wire release

[JOzersky@aol.com]

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) - Travis Knight was close to becoming the next piece in 
the Boston Celtics' rebuilding project as the team began rookie camp. 
The 7-foot center, a member of the NBA's All-Rookie second team with the Los 
Angeles Lakers last season, said, ``Hopefully, we can get it all done
quick.'' 
But there was no official Celtics announcement of the $22 million, seven-year
deal 
with Knight that reportedly is in the works. 
Chris Wallace, Celtics general manager, said Sunday he couldn't comment other

than to say the team has been recruiting Knight for about a week. 
Wallace praised Knight as a ``big man with tremendous upside'' who would 
probably become a starter if he joined the team. 
``Travis is ideal for Rick Pitino's system,'' Wallace said at training camp
at Brandeis 
University on Sunday night. 
Pitino, meanwhile, said he knew the Celtics' situation before he was hired as
coach 
earlier this year. 
``We're locked in to a lot of salaries and situations which we have no
control 
over,'' he said. ``Our backs are against the wall in that regard.'' 
Knight said that about four days ago, shortly after he became a free agent,
his agent 
came to him with an offer. That was followed by meetings with other Celtics 
officials. 
``I did some soul-searching and made a decision,'' he said in an interview on

WBZ-AM's Sports Sunday show. 
Pervis Ellison, the only Boston center under contract, was sidelined for most
of last 
season. The Celtics are making wholesale changes - starting with Pitino
replacing 
M.L. Carr - after going 15-67 last season, the worst record in their 51-year
history. 
If he signs, Knight would join a young nucleus that includes guards Chauncey 
Billups and Ron Mercer, drafted in the first round last month, second-year
forward 
Antoine Walker and third-year forward Eric Williams. 
Both Billups and Mercer were at practice Sunday, but Billups didn't
participate 
because of a sprained left ankle. 
Knight, who weighs 235 pounds, said he was excited about playing for a
``young 
team and a great coach.'' 
He said that the contract amount, far more generous than what the Lakers
could 
offer due to a salary cap technicality, was a factor in his choice, but not
the most 
important one. 
Another key reason, he said, was that, with Shaquille O'Neal and Elden
Campbell, 
the ``Lakers have a very established front court ... and for me to break in
would 
have been very difficult.'' 
As for Pitino, Knight said, ``I think he likes guys who like to play hard,
and I think I 
do.'' 
Knight said he wanted to be part of Boston's rebuilding process, although he
hasn't 
been guaranteed a job as starting center. 
``I don't think coach Pitino could promise anybody the starting job,'' he
said. ``It's 
an opportunity to earn this spot, and that's all I want. 
``It'll be exciting. It'll be tough. It'll be a challenge.'' 
Knight said the Celtics' past success - and his college career in the area at

Connecticut - helped him decide to leave Los Angeles. 
Last season, Knight averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, playing an average
of 16.3 
minutes in 71 games. 
During a stint when O'Neal was injured, Campbell moved to center and Knight 
was the starting power forward. 
He averaged 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in an average of 25.6 minutes for 14
games.