Net gain? New Jersey interested in Davis
Count the Nets among the many teams interested in a little Baby talk.
Glen “Big Baby’’ Davis, the Celtics’ restricted free agent forward, is being courted by New Jersey according to a report last night on yahoo.com sports.
The website, citing a league source, said the Nets still have their midlevel exception available and are wading through a group a power forwards including Lamar Odom, Drew Gooden, and Davis.
The team also is interested in acquiring Carlos Boozer, whom the Jazz are trying to unload.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said last week he wants Davis back and it’s believed he’d match any reasonable offer sheet Davis was tendered.
Other possible suitors for Davis include the Pistons, Hornets, and Trail Blazers.
The yahoo.com report indicated the Pistons offered a sign-and-trade deal that would have sent Davis, J.R. Giddens, and Gabe Pruitt to Detroit in exchange for Jason Maxiell and a first-round pick but the Celtics declined.
Ainge, 27, was chosen from more than 20 candidates, according to Red Claws general manager Jon Jennings.
Ainge, Danny’s son, played at Brigham Young University and was an assistant coach at Southern Utah University.
“I’ve been to as many practices and games as coaches who have been around the game for a long time,’’ the younger Ainge said.
“I’ve talked X’s and O’s with some of the best minds of basketball my whole life. I was playing one-on-one with Steve Nash when he was trying to earn minutes [in Phoenix]. That’s a huge advantage.
“As a scout, we spend every day watching countless hours, getting to know everyone’s style, going to practices of college teams and NBA camps, gleaning the best of the best. I’ve been preparing for my own coaching career for many years now.’’
The Red Claws, based in Portland, will be affiliated with the Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats.
