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Eddie House told the Arizona Republic he doesn't hold a grudge against the Boston Celtics for trading him to the New York Knicks, but he hopes to make the team regret the move should the Green and House's new team -- the Miami Heat -- cross paths in the playoffs next season.

From the Republic's Dan Bickley:

Yet for House, this is somewhat personal. He's not one to carry grudges, but he's still sore at the Celtics for trading him to the rotten Knicks in February. Come playoff time, he plans on reminding them just what they're missing.

"That stung a little bit," House said. "When you feel like you're a main part of what the team is doing and you're on a mission, to get the rug pulled out from under you and get sent to a team that has no shot ... that kind of hurt."

House expressed excitement for the 2010-11 season, often comparing it to the 2007-08 campaign in Boston and the lofty expectations that came once Boston's Big Three was assembled. But he suggested it will be even bigger than that.

"I compare it to the year I went to Boston when the Big Three got together in 2007," House said. "But this is going to be even bigger. This is going to be Boston on steroids."

House signed a two-year, $2.8 million veteran's minimum deal with the Heat last month, joining Miami's newly assembled trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

The Heat visit Boston to tip off the 2010-11 season on Oct. 26.

(h/t: NESN.com)

Some quick thoughts after the Miami Heat signed guard Eddie House to a two-year, $2.8 million deal Thursday:

• This adds another nice layer to a budding Celtics-Heat rivalry (but one that will only truly blossom on the court). I’m a little surprised to see such a negative reaction towards House, but I suppose that’s to be expected whenever a former fan favorite signs with the enemy. While not quite Johnny Damon in pinstripes, it’s a friendly reminder that fans root for the laundry. House probably won’t get serenaded with the same roar and JumboTron kisses he received after returning to the Garden with the Knicks last season.
• Let’s remember that it’s not like House chose Miami over Boston. From all indications, the Celtics’ interest in House (which wasn’t exactly overwhelming to begin with) expired when the team re-signed Nate Robinson earlier this month. Boston certainly covets some additional outside shooting, but it could someone with better size and defense from the player it brings in to fill a reserve role behind Ray Allen (and Paul Pierce).
• It’s impossible to write House off after just one down season, particularly considering two years ago he broke the Celtics’ single-season record for 3-point percentage at 44.4 percent (151-for-340 behind the arc). But the fact remains he was a dismal shooter in 2009-10, connecting on just 34.8 percent of shots from beyond the arc (the lowest since his first two seasons in the league; ironically, in Miami), and 38 percent overall fro the floor (second lowest of his career) over 68 games between Boston and New York. House connected on 79 3-pointers overall, which was three less than Rasheed Wallace made during the year. House should get quality looks next season considering the offensive weapons the Heat now boast.

Over the next few weeks, we'll take a player-by-player look at the 2009-10 roster and how each player's season unfolded, assigning a grade for their overall performance. This is the 12th in the series of report cards:

Five players came and went from the Boston locker room during the 2009-10 season: Eddie House, Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens, Lester Hudson, and Marcus Landry. Today, we take a quick look at each player and grade their (limited) contributions to this year's team.

Player: Eddie House
2009-10 averages: 7.2 points, 1 assist, 38.3 percent on 3-pointers (Boston only)
Season in a paragraph:One season after setting a franchise record for 3-point percentage (44.4 percent), House struggled with the primary part of his game and was ultimately flipped to New York in the Nate Robinson trade. In 50 games for Boston, House wasn't a detriment, but his struggles were magnified on a reserve unit that struggled to generate offense. With the Celtics in need of a shakeup, he was the fall guy.
Final grade: C
Teacher's notes: Losing a core member of the 2007-08 team was hard to swallow for the Celtics, but even House seemed to acknowledge something needed to be done to shake the team from some January/February doldrums. We'll never know if House would have found his shot and provided the type of postseason spark he did in 2008.
What's next?: One report suggests the Celtics have at least pondered the option of bringing back House, but it's likely they'll find better options for a bench scorer next season.

***

Player: Bill Walker
2009-10 averages: 1 point, 0.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists (Boston only)
Season in a paragraph: Walker, a second-round draft choice in 2008, logged a mere 29 minutes during eight games in Boston this season, scoring eight points before being traded as part of the House-for-Robinson swap. In his fourth game with the Knicks, he scored 21 points over 35 minutes against the Cavaliers and ultimately reached double figures in 14 of 27 appearances in New York, all of which led to some backlash against the Celtics for not giving him more playing time.
Final grade: C+
Teacher's notes: Like most in today's report card, there's really not a fair sample size to truly warrant a mark, but Walker did show that he was the most NBA-ready of the young players that washed in and out of the Celtics' veteran locker room. His health limited his chances in Boston, but he never did quite enough in practice to warrant an uptick in time. New York's shot-happy offense allowed him to showcase his perimeter skills, but he still has a way to go to become a complete player.
What's next?: The Knicks picked up their option to retain Walker and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to progress, particularly if the team becomes a playoff contender with the addition of Amare' Stoudemire this offseason.

