Celtics have preliminary discussions on Daniels buy-out

CSNE

CELTICS REPORT: MONDAY, MARCH 19

ATLANTA — The Boston Celtics plan to add a big man to their roster by the end of the week, which means someone on the current roster has to be waived or agree to a buy-out to create a roster spot.

One of the prime candidates for such a move is Marquis Daniels.

His agent Mark Bartelstein tells CSNNE.com that there have been preliminary discussions about buying out Daniels' contract.

"He loves it in Boston and would love to be back in the regular playing rotation," Bartelstein said. "But if that can't happen, then we may look and see if there's a better situation, playing-wise, for Marquis."

Daniels began the season as one of the first players off the Celtics bench. But a series of games in which he struggled with his shot, led to Sasha Pavlovic getting most of his minutes.

However, the 6-foot-6 Daniels saw significant action in Boston's 98-91 loss at Denver, and responded with eight points on 3-for-5 shooting. The eight points scored was just two less than he had scored in the entire month.

With Chris Wilcox out for the season with a heart condition, and Jermaine O'Neal (wrist) expected to have season-ending wrist surgery, Boston has become extremely thin in the frontcourt.

One of the C's few big men still around, Greg Stiesma, has a sore right foot injury and will be limited tonight against Atlanta.

C's coach Doc Rivers said the team is "close" to adding another big man, and has told CSNNE.com that the hold-up is that there a couple of players they have interest in that are not yet available.

One of those players is believed to be Ronny Turiaf, who is also a client of Bartelstein.

He declined to comment on Turiaf's interest in the Celtics because the 6-foot-10 forward won't clear waivers - and thus become a free agent - until Wednesday. Boston also has some interest in New Orleans center Chris Kaman and Dallas' Lamar Odom if either gets a buy-out from their respective teams.

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