HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets sent Courtney Lee to the Boston Celtics as part of a multiteam, sign-and-trade deal Friday.
The Rockets receive a second-round pick in next year’s draft from Boston (a pick originally owned by Charlotte), forward JaJuan Johnson, guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center Sean Williams. Houston also acquires the rights to guard Jon Diebler from Portland. The Celtics completed the deal by trading guard/forward Sasha Pavlovic to Portland.
The 6-foot-5 Lee played two seasons in Houston, averaging 9.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 139 games. Yahoo Sports reported that Lee’s deal is for four years and $21.5 million. Lee, a first-round draft pick by Orlando out of Western Kentucky in 2008, announced that he had signed on his Twitter account earlier Friday, before the teams wrapped up the other details of the deal.
“Want to thank all the ppl in Houston friends and fans,” Lee wrote. “Enjoyed my time. Also would like to thank all the Cs fans for the love.”
Hill returning to Lakers
LOS ANGELES — Jordan Hill’s agent said the backup big man is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kevin Bradbury tweeted the news Friday. Los Angeles acquired the 6-foot-10 forward at the trade deadline in March in the deal that sent Derek Fisher to Houston.
Hill played in just seven games in the regular season, but seized postseason playing time with energy and rebounding. He averaged 4.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in the Lakers’ 12 playoff games.
Kidd apologizes
NEW YORK — Jason Kidd has apologized on Twitter for his arrest on a drunken-driving charge after an accident last week. Days after signing with the New York Knicks, Kidd crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons on Sunday. Kidd wrote Friday that he regrets “any disruption my accident last weekend may have caused members of the community and want to thank the local authorities.”
Clippers add Grant Hill
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers signed 40-year-old forward Grant Hill. Hill said the Clippers’ success last season, the staff and the training facility were reasons he decided to join the franchise.
“I was just impressed with some of the things that went on last year, Blake (Griffin) and his progression, Chris (Paul) coming on board and some of the moves that were made this offseason,” Hill said. “It just seemed like a good fit.”
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