Scalabrine Signs With Celtics

Not a big signing, but it's a lengthy contract 5 years which suprised me.

With the Nets focused on bringing free agent big man Shareef Abdur-Rahim to New Jersey, another popular forward could be on his way out.

Free agent Brian Scalabrine reached an agreement in principle to play for the Boston Celtics, according to several league sources.


"If that is the case, I have nothing but great things to say about him," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "He did a wonderful job for us, and I wish him nothing but the best. Brian's a terrific guy."

Scalabrine, who was drafted by New Jersey in 2001, was instrumental in the Nets reaching the playoffs last season.

He started the final eight games, averaging 11 points in helping the Nets to a 7-1 mark. They clinched a playoff spot the last day of the season by beating the Celtics in Boston.

Scalabrine's new pact is a five-year, $15 million deal, the sources said. But according to the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can't sign free agents until July 22.

"If I go to another place, I am leaving on good terms with the fans and the New Jersey Nets organization," Scalabrine said.

The Nets were hoping after they reached an agreement with a power forward that they could do something with Scalabrine. But the amount Boston is giving him may be more than the Nets are willing to spend.

Their attention remains on Abdur-Rahim, who came to New Jersey on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

Abdur-Rahim ate dinner with a Nets contingent at night. Today, he and his wife, Dee, will tour the practice facility, meet owner Bruce Ratner and dine with Jason Kidd, among others.

Securing Abdur-Rahim is first and foremost on the Nets' summer to-do list. They aren't signing anyone else until Abdur-Rahim makes a decision.

Abdur-Rahim is said to be as intrigued with the Nets as they are enamored with him. But he must be willing to play for the $4.9 million midlevel exception. Other suitors, such as the Spurs, Kings, Wizards and Magic, could offer more.

The Nets hope Abdur-Rahim's relationship with coach Lawrence Frank - they were with the Grizzlies together - and that he and Kidd went to the same college can help lure the Blazers forward to New Jersey.

"Unless you have somebody signed, you don't have anybody signed," Thorn said. "We've reached no agreements with anybody. You have to protect yourself."

Thus, Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski have been in daily contact with the agents for Donyell Marshall, Stromile Swift and Kwame Brown. They comprise the Nets' fallback plan if Abdur-Rahim doesn't work out, with Marshall serving as their next option.

The Nets hope they can use their $4.98 million trade exception in a sign-and-trade for one of the free-agent big men. If they can do that, they could split their midlevel exception on Keyon Dooling and Darius Songaila and then fill out the roster with minimum-salary players.

But the Nets must use the trade exception by July 29. Early indications are that Portland isn't interested in it.

Source: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... h_celtics/

I think this was a good signing by Boston... I really liked watching Scalabrine play, when I got to see him play... I don't know about the 5 years though.

scalabrine has been somewhat of an ace in the hole for the nets in some tight situations.. although he hasn't every really performed consistently and can probably be replaced pretty comfortably by a min salary player..

this deal with sheef better go through or fail soon.. if the nets end up with no new big bodies then they will have missed out on a perfect opportunity to make the step back to the ecf level

He reminds me a slightly more skilled version of Madsen. The contract may be lengthy but it's not much money. 3 mill a year, right?

Finallly, another whitey in Boston besides LaFrentz...

if delonte west is black then I'm albino

if delonte west is black then I'm albino

he's too tanned to be whitey... by whitey I mean KVH style... redneck is preferred...

if delonte west is black then I'm albino

Are you really Albino because he is black...

coulda fooled me

He's probably 1/2 black like Kidd and Bibby, or of South American descent or something.

That dude is creepy. He like never blinks, he's just staring at me.

I did some web searching but could not find anything about his roots. he was born in D.C., though...

But, during the search , I found out that the web is full of female Andrew Bynums... type-wise...

my name is Rina Delonte u r soooo fine i cant stand it. Even tho u cant take pictures that good boo boo its ok i kno u really cute. UR EYES R GORGEOUS!.

Posted by Rina Trith on 04.11.2005



Delonte West IS real cute. He's more of an "adorable" cute than a "Sexy" kind of cute, but he look good either way. I think he tha cutest one on tha Celtics.- (Besides Ricky).

Posted by Prityeyez on 04.5.2005



DELONTE WEST IS SO ADORABLE AND FYNE AND HES THE BEST ROOKIE I HAD SEEN ..IMMA MARRY HIM ONE DAY.

Posted by mBAby on 03.26.2005

That dude is creepy. He like never blinks, he's just staring at me.

Plus, he got punched in the mouth real hard.

5yrs isn't so bad when you consider he's averaging 3mil per year. could be worse, like giving a contract like memphis did to cardinal: 5yrs/full MLE. they pretty much are the same player lol

or foyle who is even worst

Scalabrine is very rich.

5yrs isn't so bad when you consider he's averaging 3mil per year. could be worse, like giving a contract like memphis did to cardinal: 5yrs/full MLE. they pretty much are the same player lol

I knew somebody was going to bring that up Except Cardinal brings more to the table as far as hustle goes and IMO when he started and played alot of minutes when the Grizzlies had all of those injuries, he was worth the MLE averaging around 17ppg and 6rpg and shoot 45% from downtown. When he gets time, he can be productive thats why he needs more time.

lol this coming from the same guy who wanted to trade him for nocioni...

he is still overpaid and for a long time

that's really great he put up some decent numbers but memphis is in big trouble if cardinal is starting again

i hope memphis and their fans enjoy cardinal and his great contract

When Cardinal was starting, they were winning even with Posey, Gasol, Swift and Wells out. He won't start all the time, and yea his contract is a little too high, but if he plays when they really need him then at least that shows they didn't waste alot of money on him.

Scalabrine is very rich.

what the hell??? I think your posts are probably my least favourite out of everyone else in the forum!

I haven't seen all that much of Scalabrine, but he's always struck me as one of those role players that teams always find useful. It's a decent contract too, though I don't think we've seen the end of overpaid role players by a longshot.

2 words:Scalabrine sucks!

Scalabrine is a legend in the making

VEAL!!!

I will probably remember Scalabrine for the rest of my life just for his performance in game 5 of the Pistons-Nets series in 2004, which I attended. Several players on both teams had fouled out as the game went into triple overtime, but Brian Scalabrine, that weird guy with the orange hair, hit a bunch of 3 pt shots and put the Pistons away after a long 63 minute game. That was still the most exciting game I've ever been to, but Scalabrine ruined the happy ending!

I think he's a good fit for Boston, as he always finds a way to play some role on the team.