By re-signing free agents, Eddie House and Tony Allen on Monday, the Boston Celtics took another big step toward contending for their 18th championship.
Various news sources reported House received a two-year deal using a portion of the team's $5.5 million mid-level exception — all they are allowed to use to sign free agents, since Boston is over the luxury tax threshold. The Boston Globe reported he'll make $2.7 million next season, and that the second year is a $2.9 million player option.
House was the main backup behind young starter Rajon Rondo during the regular season, despite not being a "true"
point guard. Still, his tenacious play and perimeter shooting made him a fan favorite. The 30-year-old averaged 7.5 points per game in 78 appearances, shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc while playing 19 minutes per game.
He was out of the rotation early in the playoffs in favor of veteran pickup Sam Cassell, but when Rondo and Cassell struggled at times in the later rounds, "Eddie"
chants filled TD Banknorth Garden. He played only two minutes late in the Conference Finals against Detroit, but House came off the bench to make a key 3-pointer and put up 11 points in 25 minutes in Game 4 of the Finals. (He averaged 8.0 points a game against the Lakers, and shot 41 percent from 3-point land.)
The 26-year-old Allen also received a two-year deal, expected to pay him $2.5 million each year. Because he was the Celtics' own free agent with at least three consecutive years of service to the club, the Celtics had his "Bird Rights"
and therefore could go over the salary cap to sign him. Last year, his fourth season in the NBA, the reserve swingman averaged 6.6 points and a little over 18 minutes per game in 75 regular-season appearances, but saw little more than garbage time in the playoffs, averaging 1.3 points in about four minutes per game.
After a promising rookie season in 2004-05, Allen suffered a severe right knee injury (and was involved in a shooting in his native Chicago), missing much of the first half of his second season. Allen became one of the few bright spots when the Celtics were the joke of the league in 2006-07, averaging 19 points in a 14-game stretch, but he blew out both the ACL and MCL in his left knee when he went up for a meaningless dunk after the whistle had been blown.
If Allen is finally fully recovered from both knee surgeries, then he will bring much of the defensive intensity departed sixth man James Posey brought to last year's team with a better offensive game. The Celtics could also be banking that top draft pick J.R. Giddens might be a valuable contributor in his rookie campaign, but he remains unsigned.
The 31-year-old Posey is the only key loss from the championship squad that the Celtics could control; P.J. Brown and Cassell are pondering retirement, and each could sit out until later in the season before signing — as Brown did last season. Scot Pollard, who couldn't stay healthy enough to contribute big-man help, was replaced by the much-younger Patrick O'Bryant.
If the rumored contract numbers for House are correct, the Celtics have $2.8 million left to spend on free agents. That's enough for a few "names"
still available, who just might be willing to come to Boston and contend for a championship.
House's agent Bartelstein told the Globe the Celtics are interested in another of his clients, forward Devean George. The 31-year-old George, with three championship rings from the Lakers, would seem a solid replacement for Posey — not coincidentally, also a Bartelstein guy. But he's also the one who held up last season's Jason Kidd trade to preserve his own Bird Rights. (The unrestricted free agent averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 53 appearances for Dallas.)
Another name floating around is 35-year-old Michael Finley, who won a ring with the 2007 Spurs and racked up millions of dollars in a buyout deal when he left Dallas. Money and playing time likely won't be as key as much as going out with another championship.
Former Blazer Darius Miles is another consideration, having already worked out for the Celts (among others). Though some have questioned his explosiveness after microfracture knee surgery, Miles has always had plenty of potential and plenty of reasons not to live up to it. He'll have to start next season serving a 10-day suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, but according to ESPN, it was for the weight-loss drug Phentermine. (Anyone who's seen the weight Miles has put on lately wouldn't be surprised.)
If Miles could finally get his act together — good luck being a knucklehead around Kevin Garnett — he could be a steal at the veteran minimum of $1.2 million.
There are still deals to be made, like getting Giddens and second-round pick Bill Walker signed. Bringing back House and Allen, though, proves the Celtics plan to keep striking while the iron is hot.
