Boston Celtics centre Chris Wilcox ready to re-enter the game - NBA Update
Boston Celtics big Chris Wilcox has received a clean chit from the doctors and is now clear to play basketball again.
Wilcox underwent a heart surgery in last March and has since been rehabilitating from it. The 29-year-old reserve centre was averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, when the club doctors noticed the anomaly in his heart.
He had a significant enlargement of aorta, and the franchise immediately took a decision to shut him down. The 6 ft 10 in player underwent a surgical procedure in which a graft was attached to his aorta, so that it would not enlarge
any further. He had played only 28 games before being sidelined.
Wilcox was acquired by Greens in the 2011-12 season and in the absence of Jermaine O’ Neal, saw his playing minutes increase significantly. Coming into the season, Wilcox took his time to get going. A leg and shoulder injury forced
him to miss 9 of the 16 opening games of the season for Boston.
On February 15, playing against his former team Detroit Pistons, Wilcox recorded his season best 17 points and 9 rebounds performance going 8-for-12 from the floor.
Now as he has been cleared by the doctors, agent Jeff Schwartz believes that the player did enough last season to merit a good contract;
“After the great year he had with Boston, I know Chris could be a strong contributor for any team”.
His chances of rejoining the Celtics seem grim however. The franchise was paying him $3 million per annum last season, but after this year’s draft, their roster doesn’t need another big man. Boston roped in power forward Jared
Sullinger and centre Fab Melo from the draft and have also reportedly re-signed Kevin Garnett.
That along with a tight salary cap means that Wilcox will have to look elsewhere. He already has had a well travelled career.
The nine year veteran was drafted by Los Angeles Clippers back in 2002-03 season and over the years, he went on to play for Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, OKC and New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and the Celtics.
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