Celtics' Wilcox won't return this season/ Ainge weighing his options on possible moves with Celtics

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Celtics have been dealt with another injury blow Wednesday afternoon when they learned that forward Chris Wilcox will not return this season because of surgery to repair an enlarged aorta. Wilcox, who last played March 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, underwent a series of tests and the team received those results Wednesday as the team's prepared to play the Golden State Warriors.

The team announced late Wednesday afternoon that Wilcox will undergo surgery March 29 at the Cleveland Clinic and doctors have said he can resume his NBA career next season. The team said Wilcox has a previous condition that had been "stable" but recent tests showed an enlargement of the aorta that requires surgery.

"While we are saddened that Chris will not be able to play again this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Chris’s case,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said in a statement. "The entire Celtics family supports Chris during this difficult time in his career."

Wilcox, who underwent monthly heart examinations, was held out of the March 9 game against the Portland Trail Blazers because a test detected a potential abnormality. The power forward then underwent more testing at the Cleveland Clinic and like, teammate Jeff Green, will be forced to miss extensive time.

The team is seeking another big man to replace him on the roster. Green is currently sitting out the season after January surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. He is expected to resume playing next season.

Wilcox, 29, signed in the offseason, was an effective player off the bench when healthy. He averaged 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 28 games. After dealing with a series of minor injuries, Wilcox had become a dependable reserve and backup to Kevin Garnett.

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Ainge weighs his options on Celtics

By Gary Washburn
Globe Staff / March 14, 2012

LOS ANGELES - Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is in the tough position of having to determine whether his veteran team can make a run in the Eastern Conference or whether moves should be made.

The Celtics have made a push to stay intact by winning seven of nine games since the All-Star break, including Monday night’s 94-85 victory against the Clippers, the type of athletic, above-the-rim team that gave the Celtics fits in the first half.

Defense has been a constant, but Boston was able to score late in Monday’s game at Staples Center, something it failed to do Sunday against the Lakers. Ahead 5 points with 2:41 left in Sunday’s game, the Celtics went scoreless the rest of the way.

Ahead 5 points with 2:47 left Monday night, the Celtics iced the game with 11 points.

That sense of urgency is making an impression on management, especially Ainge, who watched Monday’s game in person before flying back to Boston Tuesday to find out whether Chris Wilcox (out indefinitely after a heart exam) or Jermaine O’Neal (wrist) will play again this season.

The trade deadline is Thursday, and Ainge could make a major move that shapes the future of the organization. That responsibility is not lost on him. But he may opt to make only a minor move.

“I guess it’s unique from where we’ve been over the last five years, but I think it’s common around the league for other teams,’’ Ainge said. “So this is where we are right now. I don’t feel like we have to do anything other than we eventually need to get another big body. But I don’t think we have to make a trade at all.’’

Obtaining a center will be difficult because the Celtics are unlikely to sacrifice a first-round pick to sign a stopgap player. Also, quality centers are scarce, and will cost a lot.

“No one wants to give up bigs who can help you win,’’ Ainge said. “But we need another big body at some point, depending on the results. If Chris and Jermaine can play, that changes things, we don’t need any more bigs.’’

The likelihood that Wilcox and O’Neal will be available soon is remote, however, so Ainge will listen to potential offers to acquire a center. That puts more pressure on a team that’s trying to secure wins on its most significant road swing in years.

“These times are probably more stressful on players and coaches trying to figure out what’s going to happen and there’s a lot of talk going on, but more stress on them than me,’’ said Ainge.

After watching his team battle the Lakers to the final seconds and then beat a Clippers team that was projected to compete for the Western Conference title, coach Doc Rivers is impressed.

“We’ve played two terrific games here,’’ Rivers said. “We get on a plane Saturday and play a [3:30] game and then another game the next night and play well in both games. That says a lot about the character of our team right now.

“It would have been a total difference if we had lost [Monday night]. We’d be looking at ourselves saying, ‘Wow, we are right there and we can’t close them out.’ So that last six minutes was huge for us, we needed this game.’’

Rivers appears convinced that none of the Big Three will be moved by Thursday.

“Obviously we’re going to try to improve our team, but we don’t want to lose anybody,’’ he said. “I don’t think we will.’’

The veterans insist the team still is improving, especially since the players began training camp in such poor physical condition after the lockout.

“It’s momentum, man,’’ forward Kevin Garnett said of the past two games. “We’re trying to get better. We don’t have a lot of practice time, and with these games coming so rapidly, shootarounds are focused, just for momentum and how long we’re on the road right now. You can’t dig yourself a hole and try to make it up at the end of the road trip. These games are very precious for us.’’

The ultimate decision-maker will be Ainge, who historically has refused to allow himself to be swayed by a couple of good games. He watched the past two in person and said there has been a difference in the team’s play. But has it been dramatic enough to keep the roster together?

“I feel like this is a tough year for everybody,’’ Ainge said. “I feel like our team has been sporadic, inconsistent . . . spectacular at times and bad at times.’’
112288

Is there something in the water bubbler at the Waltham facility?

This is getting very weird.

Good thing I'm not a conspiracy theory freak.

bob

.

Perhaps Rondo is running guys too hard and causing heart ailments!


112288

Like I said, it's residue from Red's cigar smoke.

With Green & Wilcox's heart ailments and subsequent surgeries, also going back 19 years to Reggie Lewis's situation, you wonder as many physicals as these guys need to undergo from high school through college why these problems aren't unveiled earlier. Maybe it's worth Wyc & Ainge putting a full time cardiologist on the Celtic payroll. This would get right to the heart of the problem (LOL)

MD!

The reason I don't write much on this forum is that I'd sound like a broken record: 'Play Stiemsma, play Stiemsma, play Stiemsma'

I have to comment right now about this again. I just read that Ainge and Rivers are going to find any big man they possibly can for the remainder of the season.

From my perspective, it's like they've got a pot of gold right in front of their eyes, and all they see is dirt. The Celts have won the last 3 of 4 (or is it 4 of 5?) that Steamz has been in there. They came within 3 points of the Lakers, and that was the game that Steamz played the least. These were quality teams. Not the Raptors.

I've watched two of these games thus far, and have the others on my DVR. Steamz did not disappoint in any way. I saw him make fantastic defensive plays right under the basket. These would've been sure fouls or baskets against other big men, but Steamz has such great feel for positioning, and intuition on timing that these players got jammed up or threw up wild shots. Is anyone else seeing this?

I shudder to think of what Doc is trying to teach Steamz. He's been great from the outset, with great instincts, and if I were his coach I'd let him flourish. I bet you anything Garnett LOVES having him in there with him. Man (sigh) I just hope Steamz gets his chance on another team next year, even if they muzzle him for the rest of the season on this team.

Just a note: I do think it's still important to play Johnson and Moore as much as possible as well. But I think Doc sees it exactly the opposite. Another sad, complete misuse of an otherwise championship caliber squad this year.

josh

If steamer was that good ( or as good as you seem to think) would not he have been on a team somewhere before the year started?

He's doing OK now but is NOT setting the world on fire, in time he may do better and hopefully it is with us, I'll trust Doc on this.

As for JJJ and Moore they probably are not ready yet. Bradley wasn't last year either but is doing admirably now. And even with these three we are still a chip or two away from seriously contending this year.

Not the end of the day yet and still time for moves to be made.

We shall see.

beat