****

Player: J.R. Giddens
2009-10 averages: 1.1 points, 1 rebound, 0.3 assists (Boston only)
Season in a paragraph: The 30th pick in the 2008 draft, Giddens appeared in 21 games for Boston this season, including one start, but averaged just 4.7 minutes per game and scored a total of 24 points. Like Walker, he simply didn't get a chance to really showcase his talents before being collateral damage in the Robinson-House swap. Giddens got his big chance on Jan. 2, starting in a makeshift lineup that also featured fellow reserves Tony Allen and Rasheed Wallace. He played 20 minutes and looked a little over-excited for the opportunity, logging as many turnovers (two) as points. Giddens appeared in just two more games before getting dealt, due in part to an injury sustained in the NBA Development League.
Final grade: C+
Teacher's notes: Giddens' work ethic was undeniable and he oozed athleticism, but he never got a chance to really settle in, as every minute was a chance to showcase his skills. He performed well in two stints in the D-League over two seasons, but hasn't shown enough to warrant consistent time with a parent club.
What's next?: Giddens is competing for Dallas in the Las Vegas summer league hoping to find a home next season. Being nice doesn't get you far in this league, but Giddens was a happy-go-lucky sort who deserves an opportunity somewhere.

***

Player: Lester Hudson
2009-10 averages: 1.4 points, 0.5 assists, 0.6 turnovers (Boston only)
Season in a paragraph: Boston's only pick in the 2009 draft (58th overall), Hudson was a heralded scorer from unheralded Tennessee Martin. The Celtics hoped he could learn the point guard role and provide some depth behind Rajon Rondo, but it never clicked. He was waived in early January to free a roster spot that ultimately only got filled on the final day of the regular season.
Final grade: C-
Teacher's notes: There's no denying Hudson's offensive talents, but he needed to expand his toolbox in order to stick at the pro level and it didn't happen in either Boston or Memphis, who waived him on July 1 after he spent much of the season with the Grizzlies' D-League affiliate.
What's next?: Hudson is competing for the Washington Wizards at the Vegas summer league hoping to keep his NBA dream alive.

***

Player: Marcus Landry
2009-10 averages: 0 points, 0 assists, 0 rebounds (Boston only)
Season in a paragraph: Landry played a whopping three minutes for Boston, missing a pair of 3-pointers, after coming over from the Knicks with Robinson. He did play 13 games with the Maine Red Claws and impressed at times despite making only two starts (11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists per game).
Final grade: Incomplete
Teacher's notes: Impossible to grade someone who played nearly as many minutes as most readers of this report card. Landry made 17 appearances in New York before being traded, but his career high for minutes remains 14 (twice) and he just hasn't had much time to showcase his talents.
What's next?: Waived by Boston at the end of the 2009-10 season, Landry competed for the Indiana Pacers at the Orlando summer league and is now in Vegas with the Knicks trying to earn a job next season.

***

Honor roll: Click HERE to read past report cards.

Don't agree with teacher? Just want to sound off on the departed's 2009-10 seasons? Click HERE to leave a comment.

BOSTON -- A collection of postgame news, notes and analysis after the Boston Celtics posted a 110-106 triumph over the New York Knicks at TD Garden:

The rundown (a quick look at the postgame headlines)
* Eddie House on his return to Boston and the fans' ovation
* Marquis Daniels does job filling in for sidelined Paul Pierce (thumb, flu)
* Doc Rivers likes look of a Rondo-Robinson backcourt
* Loose balls: Walker's return, McGrady's knee, defending the pick-and-roll

Homecoming for House



Eddie House understands the NBA is a business, so he didn't have any extra emotions walking back into TD Garden Tuesday night when the New York Knicks visited the Boston Celtics. But even House couldn't help but be touched by the outpouring of support when fans showered him with a standing ovation and chanted his name following a video tribute midway through the first quarter.

"It was beautiful, man," said House. "I loved the fans for the way they showed their love for me and I have just as much love back for them. I loved playing here. What a great run I had, winning a championship. I love the city of Boston."

