Boston Celtics add Dionte Christmas – NBA Report
The Boston Celtics have reached an agreement with free agent guard Dointe Christmas, it has been learnt.
Details of the deal are unknown at this point of time, but Christmas revealed that the contract is partially guaranteed.
“I actually got the call before the game started. I don't really know all the details now, but I'm going to go over them with the staff. But I'm just happy, man, emotional. I actually got the call literally two minutes before the
game started,” said Christmas, who was present at the Las Vegas Summer League where the Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 92-77.
The Celtics had been interested in Christmas for some time now and were involved in negotiations with his representatives for over a week.
The guard had offer to return to Europe, where he has been playing for most of the past three seasons. His dream was however always to play in the NBA.
“That was my whole mindset, to come in here and try to get (the Celtics) to like me and bring me in, and it happened,” added Christmas.
Christmas played at Temple University for four years, but went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft. He played basketball in Europe over the past three years, always aiming to improve himself so that he could one day play in the NBA.
And his hard work has paid off as he has been selected by one of the most famous and decorated franchises in the NBA and a genuine title contender for next season.
Christmas averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the summer league, while going 47.9 percent from the field and 45 percent from the distance. He will be a welcome addition to the Celtics roster, who have added some
key components to strengthen themselves and be a contender for the NBA crown next season.
They signed Jason Terry and Courtney Lee to multiyear contracts, re-signed Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox, and have now added Christmas to the roster.
The Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in 7 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. After the season, Ray Allen parted ways with the Celtics to join Miami at a much lower salary, while free agent Kevin Garnett re-signed with the team.
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