Celtics deliver their best offer

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Celtics deliver their best offer


By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 7/23/2003

he Celtics yesterday offered Travis Best the eight-year veteran minimum of
$938,679, but director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, ''Nothing's
happening and I don't expect anything to happen for the next few days.''



Over that span, Best will have an opportunity to explore his options around
the league.

According to an ESPN report last night, Best had agreed to terms with the
Celtics, but when apprised of the report, Ainge said that was not the case.

Ainge has said he would like to ''shore up [the Celtics'] guard line.'' Former
Celtics point guard Kenny Anderson was also on the short list of candidates.

According to general manager Chris Wallace, the Celtics had a ''very positive
meeting'' with Best Monday night. Head coach Jim O'Brien, assistant Dick
Harter, Wallace, Best, and Best's agent, Forrest King, were present. Best
toured the Celtics' training facility yesterday before leaving town.

The Celtics strongly pursued Best last offseason before he signed a one-year
deal with the Heat worth approximately $1.4 million plus bonuses.

Summer blockbuster

Latrell Sprewell could be on his way out of New York, with Keith Van Horn
taking his place as part of a four- or five-team trade being discussed last
night. ESPN.com reported the trade would be a four-team deal also involving
Atlanta and Minnesota, with Glenn Robinson headed to Philadelphia and Terrell
Brandon going to Atlanta. Sprewell would end up in Minnesota. Also possibly
involved would be Minnesota forward Marc Jackson, and a fifth team, the
Sacramento Kings . . . Free agent forward Robert Horry has agreed to a
one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs, according to Houston television
station KRIV . . . Free agent point guard Speedy Claxton is expected to sign a
three-year, $9.9 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. . . .
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming broke a bone above his left eye in a practice
collision, received eight stitches, and is expected to miss multiple games for
the Chinese national team.

Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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