Hooped Up

Way back in 2005, the Boston Celtics selected Gerald Green with the 18th pick in the draft. Four years and NBA teams later, Green will now be playing for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia. Damn, it was all good just a week ago.

“I’m just glad Gerald’s still involved with the game,” Pierce said. “He’s got a lot of talent. We’ll probably see him again in the NBA some time soon.

“I think he’s still a tremendous talent, but, you know, it’s tough to try to make that adjustment out of high school, learning the pro game. In high school, you really don’t understand what it’s all about. I’ve always said that the easiest thing sometimes is making it into the NBA. The hardest thing is staying.”

It’s almost unbelievable that a guy with that much talent couldn’t find himself on a NBA roster, yet here we are. But like my Russian friend Yakov always says about players who skip college “blah, blah, blah, blah”. You’re right, maybe I should learn Russian to preserve the friendship. Good luck in mother Russia Gerald Green.

via Boston Herald

The Houston Rockets have agreed to their second deal of the day, sending Kirk Snyder and a second-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Gerald Green, according to FOX 26 in Houston.

“It’s like a dream come true. Never in my life did I think this would happen,” Green told Fox 26. “I am on cloud nine.”

Green, a Houston native, averages 5.1 points off the bench for the Timberwolves. He’s best known as the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Champion. He finished as the runner-up this season to Magic center Dwight Howard.

Snyder, a former first-round selection of the Utah Jazz, is averaging 3.8 points for the Rockets this season.

Sporting News

Gerald Green said the reason he wants to be traded is simply a matter of business. He averaged only 12 minutes in 21 games through the first half of the season, leaving him with questions about his future with the team. The Wolves didn’t pick up his contract option for next season, so he will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Gerald Green is ridiculous!