Ainge On Jeff Green: 'We Intend To Have Him Back'
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Celtics are getting closer to bringing back forward Jeff Green.
"We intend to have Jeff back," Celtics president of basketball ops. Danny Ainge said after introducing the Celtics' three rookies in Boston on Monday. "Nothing is done, but we intend to have him back. I think we're going to enter a contract with him, hopefully by the end of the moratorium."
Prior to the 2012 season, Green signed a one-year, $9 million deal to return to Boston. But the 6-9 forward missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm in his heart.
Ainge On Jeff Green:
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Green was acquired by Boston at the 2011 NBA Trade deadline when Ainge sent Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Green, Nenad Krstic, and a draft pick that turned into Fab Melo last week.
Although he struggled a bit when arriving in Boston, Green is comfortable with the Celtics' way and wants to continue to be a part of it.
"Jeff, when he got traded to the Celtics, he loved his experience," said Ainge. "He wanted to prove that he's a better player than he played when he got here."
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"He really wants to make it work and, through the whole discovery, the surgery and the rehab, it was something that was motivating him," said Ainge. "He wanted to come back to Boston and he wanted to show his worth. Through the playoffs, he loved the atmosphere -- he loved the atmosphere that was created by our fans. He loved his teammates and he just really wanted to make it work."
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This will be the 25-year-old Green's fifth season in the NBA after being selected fifth overall in 2007 by Boston, only to then be shipped to Seattle in a trade for Ray Allen.
In 26 games with the Celtics in 2011, Green averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 49-percent from the floor.
