Tracking the Preaux Career of Orien Greene

[JMV JustMyView]

How can a player sign a contract and not even know if the team will draft him?

[BrockMeaux]

Apparently, it's a good thing he's got a guaranteed contract...he's not on their summer league roster because he just had surgery on something in his foot, which isn't usually good for a 2nd round pick trying to make his way into the league.

[NewsCopy]

Surgery won't keep Greene from getting foot in door

Maybe it was a sign when Celtics coach Doc Rivers called Gerald Green by his first name during summer league practices. Rivers probably figured using the 18th overall pick's last name would cause confusion. After all, when training camp starts the Celtics will be seeing more green than usual with Gerald Green under contract, and 53d overall pick Orien Greene expected to follow soon.

With surgery to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot two days before summer league began, Greene became an afterthought in Las Vegas. But that was anything but the case inside the Celtics' organization. In fact, although Greene could have played through the injury, he underwent surgery, which was performed by team doctor Brian McKeon, because he essentially was assured a place on the 2005-06 roster.

''The procedure on the foot was something that was necessary," said Greene's agent, Jason Levien. ''There was no need to play in the summer league because the Celtics felt very comfortable in his abilities. We're hopeful that we'll solidify a deal in the next two to three weeks. He brings something to the table. It's likely he'll be contributing this year."

Expect Greene's contract to be similar to the one signed by second-round pick Justin Reed last season. The Celtics will likely guarantee Greene's deal for next season, then hold a team option for 2006-07. But Greene should see more playing time than Reed did during his rookie year, if not in the NBA then in the NBDL. As part of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can send young players to a developmental league affiliate, where minutes will be more plentiful, though Greene and his agent believe he can earn playing time with the Celtics.

In some ways, Orien Greene represents the flip side of Gerald Green, who entered the NBA right out of high school. After earning McDonald's All-America honors in high school, Greene opted to attend the University of Florida. The 6-foot-5-inch point guard never fit in with the Gators, and was forced to play small forward on occasion. He transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette and had a successful, yet injury-riddled college career.

To his credit, Greene reached the NCAA Tournament four times. Long and athletic, Greene should prove to be a defensive asset as he can guard multiple positions.

The source of the story

[Frontrow Fan]

Celtics second-round draft pick Orien Greene underwent surgery to mend a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot yesterday at New England Baptist Hospital and will miss the team's summer league games in Las Vegas.
Greene, the 53rd overall selection, is a 6-foot-4 guard out of Louisiana-Lafayette. New Celts physician Brian McKeon performed the operation.

M&R SPORTS Basketball - Game Box Score
DALLAS MAVERICKS vs. HEAT
Date: 07/14/2005 Time: 3:00 Site: LB STATE/SUMMER PRO LEAGUE Attendance: Unknown

Visitors: HEAT
## Name P FG 3 Pt FT PTS ORB DRB TR PF AST TO BS ST MIN
31 TIRAS WADE 3/7 1/1 0/0 7 2 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 21:00

[JMV JustMyView]

Hope Orien gets better soon...

[Corndog308]

I know. I'd love to see him in a highlight on ESPN in a Celtics uni!!

[DaddyCajun]

Same for me, heal up Oriene!!! Any word on Tiras?


Geaux Louisiana!!

DaddyCajun

[RaginCager]

M&R SPORTS Basketball - Game Box Score
DALLAS MAVERICKS vs. HEAT
Date: 07/14/2005 Time: 3:00 Site: LB STATE/SUMMER PRO LEAGUE Attendance: Unknown

Visitors: HEAT
## Name P FG 3 Pt FT PTS ORB DRB TR PF AST TO BS ST MIN
31 TIRAS WADE 3/7 1/1 0/0 7 2 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 21:00

Geaux Tiras

[ULLguy13]

Orien Greene signs 3 year, $1.8 million contract with Celtics
25th July, 2005 - 7:23 pm
DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony - Sources have exclusively confirmed today to DraftExpress.com’s Jonathan Givony that Louisiana Lafayette point guard Orien Greene has been inked to a 3 year, $1.8 million contract by the Boston Celtics . Greene, a 6-5, 210 pound pure PG was the #53 pick in this year’s draft. He was called one of the biggest sleepers in the draft by DraftExpress back in April, but was not invited by the NBA to either Portsmouth or the Chicago Pre-Draft camp after averaging only 11 points a game last season.

The first year of his contract will be fully guaranteed according to the source, while the 2nd year is partially guaranteed and the 3rd year is a team option. The Celtics had to dip into their Mid-Level Exception to lock him up for the three year deal, as Greene will earn more than the NBA minimum.

His agent, Jason Levien was contacted by DraftExpress and had this to say: “Orien Greene is very excited to sign with the Boston Celtics , after being the only mid-major conference player in the NCAA to be drafted. It’s pretty amazing if you consider that he did not play in even one Summer League game after undergoing surgery shortly after the draft, which should tell you all you need to know about the confidence the Celtics have in his ability as a player. We’re expecting Orien to compete for minutes this year already in Boston.” [READ]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/36779/20050725/orien_greene_signs_3_year

[NewsCopy]

The Celtics plan to finalize a deal with second-round draft pick Orien Greene today, according to his agent Jason Levien. Greene, a 6-foot-4-inch point guard from the University of Louisiana, joins a young roster that should offer plenty of opportunity to earn playing time. The multiyear deal should include a substantial guarantee and could be worth as much as $1.8 million.

Yesterday, there was some confusion as to whether the sides had agreed to terms. Levien spoke with Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge late last night to clear up the situation.

''What's pretty impressive about this is he's the only mid-major college player drafted in either round," said Levien. ''Then he doesn't have the opportunity to play in the summer league and he still obtains a real commitment from the Celtics."

Boston brought Greene, the 53d pick, to town for a predraft workout in May and liked the 23-year-old, though team officials suggested he work on his shot and explosiveness. Greene went back to Florida and did just that under the guidance of David Thorpe at the 5 Star Pro Training Center in Clearwater. When Greene returned for a second predraft workout in June, team officials were as impressed with his talent as with the improvement he made. When he reports for training camp, Greene hopes to make equally quick progress and contribute to the team this season.

''I'm just excited about it," said Greene. ''I'm ready to get back on the court and get started. Being a young team, we should jell well and I see a tremendous opportunity to get significant minutes."

To that end, Greene has chosen to spend the remainder of his summer in Boston working out and rehabilitating from recent surgery on his right foot for a fractured fifth metatarsal. The Celtics needed to convince Greene to skip summer league and have the operation so he could be ready for the start of training camp. Greene played with the fracture since last August.

The rest of the story

By Shira Springer, Globe Staff