Celtics Decline J.R. Giddens’ Third-Year Option

After declining J.R. Giddens' third-year option on Monday, the Celtics may be able to use the former first-round draft pick and promising guard as trade bait before losing him to free agency when the season ends.

The 30th overall pick in the 2008 draft has played in just eight games since entering the league two summers ago. In 12 minutes this season, Giddens has three rebounds and one steal but has missed his only shot attempt.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder spent 26 games with the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League last season, where he averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and two assists in 26 games. In 33 games as a senior at New Mexico during the 2007-08 season, Giddens averaged over 16 points and three assists to go with almost nine boards per game.