House, traded to New York along with J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker in exchange for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry, registered just four points on 2-of-7 shooting (0 for 5 on 3-pointers) in 27 minutes against his old team. Struggles are nothing new for House this season, but if there's one thing he's struggling to adjust to, it's losing, especially after the Knicks faded late Tuesday.

"That’s the hard thing, I’m not used to losing," said House. "I haven’t been on a losing team in quite a long time. That’s the toughest thing about it, is taking these Ls. Keep competing, man. As long as you’re playing hard and trying to do the right thing, you can never be upset with yourself or your teammates. Everybody is trying to do the right thing and playing hard, but for whatever reason we’re falling short."

House didn't get caught up in the hype of playing his first game against Boston so soon after the trade.

“It was no big deal -- I didn’t put any more weight on this game than I did my first game in Madison Square Garden," said House. "Just play the game of basketball. It’s the same thing, just different opponent and that just happens to be guys I played with before about a week ago. Just no strain on this game at all. I didn’t try to come in and just automatically try getting my shots like it was something. I just played the game and let the game come to me. Just play the right way, that’s all I’m trying to do all the time.”

Said Boston's Kevin Garnett: "It’s just good to have him back in the building. When you lose a personal friend, not just a teammate, but a personal friend, you always wish him the best. I just want to see him in good health. It’s good to see a classy organization give it up for him. It doesn’t always go like that, and that was just good to see, we all have a great appreciation for Eddie House."

Cutting edge with Daniels

With the Celtics gripping tight to a one-point lead with less than two minutes to go, Marquis Daniels slashed to the basket, where Garnett fed him for an easy layup and a 109-106 advantage. It proved to be the biggest bucket of the night and Boston leaned on its defense from there to close out the feisty Knicks.

Daniels finished with 14 points in drawing a spot start for Pierce (sprained thumb, flu) and, after the game, there was plenty of talk about Daniels' ability to generate points going to the hoop -- something coach Doc Rivers believes will be aided by the addition of Robinson.

“He’s just going to do his job," said Rivers. "I mean, he’s so good. He scores whatever he scored tonight –- 14 points -- without one play called for him. All were cuts. He just has a knack for knowing when to cut, where to cut. I mean, he had a layup at the end, that one that Ray [Allen] tried to throw that got deflected. He just has great basketball feel and timing. He really does. And, you know, in some ways we hurt him because, before we had Nate, he had to handle the ball a lot, so he couldn’t cut as much because he had the ball in his hands. Now, with Nate, it almost frees him up even more to be a cutter. And that’s what he truly is. So I think he’ll even be better.”

Robinson and Rondo



True to his word, Rivers utilized a lineup Tuesday night that featured both Rajon Rondo and Robinson on the court at the same time. Early results? Very promising.

“Well, the combination will be terrific once we get it right," said Rivers. "We had such a speed advantage on the floor and we really didn’t take advantage of it. We had that one little stretch, but they don’t know how to take advantage of it. So they almost ran into each other twice, trying to get to the basket. So we’ll work that out. It’s just going to take some time.

"I do like the combination. I like it more, obviously, if the teams have two small guards. I actually thought it stopped them from putting the two guards on the floor. We did it in the first half and you can see they stayed big in the second half. You’ve got to think they’re thinking, ‘We don’t want those two guys on the floor at the same time.’ So it’ll be interesting how it changes other teams’ rotations."

Added Robinson: "We both play good defense -- we're scrappy, get after the ball. But [Rondo's] running the show and I'm just trying to get in there."

Loose balls

* Bill Walker, a bit of collateral damage in the House-for-Robinson swap, turned out to have the most productive night of the five players involved in the deadline deal. “It was fun," said Walker, who finished with 7 points on 3-of-5 shooting over 13 minutes. "I enjoy getting to play basketball against my former team -- a little extra incentive.”

* The Knicks played it cautious with Tracy McGrady, who was coming off a bit of a scare with his knee and playing in the second night of a back-to-back. "I told coach [Mike D'Antoni] that, because I played 30 minutes the last two games, and this was a back-to-back, I didn’t want to push it," said McGrady, who finished with 6 points and 8 assists in 27 minutes. "I felt like tonight I made some plays in 25 minutes, but wanted to be cautious.”

* The Celtics suggested that New York's ability to generate open looks off the pick-and-roll was the Green's biggest defensive challenge Tuesday. Said Rondo: "The pick-and-roll was kind of hard because the guard was in a tough situation. You know you have a guy like Eddie House rolling up, and it’s hard to get the bump. That play pretty much tore us apart. I think that they play a similar style to Phoenix. Sergio [Rodriguez] turned the corner a few times; they did a great job mixing it up. I give them a lot of credit. They had us on our heels all night.”

