Celtics F-C LaFrentz out for season


December 14, 2003
CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Four days before getting a chance to face Antoine Walker for the first time, the Boston Celtics found out they have received the short end of the deal that sent their All-Star forward packing.

The Celtics learned Saturday that forward-center Raef LaFrentz, acquired from Dallas in the Walker deal, will be out for the season due to right knee tendinitis.

Acquired in October in a five-player trade, LaFrentz has averaged career lows of 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 17 games.


"Right now we're less of a basketball team," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "Guys are going to have to step up."

LaFrentz also was sidelined from November 14-28 with the same ailment. He averaged 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 69 games last season with Dallas after signing a six-year contract worth $69 million.

The Walker deal has become a central issue this season for Boston, which has struggled at times without him. The Celtics, who stretched their season-high winning streak to five games on Saturday, host Walker and Dallas on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Walker blasted Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge for the move, claiming the trade was "personal" and referring to Ainge as "a snake."

Walker is averaging a double-double for the Mavericks while Ainge is claiming to be looking at the bigger picture.

To take LaFrentz's roster spot, the Celtics activated teenage rookie forward Kendrick Perkins from the injured list. Perkins was placed on the IL prior to the start of the season with right knee tendinitis.

Perkins was selected 27th overall by Memphis as a high school center out of Texas and was dealt to Boston as part of a four-player deal on draft day.



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