In the months since the Celtics announced that Jeff Green would return this season, neither the team nor the free agent forward's representatives expressed any concern that no actual deal had been signed. The particulars of the contract would be worked out in time, they assured everyone in earshot.
Whatever details had to be resolved to both sides' satisfaction apparently have been worked out, because the Celtics announced Wednesday night that they had officially signed Green to a contract.
"I cannot wait to get back out onto the court and help this team towards our goal of winning another championship in Boston," Green said in a written statement.
Or as he tweeted, "Been waiting to say this for a while… #iamaceltic"
Green, 25, was introduced along with Brandon Bass, Chris Wilcox and Jason Terry at a July 14 news conference at the Celtics' practice facility, even though Green and Terry did not have official contracts. Terry later agreed to a reported three-year deal for the $5 million midlevel exception, but negotiations between Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and David Falk, Green's agent, seemingly dragged on with both Ainge and Falk downplaying the delay. The Celtics did not disclose terms of the deal, but the Boston Herald reports the four-year, $36 million deal was complicated by insurance issues.
Green averaged 15.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in his last full season with the Oklahoma City Thunder before he came to Boston in a midseason trade in 2011. He missed all of last season after an aortic aneurysm was discovered shortly before the season began.
Green is expected to anchor a second unit that will feature Terry, Wilcox and either Avery Bradley or offseason addition Courtney Lee.
Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison
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