BOSTON -- The Celtics payed tribute to Eddie House Tuesday night with a video montage of highlights from his two-plus seasons in Boston, culminating with the message, "Thanks for the memories, Eddie!"

House returned to Boston as a member of the New York Knicks after being traded to the Big Apple as part of a five-player swap last Thursday at the NBA trade deadline in exchange for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry.

As the video played, fans gave House a standing ovation and began chanting his name, "Eddie! Eddie!" House initially didn't acknowledge the crowd until he checked into the game coming out of the timeout, and waved to the Garden faithful. His former teammates playfully joked with him as he came onto the court.

Nate Robinson made his Boston debut in the final minute of the first quarter. He, too, received a standing ovation from the crowd.



(Update: House reacts to the crowd's ovation in our postgame notes).

BOSTON -- A collection of pregame news and notes before the Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks at the TD Garden:

The rundown (a quick look at the pregame headlines)
* Robinson, Landry meet the Boston media
* Pierce out, Marquis to start; Doc suggests Pierce is "day to day"
* Different look in Celtics' locker room

Hello, Mr. Robinson (and Mr. Landry)



He's only been a Celtic for six days, but Nate Robinson has already got the company lines down.

Formally introduced to the media Tuesday after being traded to Boston in a five-player swap at the NBA trade deadline Thursday, Robinson said it didn't matter how many minutes he received he's here to help Boston raise banner 18.

Robinson and Marcus Landry, acquired from the New York Knicks in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker, both beamed with excitement coming to a playoff-bound squad after enduring the struggles in New York.

"This is a great opportunity for both of us, being a part of a great, historic team, with a lot of pride and lot of history," said Robinson. "It’s overwhelming, being a part of a franchise that’s accustomed to winning. That’s something we’re trying to bring to this team -- more victories, a lot of hustle, a lot of team ball."

Landry, a rookie forward, stressed that he's thrilled with the opportunity to play under veterans, most notably Ray Allen.

"Obviously, this means a whole lot to me, being able to play with guys I've looked up to and watched my whole life, like Ray Allen. I grew up in Milwaukee and watched him my whole life, now playing with him, it's a great opportunity," said Landry, a University of Wisconsin product. "Being able to make the playoffs as a rookie, but not only that, more importantly, getting to learn from a lot of guys that have been successful in this league. It's a great opportunity."

How does Robinson feel about playing the Knicks, the team he spent his first four-plus seasons in the league with, as his Celtics' debut?

"Well first and foremost, they gave me my first opportunity to showcase my talent and be a part of the NBA," said Robinson. "They gave me my first chance, so I’m always going to respect the organization and everything they did for me. It's going to be different, now I’m going to be wearing green, and I'm used to wearing orange and blue. It’s a great opportunity -- it’s a great opportunity for [Robinson and Landry]. We get to learn from some of the NBA greats right now. You just gotta take it one game at a time, go out there and play the game that I know how to play, and just learn, keep it going and keep moving forward."

Other highlights from the introduction (which featured Robinson offering all but one response):

* Robinson first heard of a potential trade through his agent right after the dunk contest at All-Star weekend

* Robinson on parting with the Knicks: "I’m happy, there’s a big smile on my face, and I’m ready to play ball."

* Robinson on his one-month absence after trade demand: "A guy like myself sitting for a whole month, I believe Doc [Rivers] and the Celtics were saying well if he’s sitting, we could use him."

* Robinson on his perception as strictly a dunker: "Of course I’m known for dunking, winning the dunk contest three times, but that’s not all Nate Robinson, if you follow the way I play the game, I play hard, I play as a teammate, I get the crowd involved, I feed off the energy f the crowd and my teammates, I play for the love of the game. Its not that I just dunk, because in the games, I barely dunk. I do a lot of other things that people overlook and over see because they just watch me once a year in the dunk contest. There’s more to Nate Robinson than just that."

Pierce sidelined indefinitely, Marquis to start



Celtics guard Paul Pierce is out indefinitely with a right thumb injury and did not even come to the TD Garden Tuesday night as he also battles the flu, according to Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Marquis Daniels will start in place of Pierce, who struggled mightily after spraining his right thumb during the first half of a win over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night. Pierce suggested Monday that he'd talk to Rivers about shutting himself down for a few days to allow the hand to heal.

"He just hurt his hand, we'll go one day at a time," said Rivers. "He's not even in the building tonight -- he's got the flu, too. He wouldn't have played with the hand injury, but with the flu, we felt it was good to stay at home."

