FW: Sports - National Basketball Association Daily - 2/3/99

["Shawn Roth" <ufpdev!shawnr@uunet.uu.net>]

CELTICS' MCCARTY SIGNS EXTENSION

(AP) - Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty has signed a
contract extension that reportedly will run for three years
starting with the 1999-2000 season. The Celtics, who announced
the deal but none of its details on Tuesday, now have McCarty,
Antoine Walker, Kenny Anderson and Paul Pierce signed to
long-term deals. They are expected to turn their attention now to
Ron Mercer, entering his second NBA season and becoming eligible
for an extension next summer. McCarty, who played for Boston
coach Rick Pitino when both were at Kentucky, averaged 9.6
points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 28.5 minutes last season.
He played in all 82 regular-season games, starting 64 of them
after a preseason trade brought him from the New York Knicks.
Boston also obtained John Thomas and Dontae Jones, neither now
with the team, for Chris Mills and two second-round draft
choices.