C's pick up Brown's option

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brown stays in green: Team picks up forward's 2004-'05 option
By Steve Bulpett/Celtics Notebook
Monday, October 27, 2003


Though he knew it was coming, Kedrick Brown [news] still expressed
relief yesterday that his option for next season will be formally
picked up in the next couple of days.
     Now in the third year of his rookie contract, Brown will be
guaranteed another $2,332,388 for the 2004-05 season. After that, he'll
be a restricted free agent. The Celtics can either extend him (starting
at $3,193,040) or match an offer from another team.
     But first things first.
     ``His agent's coming in town for opening night,'' Celtics director
of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, ``so we'll probably do
something Tuesday or Wednesday to get it done.''
     Said Brown, ``It's going to be real nice to have it done. I talked
to my agent (Saturday) and he told me the situation. Right now I'm real
happy that I'm getting that finally done. I think I deserve it. I've
been working really hard this summer, so I'm looking forward to it.''
     After two seasons getting to know the pine, Brown is a likely
starter at small forward. He's had perhaps the best camp of any Celtic,
but then again he was looking good before badly twisting his ankle in
the second preseason game last year.
     ``He was really ready at that point in time when he got hurt, and
then he just stalled,'' C's coach Jim O'Brien said. ``Now he's been
involved in everything we've done and he hasn't missed any time. I
think he's really ready. I think he's prepared himself with hard work
over the summer, and whatever playing time he gets, which I think will
be substantial, he has earned it with his defense and his attention to
his body.''
     Added Brown, ``I just feel more experienced. I'm just more
comfortable.''
     It also helps that Ainge is a supporter.
     ``It's nice to have a guy of that caliber in your corner,'' Brown
said.
     ``Since Day One - since the first time I talked to him - I knew he
liked me as a player.''