Rivers reiterated Pierce's stance that he's "day-to-day," but also acknowledged that, if Pierce needs an extended break to get back to full strength, the Celtics are prepared for that.

"Oh yeah, I'm comfortable with any of our guys being out, I've gotten used to it," joked Rivers. "It's not what you want, but, listen, we went 3-1 [on a four-game road trip] without Paul virtually giving us much of anything because of his health. We can win without him, we just can't win a long time without him. We need him back and we need him healthy. He's our best offensive player. He creates stuff for everyone, even when he's not scoring. His presence on the floor draws attention. We need him back and we need him back healthy.

"The way we did it didn't work out, so we have to get him healthy."

Locker room shuffle

It's always interesting to see which lockers new players choose when they join a locker room midseason. Some teams, like the New England Patriots, make that decision for you as their lockers are typically aligned sequentially (though that's sometimes deviated).

Robinson chose the locker stall previously occupied by rookie Lester Hudson, a stall in what would essentially be the northwest corner of the locker room (viewing it straight on), sandwiched in between Glen Davis and Ray Allen. It seems appropriate that Robinson, who grew up in Seattle, would want to be near Allen, who starred for the Sonics (Allen suggested last week that he even played with Robinson when the two crossed paths on the campus of the University of Washington).

Not only did Landry take over Bill Walker's No. 12 jersey, he took his locker stall as well (smack dab in the middle of the room), between Rajon Rondo and a now unoccupied stall where J.R. Giddens once resided.

Ironically, with the stalls of Giddens and Eddie House now empty, Pierce doesn't have any company around him. That could be a potentially selling point if/when the Celtics attempt to lure a free agent for a stretch run.

(Read full post)

Didn't get a chance to point this out at the time, so as we brace for the (potential) debut of Nate Robinson and the return of Eddie House (and J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker) Tuesday night at the TD Garden, here's a look at how ESPN's John Hollinger (Insider) graded the five-player swap:

Celtics: This was something of an emergency deal, given that the Celtics were desperate for more scoring and House wasn't delivering at his 2008-09 level, but Boston traded three players for which it didn't have plans so as to acquire a potential playoff difference-maker in Robinson. Say what you want about him, he can fill it up: He averages 21.7 points per 40 minutes, which is more than any current Celtic, and he does it with solid percentages. Obviously, there are drawbacks to employing Robinson. He hasn't been big on things like defense and discipline, which have been the Celtics' calling cards in recent years, and his tendency to dominate the ball could ruffle some feathers. However, this is a risk worth taking for Boston. The Celtics desperately need the infusion of energy, athleticism and scoring that Robinson provides, even if it comes with some negatives. They weren't getting out of the second round if they stood pat; now they might have a fighting chance against the likes of Orlando and Atlanta. Grade: B+

Knicks: Well, they made lemonade. Robinson was gone after the season and the Knicks' playoff hopes are toast (a nice, round 0.0 percent, according to today's Playoff Odds), so the best thing left to do was parlay him into some kind of asset, however meager. New York gets a free look at House, Giddens and Walker before deciding whether to resign any of the three next season; Walker, with a player option for $854,389, is particularly enticing because the Knicks will have to fill out their roster with minimum-level contracts if their dream scenario of signing two max free agents comes to fruition. New York also might try to keep House if he plays well, as his shooting ability should translate well into coach Mike D'Antoni's system. Grade: C+

Chad Ford (Insider) also chimed in with some thoughts:

Positive spin: Nate Robinson is full of energy. He can be a dynamic scorer off the bench and should punch a little life into what's been a pretty lifeless Celtics team this year.

Negative spin: I'm not sure Nate's going to be enough. The Cavs got significantly better. The Magic and Hawks also appear to be better positioned. Not moving Ray Allen (the Celtics did try) could haunt them. They may not be able to make another significant trade to start rebuilding until 2012.

In his debut with the New York Knicks on Saturday, former Celtics guard Eddie House dropped 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, over 36 minutes in a 121-118 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He added five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

The Celtics traded House, Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens to the Knicks at Thursday's trade deadline for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry.

House did all he could in his first game in blue and orange, making key shots and free throws late in the game, but the Thunder's Kevin Durant answered each time to lift his team to victory.

Tracy McGrady also made his New York debut Saturday, scoring 26 points in the loss.

Walker did not play, while Giddens remains sidelined while rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery.

LOS ANGELES -- More than five hours after the trade deadline passed, the NBA finally put its stamp of approval on a deal that brings Nate Robinson to the Boston Celtics as part of a five-player swap that features Eddie House going to the New York Knicks.

The Celtics sent House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker to New York in exchange for Robinson and Marcus Landry.

