Post by birdie on Dec 22, 2007 11:05:50 GMT -5
And that one is Travis Best
Massachusetts' own Travis Best would love to come home from overseas to help out the Celtics.
more stories like this
The ex-NBA player, now playing in Italy for Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, said yesterday he would be interested in a backup point guard role for Boston.
Best's comments come a day after ex-Celtic Gary Payton's agent said his client would be interested in the job. The Celtics currently have two roster spots open.
"I'd be happy to contribute to that situation in any way," Best said. "I'd like to help the team win. I'd make the situation better. I've been to the [NBA] Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to contribute in a veteran way."
The former Springfield Central High standout played for the Pacers, Bulls, Heat, Mavericks, and Nets from 1995-2005. The 5-foot-11-inch, 182-pounder has played in 63 career playoff games (including the 2000 Finals). He averaged 7.6 points, 3.5 assists, and shot .345 from 3-point range during his NBA career. Since departing from the NBA, he has played in Russia, Poland, and Italy.
Best said he would have no problem accepting the veteran's minimum salary and any role needed to help Boston succeed. While the 35-year-old yearns to be closer to his parents in Springfield, he said he would only leave Italy to play for the Celtics. He also said he has a reasonable buyout with his current team. Best played AAU ball for Celtics assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile and was in the movie "He Got Game," with guard Ray Allen.
"For the past month I wanted to get on with the Celtics and before the season I wanted to work out with them . . .," Best said. "I wish they would have looked at it further. They can find out I can play. I can still play in the [NBA]. I can go if an NBA team really wanted me. [The Celtics] can work out things with this team."
Allen said he's heard Best mentioned with the Celtics, but couldn't recall where. Allen added executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge has done a great job assembling the team.
"We got some great talent here," Allen said. "With a team like this, people talk about winning a championship. Everybody always is going to talk about, 'I can help.' With San Antonio, people are trying to sign with San Antonio. [They say], 'I can help, I can go there and win a championship.' Miami had so many free agents, Antoine [ Walker] went there. It's the same thing.
"That's up to Danny to try to put up the best team, and he did that at this stage, I think. But at this stage, we got what we have and we're only thinking about who is here and not who's coming."
On Payton, his ex-Bucks teammate, Allen said: "He's definitely a Hall of Famer. I like this team that we have. I won't be quick to say who I'd like to have here in this situation. But I like what we have on this team."
Ainge has said he would only add a player that could make an immediate impact. He also said that there weren't any free agents he was hot on right now.
"I've had conversations with a lot of players and a lot of agents," Ainge said. "There are a lot of players out there that I know can play. There are a lot of players that might even be able to help us. And I'm exploring that all the time . . .
"We have needs. Every team right now has some sort of hole or gap. We have some things that we need to get better at. If we don't feel like we can get better with what we have and we need to bring in help, we won't hesitate.
Massachusetts' own Travis Best would love to come home from overseas to help out the Celtics.
more stories like this
The ex-NBA player, now playing in Italy for Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, said yesterday he would be interested in a backup point guard role for Boston.
Best's comments come a day after ex-Celtic Gary Payton's agent said his client would be interested in the job. The Celtics currently have two roster spots open.
"I'd be happy to contribute to that situation in any way," Best said. "I'd like to help the team win. I'd make the situation better. I've been to the [NBA] Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to contribute in a veteran way."
The former Springfield Central High standout played for the Pacers, Bulls, Heat, Mavericks, and Nets from 1995-2005. The 5-foot-11-inch, 182-pounder has played in 63 career playoff games (including the 2000 Finals). He averaged 7.6 points, 3.5 assists, and shot .345 from 3-point range during his NBA career. Since departing from the NBA, he has played in Russia, Poland, and Italy.
Best said he would have no problem accepting the veteran's minimum salary and any role needed to help Boston succeed. While the 35-year-old yearns to be closer to his parents in Springfield, he said he would only leave Italy to play for the Celtics. He also said he has a reasonable buyout with his current team. Best played AAU ball for Celtics assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile and was in the movie "He Got Game," with guard Ray Allen.
"For the past month I wanted to get on with the Celtics and before the season I wanted to work out with them . . .," Best said. "I wish they would have looked at it further. They can find out I can play. I can still play in the [NBA]. I can go if an NBA team really wanted me. [The Celtics] can work out things with this team."
Allen said he's heard Best mentioned with the Celtics, but couldn't recall where. Allen added executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge has done a great job assembling the team.
"We got some great talent here," Allen said. "With a team like this, people talk about winning a championship. Everybody always is going to talk about, 'I can help.' With San Antonio, people are trying to sign with San Antonio. [They say], 'I can help, I can go there and win a championship.' Miami had so many free agents, Antoine [ Walker] went there. It's the same thing.
"That's up to Danny to try to put up the best team, and he did that at this stage, I think. But at this stage, we got what we have and we're only thinking about who is here and not who's coming."
On Payton, his ex-Bucks teammate, Allen said: "He's definitely a Hall of Famer. I like this team that we have. I won't be quick to say who I'd like to have here in this situation. But I like what we have on this team."
Ainge has said he would only add a player that could make an immediate impact. He also said that there weren't any free agents he was hot on right now.
"I've had conversations with a lot of players and a lot of agents," Ainge said. "There are a lot of players out there that I know can play. There are a lot of players that might even be able to help us. And I'm exploring that all the time . . .
"We have needs. Every team right now has some sort of hole or gap. We have some things that we need to get better at. If we don't feel like we can get better with what we have and we need to bring in help, we won't hesitate.
