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Dontae Jones To Be Released Or Traded Today
Pitino also said yesterday, that he will not trade Paul Pierce.
Probably means he's a goner...
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
So long, Dontae Jones
He'll be traded or dropped today
By Michael Holley and Peter May, Globe Staff, 01/23/99
WALTHAM - Unless something dramatic happens in the next few hours,
Dontae Jones will be a former Celtic by this evening.
Yesterday was Day 2 of training camp, and there still was no sight of Jones,
a 6-foot-8-inch swingman. Jones's agent, Tim Jumper, said it is his
understanding that if the Celtics don't trade Jones today - which is
unlikely - he will be waived. If the Celtics cut Jones, they will have to
eat the final year of his contract, worth $898,560 (the number is lower now
because of the lockout).
General manager Chris Wallace said Jones was still on the roster, was not
suspended or fined. He just wasn't ... there. That did not sit well with
Jumper. ''That's Rick Pitino,'' he said. ''If they don't want him, fine. But
why don't they do something? Dontae needs to get into a camp, but he can't
do anything as long as he's still under contract. They told us he wasn't
wanted in camp, so he's not there. In one respect, at least we know. But it
could have been handled better.''
Wallace did not want to discuss the trade-or-waive scenario of which Jumper
spoke. Pitino has stated from the outset that Jones would not be a part of
the team. ''It's funny,'' Jumper said, ''because Rick knows Dontae can play.
Dontae beat Rick up a couple times [in college] and cost him an SEC
championship.''
But Pitino, who called Jones ''the X factor'' in last season's multiplayer
deal with New York, clearly has had enough.
Walker signs on
As expected, Antoine Walker signed his six-year contract extension that is
''in the neighborhood of $71 million,'' Pitino said. The negotiations were
painless, except for a minor snag concerning an ''out clause.'' Walker can
become a free agent after the fifth year; the Celtics originally wanted the
contract to be uninterrupted for six years. That issue was quickly solved,
and now Walker is the highest-paid Celtic in history. He said he wouldn't be
in this position without Pitino.
''There's no question about that,'' he said. Walker recalled wanting to
leave Kentucky as a freshman after being cussed out by Pitino; Pitino
remembers a brash Walker in high school who once brought the ball upcourt,
looked at a teammate who was expecting a pass, and said, ''Don't even think
about it.''
Times have changed. Walker said he wants to make his teammates better, and
Pitino said he wants Walker to lead. ''You're not a `young player' when you
get a contract like that,'' Pitino said. ''People expect you to produce.''
Two more keepers
Take a long look at each Celtic participating in training camp. It's the
same group you will see on Opening Night Feb. 5. Here's the reason: Because
of the lockout, NBA rules state that teams can keep 14-man rosters - it's
usually 12 - for the season's first two weeks. That means that as of now,
every player in camp will remain there. If you take Pervis Ellison, who is
out for the season, away from the roster, the team has 14 players. That
makes Jones an X factor in a different way because if he stays, he would be
player No. 14. If the Celtics cut him, they could stay with a 13-man roster
for two weeks before deciding who should be placed on injured reserve or cut
... The team officially announced the signings of Dwayne Schintzius and
Marlon Garnett. The Celtics list Schintzius at 285 pounds, but he said he is
down to 260. He is also a legitimate 7-3, not 7-2. Garnett is a 6-2 point
guard whom Pitino envisions backing up Kenny Anderson. Garnett, 23, played
at Santa Clara... Remember the IVs many Celtics needed after Pitino's first
training camp in Newport, R.I.? The coach now says the hookups were not
necessarily needed because his players were in bad shape. ''It was hot in
Newport,'' Pitino explained ... Pitino said yesterday that he will not trade
Paul Pierce. Period ... The team said its open practice in Worcester next
week is ''sold out.'' (The tickets were free).
This story ran on page E04 of the Boston Globe on 01/23/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.