“Nate is one of the great athletes in the league and he brings a dynamic scorer to our team,” Celtics president of basketball Danny Ainge said in the team's release on the deal. “We have been seeking a second ball-handler capable of penetrating the defense and we believe that he provides that. We love Nate’s ability to pressure the ball defensively and we think he can add to our defense as well as our offense.

“It is tough to see Eddie go. He was one of my favorite players to watch and he was a key element in winning the 2008 championship and a tremendous presence in the locker room along with his son, Jaelen. J.R. and Billy are two talented young players that haven’t had much of an opportunity to play. We thank them for their commitment and wish them well.”

LOS ANGELES -- Nate Robinson appears one step closer to being a member of the Boston Celtics.

League sources told ESPN’s Chris Sheridan Thursday that the Celtics and Knicks have agreed to a tentative deadline day swap that should bring the three-time dunk champion to Boston as part of a five-player deal that sends guard Eddie House to New York.

According to the sources, Boston receives Robinson and an unidentified second player in exchange for House and second-year players J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker.

Given Robinson’s status as a base-year compensation player, Boston and New York have negotiated for much of the past three days trying find a way to make salaries line up.

It’s unclear whether the second player coming from New York could be a player received by the Knicks during the team’s active deadline pursuits, or a third team, all of which leaves the deal very much tentative.

House practiced with the Celtics Wednesday, but openly acknowledged that he expected to be dealt before Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

"I was talking with my agent and there's a strong possibility that I'll be traded [Thursday] to New York," said House. "With that being said, I've always had a bond with these guys. I love playing with [the Celtics], but at the end of the day, it's a business. The Celtics feel like they're a better team with the guy they're trying to get. I gotta move on, that's what it is.

"At the end of the day, you can't control it. It's out of my hands -- it's never been in my hands. Wherever I go, if I go to New York, I'll play two months, try to play real strong basketball, get some wins with those guys, and make a good account for me for free agency."

House was a fan favorite for his high energy and perimeter shooting, but he's struggled this season, connecting on 64 of 167 3-pointers (40.1 percent) through 50 games. If Tuesday's visit to Sacramento was his final contest in green, he went out with a bang by scoring 12 points with a quartet of triples in a 95-92 triumph.

Robinson, a first-round pick (21st overall) of the Phoenix Suns in the 2005 draft, has spent his entire five-year career with the Knicks. He's averaging 13.2 points and 3.7 assists per game this season, but has appeared in only 30 contests after falling out of favor in New York. He was held out of Wednesday night's game with flu-like symptoms.

Robinson’s post to his verified Twitter account seem to suggest a deal is near. He wrote this morning: “This is a sad day for me as well but I have tears of joy ... Thanks to my fans.”

A three-time slam-dunk contest champion, Robinson will be expected to provide a different sort of offensive outburst than House off the bench, but he's also a high-energy guy and, while designated a point guard, he's known more for scoring the ball than distributing it.

Giddens, a former first-round pick (30th overall), and Walker, chosen in the second round (47th overall), were end-of-the-bench players used sparingly in Doc Rivers’ hermetic rotation.

Giddens appeared in 21 games this season (27 for his career), including one start, scoring a total of 24 points. Walker appeared in eight games this season (37 for his career), scoring only eight points.

LOS ANGELES -- With Eddie House openly admitting Wednesday that the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are nearing a trade deadline deal that likely will involve him swapping jerseys with Nate Robinson, two questions immediately come to mind:

1) Are the Celtics a better team because of this deal? 2) Is this the only move Boston plans to make before Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline?

Maybe it's appropriate the Celtics were traveling near the San Andreas Fault as this deal came together, because, if nothing else, it's set to provide Boston with the shakeup it so desperately needed after dropping 13 of its final 22 games before the All-Star break.

The Celtics, sloppy and lacking composure at times late in the first half of the season, stumbled time and again, and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge appears to be sending a message that the status quo will not be tolerated by stripping the team of one of its core members from the 2007-08 championship team.

For a Celtics team that hung a blank championship banner in its practice facility before the start of the 2009-10 season, it's a reminder that anything short of filling in that banner will be considered failure.

For a Celtics team that has a picture of the Larry O'Brien trophy hanging near the locker-room door at TD Garden, it's a reminder that management will not simply let a championship-caliber season spin out of control.

Click HERE to read the full story.

WESTWOOD, Calif. -- Boston Celtics guard Eddie House practiced with the team Wednesday on the campus of UCLA, but acknowledged that he expects to be traded to the New York Knicks in a deal that would bring Nate Robinson to Boston before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers stressed the deal is not done, but confirmed talks are ongoing.

