Just 83 days before the 2008-2009 NBA regular season begins, the NBA has released its schedule.

The Celtics have 25 nationally televised games, not including NBA TV: 10 on ESPN, nine on TNT, and six on ABC.

Celtics Preseason Opener: October 8 - Philadelphia @ Boston - 7:00 pm ET at the Mullins Center (UMass) - Amherst, MA.

2008-2009 Opener: October 28 - Cleveland @ Boston - 8:00 pm ET - TNT. Coverage, including the ring ceremony, begins at 7:00 pm ET.

Back-to-Backs: 17

Click here to view Boston’s full schedule.

From Marc Spears:

The Celtics will be leaving the Boston area for training camp again next season, but won’t be traveling nearly as far.

General manager Danny Ainge confirmed yesterday that the defending NBA champions will hold camp at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. An NBA official said players must report Sept. 29, with practice beginning the next day. The Celtics had camp in London and Rome prior to last season and played two exhibition games there.

“It’s closer and it’s away,” said Ainge in a telephone interview. “We looked at Vermont a couple of years ago.”

Coach Doc Rivers and his players raved about holding camp in Europe last year and thought it helped a team with many new players bond quickly. Rivers had expressed hope that the Celtics would have training camp outside the Boston area again next season. Ainge, however, didn’t feel as good about last year’s camp, since there was a lot more on the team’s plate than basketball while in Europe.

“I think there were distractions,” he said. “It was great for the players to spend time together . . . but I think a training camp anywhere would have been special and the motivation would be special.”

With such a short offseason, it just doesn’t make sense to travel to far away places like last year. I also agree with Danny in a way; guys would have been hyped and motivated anywhere, especially Kevin Garnett. Once you have a guy like KG setting the tone, everyone will follow, whether you’re in Rome or on an outdoor court in Cambridge.

Not to mention, having camp back close to home will be great for us fans. The lack of daily coverage last year was tough for me to deal with. I was constantly itching for updates, but you obviously don’t get as many when the team is that far away. All the outlets will be there in Rhode Island, giving us the kind of coverage that we’re used to again.

Turkey squared off with the United States exhibition-style this morning, and I was able to get my first in-game look at Semih Erden, who the Celtics selected 60th overall in last month’s NBA Draft.

Our brand new seven-foot draftee was up and down.

Early in the first quarter, Erden put promising physicality on display against the man-child, Dwight Howard. Deep down, everybody was well-aware that Howard was the most physically dominant big man on the floor, but Erden didn’t let the 6′11” specimen get into his head. He put a body on him, disrupted him inside, and showed some toughness.

An international center with a physical spirit? I like.

Offensively, he showed terrific fundamentals and a little versatility, as he worked inside as well as stepped out as far as three-point territory (though he missed the shot). Granted, he shot just 1-8 from the floor and scored just five points, but it was nice to see some polish from the 22-year-old.

Physically, he’s no Dwight Howard or even a Carlos Boozer, but he showed some mobility and willingness to run the floor.

From my point of view, his biggest flaw is his fluidity. He has good hands, some toughness, and seems to know how to get position and box out. The problem is that he doesn’t always gain position, on account of his shaky footwork. In addition, he didn’t look like he knew exactly where to be on a few possessions, which is expected from a 22-year-old big.

He did some good things, he did some questionable things, and he looks like a bit of a project. But with the 60th pick, what do you expect? With proper tutelage from our man Clifford Ray in areas such as footwork and timing, Erden may have a chance to make the Celtics’ roster at some point.

For more on the game in general, you can check out my full USA/Turkey game recap here.

Click here to see more J.R. Giddens pictures from the rookie photo shoot.

Click here to see pictures of randomly assorted rookies from other teams.

With Finley apparently out of the market for European offers, Thomas said Finley had no shortage of NBA offers. His first choice would be to return to the Spurs. Contrary to reports based on San Antonio’s signing of guard Roger Mason Jr., Thomas said the Spurs are very interested in keeping Finley.

Speculation around the league, though, has Finley looking at league powers like the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.

“There are other teams, championship-caliber teams that want Michael,” Thomas said. “But he is not going to be in a hurry. If you know Michael, you know he is going to think about this very carefully and make the right decision for him and his family. He won a ring with San Antonio and he will never forget that. So, that will weigh into his decision.”

Finley would be an interesting option. He’s got 13 years of NBA experience, a championship (2007) under his belt, and he certainly could fill that spot-up shooting role that this team lost in James Posey. Finley could be had cheap, and it’s a given that the 35-year-old would only want a short-term deal before officially hanging it up.

NBA 2k9 will be in stores on October 7 for the following platforms:

• PS2
• PS3
• XBOX 360

According to the Boston Herald:

Tony Allen and Eddie House are staying in the fold.

According to Danny Ainge, the Celtics have agreed to terms with each on two-year contracts.

Ainge would not be specific on the financial figures, but according to a source, both are being paid in the mid-$2 million range.

In the case of House, the money is roughly half the mid-level exception of $5.585 million.

