.5 The Sports Hub. “He’s been paid a lot of money in our league, had some injuries, hasn’t lived up to his potential yet, and we’re hoping that he can under Brad Stevens’ tutelage.
“I think he’s in a good place, emotionally and mentally, and he really wants to get his career on the right path.”
McGee, 27, was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday after the franchise acquired him at the trade deadline from the Denver Nuggets.
He has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds this season in 23 games. 17 were with the Nuggets and six with Philadelphia.
The Celtics (24-35) are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings but only two games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth playoff spot.
The Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors have been mentioned as teams interested in McGee, who would be eligible to play in the postseason due to being waived before the playoff-eligibility deadline.
Atlanta Hawks Unveil Statue Of Dominique Wilkins
The Atlanta Hawks unveiled a large 13½ foot-tall statue of franchise legend Dominique Wilkins on Thursday during a ceremony at Philips Arena.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, the current Hawks roster and coaching staff, Hawks alumni and NBA notables of Wilkins’ generation such as Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, Bernard King and Charles Barkley were all on hand during the private luncheon event.
Starting tomorrow, this will be in front of Philips to greet you as you enter.#TrueLegend pic.twitter.com/MX1lyMaIab
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 5, 2015
“We talk about being immortalized in your life,” an emotional Wilkins told the audience. “What bigger stage to stand on than to have a statue of you in front of the franchise and building that you love? I know nobody who loves this organization like I do … I bleed and breathe Hawks. Even when I played for other teams, I felt funny.”
The statue will eventually be placed outside the entrance to Philips Arena.
Wilkins, known as the “Human Highlight Film, is an 11-time All-Star, and holds the franchise record for points (23,292) and games played (882) over his 11½-season tenure in Atlanta. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history, and was the key payer of a Hawks team that won at least 50 games over four consecutive seasons in the 1980s. Wilkins holds career averages of 24.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Wilkins joined the Hawks in an official capacity in 2000 as the special assistant to the organization’s executive vice president. In 2004, Wilkins was named vice president of basketball, and has essentially performed various duties in an ambassador capacity.
Ray Allen Not Returning This Season
Ray Allen’s return to the NBA will have to wait until perhaps next season.
The league’s all-time leading 3-point shooter with two NBA championship rings announced Wednesday that he decided not to sign with any franchise for the remainder of this season, but did leave the door open for a possible return in 2015-16.
“Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me,” Allen said in a statement released through the office of his agent, Jim Tanner. “I’ve ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season.”
“Ray has received enormous interest from a number of NBA teams throughout this season,” Tanner said in the same statement. “We will communicate with interested teams as Ray makes a decision for the 2015-16 season.”
Allen turns 40 in July, but has prided himself on keeping an extremely high level of fitness throughout his long playing career.
He played for the Heat in 2013-14, becoming a free agent in the offseason. It was widely speculated that he would return to team again with former Heat teammate LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I’m going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming offseason, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season,” Allen said.
Allen has career averages of 18.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game to go along with a 40 percent mark from three-point range.
