Celtics sign P.J. Brown
BOSTON (TICKER) —The Boston Celtics addressed a lack of proven depth in their frontcourt by signing veteran forward P.J. Brown, the team announced on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Brown spent last season with the Chicago Bulls before going into semi-retirement. He decided to return from that hiatus to earn his first NBA title.
“Just trying to make a dream come true,” Brown said. “I feel like there’s one thing missing from my career, and Boston’s pretty much been coming after me the whole year. I thought the one thing that kept the door open was trying to come back and win a championship, and I feel this team has a great chance to do it.
“There are rare moments and opportunities that come to the league where you have a chance to ultimately be a champion. I think this team gives me that chance.”
But Brown will have to wait a while before he’ll be on the court.
“I plan on practicing as soon as (Thursday),” he said. “Physically I’m in shape, but I’m not in NBA shape. The two biggest things are timing and stamina. It’s not going to be overnight, but I’ll put a lot of work in and work my tail off and, hopefully, I can be ready as soon as possible.”
The 6-foot-11, 239-pound Brown is considered a rugged defender and rebounder and should provide the Celtics with yet another accomplished role player. While Boston allows just 90.5 points per game - the second-best mark in the NBA - it ranks as the second-worst team in rebounding with 38.9 per game.
Brown admitted that his biggest asset is being a veteran presence.
“First and foremost, just try to be even more of a stabilizer on the bench, being there for the guys, being another pair of eyes on the bench, another voice in the locker room and keep them going in the right direction,” he said. “I know I’m probably not going to be playing a lot here real soon, but just being there for the guys for whatever they need - encouraging, supporting and being the biggest cheerleader I can possibly be as of right now.”
A product of Louisiana Tech, Brown averaged 9.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over his 14-year playing career. He has also played for the New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Hornets and Bulls.
The Boston Herald reported Wednesday that the 38-year-old Brown also was pursued by the Celtics last summer but expressed a preference to remain near his home in Louisiana at the time.
According to Brown, he took advantage of that time with his family.
“Being Daddy, being at volleyball games, being at basketball games, going to things, doing that type of thing,” he said when asked what he had been up to in his down time.
Brown also declined to re-sign with two other possible suitors - the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks - at various points throughout the season.
“It’s tough. Like I said, that’s in my own backyard,” Brown said of signing with the Hornets. “I’m close with a few guys on that team. I’ve played them. It was a tough decision. But like I said, I feel like this is the place for me. This is the place I need to be right here so that’s why I’m here.”