The Celtics did not have to use any of the mid-level on Allen, because he has been with the club four years and the team thus has his “Bird rights.”

It’s nice to finally get something done.

On House: I’ve been one of those fans that have called for a backup point guard that can be more trusted handling the ball, but I’m certainly not going to complain about Eddie House staying in green. He’s a true professional, he brings a ton of energy, and he was a vital piece to our 2008 NBA title. Take away a couple spot-up jumpers from House, we may not be all smiles at this point in time. At two years just over $2 million per, that’s a very reasonable price. Welcome back, Eddie.

On Allen: This is where some skepticism kicks in from my end. Tony Allen is certainly a terrific perimeter defender, and when he has received significant playing time, he has played excellent ball for the C’s over the past four years. However, with that said, he’s no James Posey. Allen is listed at a generous 6′4” and certainly cannot defend the same kind of players that Posey could (tall, long, strong forwards). Allen is a two-guard. This team needs a big small forward. Could Tony Allen and J.R. Giddens going to cut it in 2009?

All in all, I’m not disappointed. While I’m still looking for Ainge to go out and pick up a veteran small forward to fill the void, we still have the financial flexibility to do so. With Allen’s salary attributing to Bird rights and not cutting into the mid-level exception, the C’s will still have roughly $3 million to spend this summer.

UPDATE: From Marc Spears

The Celtics agreed to terms with guards Eddie House and Tony Allen to return, general manager Danny Ainge announced today. Both will get two-year contracts (though House’s second year is a player option, according to an NBA source). House’s deal was made using a portion of the team’s $5.5 million mid-level exception. According to the source, House will make $2.7 million next season and $2.9 million the year after if he excercises his option.

House, who will enter his second season with the team, averaged 7.5 points and 19 minutes per game during the regular season, but those averages dropped to 2.5 points and just under 8 minutes in the postseason.

Allen agreed to a two-year guaranteed deal paying $2.5 million each year, according to a league source. Since the Celtics had Allen’s Bird Rights, they didn’t have to use the mid-level exception to re-sign him. Allen, who will enter his fifth season in green, averaged 6.6 points and just over 18 minutes per game during the regular season and 1.3 points in about 4 minutes per game in the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics have approached the Lakers about a deal for young backup forward Trevor Ariza.

Ariza would be an interesting pickup, as he is young, very long, athletic, and a skilled defensive player. In his Orlando days, if you remember, Ariza was always the guy that gave Paul Pierce some problems with his defensive activity and length. He could certainly fill a role for this team coming off the bench, and he would financially make sense as well, as his contract comes off the books next summer.

However, trying to break down a trade scenario involving this Boston Celtics team is one tough task. Would this hypothetical Ariza deal call for a sign-and-trade involving Eddie House? Tony Allen? With Ronny Turiaf leaving for Golden State, could the Lakers be interested in Leon Powe and/or Glen “Big Baby” Davis? No matter how legitimate this rumor may or may not be, it’s an intriguing tidbit to think about.

Hacksaw also mentions some other names that the Celtics have shown interest in:

The Boston Celtics, who lost James Posey, are talking to free agents Maurice Evans of Orlando, Matt Barnes of Golden State, and Ryan Gomes of Minnesota.

UPDATE: Barnes is reportedly close to signing with Phoenix, so scratch him off the chalk board. One year at the minimum, too. Figures.

Finally, Jessica Camerato of HOOPSWORLD sheds some light on the possibility of bringing in Mavericks free agent swingman Devean George.

Just a month after winning their 17th NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics suddenly looked vulnerable after losing swingman James Posey to the New Orleans Hornets. After refusing to tack on a fourth year to Posey’s contract, the Cs are in the hunt to find another athletic perimeter player to come off the bench. According to the Dallas Morning News, Devean George could be their guy.

George, an unrestricted free agent, has reportedly garnered interest from the Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks could also re-sign George for more than a minimum contract since he was on the team last season, but word is Mavericks president Donnie Nelson isn’t banking on bringing him back.

Like Posey, George doesn’t demand major minutes and has championship experience — he was a reserve on three consecutive Los Angeles Lakers title teams. He also shares the same agent as Posey, Mark Bartelstein.

The question is, though, how would George fit into the Celtics strong chemistry? A key to their success was selflessness and George created a reputation for himself when he initially blocked the Jason Kidd trade to preserve his Bird Rights. Playing for a championship squad is a different story than going to a lottery team, and the Celtics have to find a replacement for the coveted sixth man spot before the free agent market thins out.

Marc Spears reports:

The Celtics’ championship celebration tour rolled into Los Angeles Wednesday night, where the Green were honored with the “Best Team” award during a taping of the ESPY Awards at the Nokia Theatre (which, ironically, sits in the shadow of the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, who the Celtics topped in the NBA Finals).

Among the attendees for the Celtics: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine, Gabe Pruitt, Sam Cassell, and James Posey (who, earlier in the day, inked a four-year deal with the New Orleans Hornets).

Photo Gallery

Beautiful. Congratulations [again], green!