Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
BOSTON ó The Boston Celtics have signed free agent center/forward Shelden Williams to a contract.
The Celtics did not disclose terms of the deal Friday, citing team policy.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Williams was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft.
He was acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Sacramento Kings in February. He then appeared in 15 games, averaging 4.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.
The former Duke Blue Devil has posted career averages of 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game.
WILLIAMS SIGNS
ATLANTA ó The Atlanta Hawks re-signed forward Marvin Williams on Friday, their last bit of unfinished offseason business.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the restricted free agent agreed to a five-year, $37.5 million deal, with incentives that could raise the package to as much as $43 million.
“A big priority this summer was to retain as many of our free agents as possible and keep our nucleus intact, so Marvin’s return is significant for us,” general manager Rick Sund said.
Williams averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds during his fourth season with the Hawks. He was the second overall pick of the 2005 draft after spending one season at North Carolina.
The Hawks largely have kept together a team that reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade. They already re-signed point guard Mike Bibby and backup center Zaza Pachulia.
Atlanta also bolstered its backcourt by trading for Jamal Crawford and drafting Wake Forest star Jeff Teague.
“Marvin is an important part of our core, and we’re very pleased to keep him in a Hawks uniform,” Sund said. “As one of our talented and versatile young veterans, he’s shown improvement every year in the league.”
Williams could have accepted the Hawks qualifying offer of $7.5 million and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Instead, like Bibby and Pachulia, he decided on a long-term commitment to the Hawks.
GRIZZLIESMEMPHIS, Tenn. ó The Denver Nuggets swapped Steven Hunter, a protected 2010 first-round pick and cash to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future conditional second rounder.
The trade could give Memphis three first-round selections in the 2010 draft.
LEBRONAKRON, Ohio ó LeBron James is going to make the Cleveland Cavaliers wait ó and sweat.
James indicated Friday that he is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cavs until after the 2009-10 season and presumably will become a free agent.
PISTONSDETROIT ó A person with knowledge of the deal says Ben Wallace is coming back to the Detroit Pistons.Wallace will receive a $1.3 million, one-year deal