"I was talking with my agent and there's a strong possibility that I'll be traded [Thursday] to New York," said House. "With that being said, I've always had a bond with these guys. I love playing with [the Celtics], but at the end of the day, it's a business. The Celtics feel like they're a better team with the guy they're trying to get. I gotta move on, that's what it is. I'm here at practice today, I'm a basketball player, I'm going to do what I love to do. Then [Thursday] I'll figure out what's going to happen.

"At the end of the day, you can't control it. It's out of my hands -- it's never been in my hands. Wherever I go, if I go to New York, I'll play two months, try to play real strong basketball, get some wins with those guys, and make a good account for me for free agency."

House is making $2.86 million in the final year of his contract. Still left to be determined is how exactly the Celtics and Knicks can swing a deal given that Robinson is a base-year compensation player, meaning only about $2 million of his $4 million salary this season can be counted in any trade.

While House's teammates initially shied from talking about the deal ("If it happens, then it happens, I'm just focused on [the Lakers]," said Paul Pierce), House stood up to the microphones to talk openly about the rumors before the start of Boston's session.

House expressed excitement about potentially reconnecting with Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, whom he played for in Phoenix.

"That helps a lot," said House. "I know the coaching staff, I know the system, I know the plays they run. I know my style fits right in. I'm feeling good right now about the way I'm playing. It's going to be a good thing. You have to take it like that.

"Nothing surprises me in this league. You never know what can happen. I take it all in stride. It had to be for a reason. Whatever that reason is."

House also acknowledged that he came to practice on the off chance a deal with New York fell apart. While admitting the chances of that are slim, he practiced Wednesday with the idea he'll play against the Lakers, then adjust if a deal becomes official.

Rivers wouldn't comment directly on the trade negotiations, but noted that, if House was to depart in a trade, he would be losing one of his core guys, which Rivers said is tough to imagine. House spent the past three seasons in Boston, including the championship season of 2007-08. Last season he set a Celtics record with 44.5 percent shooting from 3-point land (besting a man, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who is likely to trade him Thursday).

House was a fan favorite for his high energy and perimeter shooting, but he's struggled this season, connecting on 64 of 167 3-pointers (40.1 percent) through 50 games. If Tuesday's visit to Sacramento was his final contest in green, he went out with a bang by scoring 12 points with a quartet of triples in a 95-92 triumph.

"It's easy for me to move guys from the exterior of the core, but it's difficult to even think about touching anyone in the core," said Rivers. "If we do this, that, in my opinion, is what we'd be doing here. To me, that's a tough thing to do. But that's life in the NBA."

Added Rivers: "I'm not going to talk about [a potential trade] until it is done. If something gets done, then I'll talk. If nothing gets done, then there's nothing to talk about, which would be great."

Asked if he gave House the opportunity to skip practice, Rivers said: "I talked to Eddie, told him what was going on. I was honest with him. I told him if he didn't want to practice, [he didn't have to] -- but I also told him nothing is done, and nothing is done."

Robinson, a first-round pick (21st overall) of the Phoenix Suns in the 2005 draft, has spent his entire five-year career with the Knicks. He's averaging 13.2 points and 3.7 assists per game this season, but has appeared in only 30 contests after falling out of favor in New York.

A three-time slam-dunk contest champion, Robinson will be expected to provide a different sort of offensive outburst than House off the bench, but he's also a high-energy guy and, while designated a point guard, he's known more for scoring the ball than distributing it.

The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy reported Tuesday night that the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks could be close to a deal that would bring three-time dunk champion Nate Robinson to Boston.

From the Herald:

According to multiple sources, the Celtics and Knicks are close to a deal that would bring guard Nate Robinson to the Celts, possibly in exchange for Eddie House.

A league source, as well as a Knicks source, said today that both sides still have interest in the deal that has been discussed in the last month. Two sources in Sacramento, where the Celts played the Kings last night, verified the interest from both sides.

ESPN's Chris Sheridan confirmed that the teams have renewed discussions that began several weeks ago.

But there are a few red flags:

• Robinson is making $4 million this season, but is a base-year contract player, so, like we discussed with Glen Davis when that Bobcats rumor floated last week, Robinson's trade value is significantly less. The New York Times' Larry Coon wrote a nice breakdown of the problems this presents in the Off the Dribble blog.


• Using ESPN's Trade Machine, the only deal we could scratch together quickly was Robinson for Tony Allen and Shelden Williams. If, as Murphy writes, House is involved, it would seem a third team or some creative packaging would need to be done to make this work.


