Figures, I leave the computer for 30 minutes and the Celtics sign a veteran point guard. We all knew that a veteran was coming after Dionte Christmas and Jamar Smith were waived yesterday. I had a feeling that they already had the player in place that they were going to sign or they wouldn't have cut them now.
The Celtics added veteran combo guard Leandro Barbosa to the roster today. According to sources, he will be signed to a veteran minimum deal. Of course, we knew that anyone they signed had to agree to the vet minimum because that's all they had to offer. The Celtics now have 17 on their roster, but expect camp invitees Micah Downs and Rob Kurz to be waived before the season. That will leave the Celtics with a full roster of 15 players.
In nine seasons in the league with Phoenix, Toronto, and Indiana, the 6-foot-3 Barbosa averaged 12.5 points and 2.4 assists over 24.6 minutes per game. Doc had said that they weren't necessarily targeting a point guard, but given that we really didn't have an answer to replace Rondo should he be out for any length of time, it seemed logical that if they did sign a vet, it would be a point guard.
The Celtics now have their own Brazilian contingent in the NBA with Barbosa joining fellow Brazilian Fab Melo on the roster.
It was reported that Steve Nash had been recruiting Barbosa, a former teammate, to join him on the Lakers. Barbosa previously wore #10 on the Suns and #20 on the Raptors and #28 on the Pacers. #10 was retired for Jo Jo White, but #20 and #28 are available.
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