• Unless the Celtics are including draft picks, it seems slightly odd that the Knicks would be interested in this deal. Even if Robinson remains disgruntled in New York, his $4 million salary is set to come off the books at the end of the season. New York would almost certainly be seeking expiring contracts, which the Celtics can offer in the likes of House ($2.86 million), Allen ($2.5 million), J.R. Giddens ($1.03 million), Brian Scalabrine ($3.4 million), and Williams ($825,000).


• While the Celtics are certainly interested in a backup point guard, on the surface, it would seem they'd be more in the market for a defense-first guy who can really run the second-team offense by distributing the ball. Now, if the Celtics moved House in the deal, they'd need a guy who could also score the ball, but -- as House showed during Tuesday's game vs. Sacramento -- he remains a valuable asset on this team offensively, despite his struggles this season.


• The Knicks are reportedly involved in many potential deals (Houston, Chicago). It will be interesting to see which domino falls first and how it affects the others.

Update: Sheridan chimes in with the following:

I have confirmed that the teams have renewed discussions, but there is one major thing to keep in mind: Robinson is what's known as a base-year compensation player, which can be a complicating factor. Robinson makes $4 million, but the Knicks can take back a maximum of only $2.02 million in returning salary.

"Just an educated guess, but if Boston was willing to trade a No. 1 pick for Nate, it'd blunt the pain of surrendering a first-rounder or two to the Rockets in a McGrady deal. On a related note, three plugged-in sources indicated the Knicks seemed eager to get their business done Wednesday rather than wait until the 11th hour Thursday afternoon.

Quick thoughts after Sheridan's update: Surrendering a first-round pick isn't the end of the world for the playoff-bound Celtics, who are likely to be drafting in the late 20s anyhow. But this is also a team that desperately needs to get younger and giving up a first-round pick for a three-month rental could be shortsighted.

Some will argue a late first-round pick is nothing more than a guy like Giddens, who hasn't earned a spot in the rotation in his season-plus in Boston, but the Celtics could always find a guy like Glen Davis (an early second-round selection) at that spot. Interesting to see if New York's desire to accelerate a deal forces Boston to pull back, given what would appear to be their desire to let the trade market play out straight to the deadline.

Asked a couple weeks back about which teammate -- Ray Allen or Eddie House -- he would nominate for the 3-point shootout at this year's All-Star weekend in Dallas, Paul Pierce pondered a moment and, appropriately for a captain, chose option C.

"We've been talking about this, and I'm trying to nominate myself," said Pierce. "I think I'm shooting a pretty good percentage from [3-point land]. But between those two? They're right up under me."

On Saturday, the Celtics held an intrasquad 3-point shooting challenge featuring Rasheed Wallace, Ray Allen, Pierce, and House. Despite matching each other shot for shot in the finals, House edged Pierce in overtime. That didn't stop Pierce from continuing his campaigning to be a part of the contest next month.

"I think I have a good chance," said Pierce. "I've really put in the time -- I've been doing a lot of shooting, more so than in the past, and I want to redeem myself for 2002 when I only made [eight] shots. I was embarrassing the franchise."

Pierce and Steve Smith tied for the lowest first-round total that year (by comparison, Wesley Person topped the first round making 21 shots, while Ray Allen netted 14 and didn't advance). Peja Stojakovic prevailed that year.

The Celtics haven't had a strong showing in the 3-point contest since Larry Bird dominated, with Antoine Walker doing even worse than Pierce the following year with seven first-round makes in 2003.

Pierce said he thought it was up to the NBA to decide who gets in, but noted, "percentage-wise, I'm one of the top 3-point shooters in the league. Hopefully I get a chance."

The fact that Pierce is likely to earn a trip to Dallas to compete in Sunday's game should only strengthen his chances. Pierce currently sits third in the NBA at 46.7 percent and is second in the Eastern Confernece to only Cleveland's Daniel Gibson, though Pierce has made 23 more 3-pointers this season.

By comparison, House is shooting only 37.1 percent this year, but the Celtics have helped take his campaign viral in a series of YouTube spots that showcase House's talents from beyond the arc (our favorite is embedded below). House's triumph in Saturday's team competition is sure to only add fuel to his "Get me to Dallas" fire.

The battle of attrition simply won't end for the Celtics.

According to the team, reserve guard Eddie House, who missed the opener of this three-game road trip Wednesday in Miami due to illness, joined his teammates Friday morning in Atlanta and participated in the shootaround before tonight's battle with the Hawks.

But now guard Tony Allen, who filled in so admirably when Paul Pierce was sidelined for five games due to a right knee infection, is battling an illness of his own and did not take part in the shootaround.