HoopsHype.com Rumors

According to a source close to the situation, suddenly, three NBA teams have shown major interest in the nine-year veteran and two of the teams seem very motivated to get a deal done. According to the same source, Pietrus also has a strong overseas option on the table that contains an escape clause. CSNNW.com

Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

The source says, "He's considering all of his options, but he prefers to play in the NBA and he's feeling 10 times better than last season. He's healthy for the first time in two years.” CSNNW.com

Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

His first knee procedure in the summer of 2011, was arthroscopy surgery to remove loose bodies. However, according to the source, the French surgeon didn't remove a large piece of cartilage and that caused Pietrus to suffer excruciating pain last year and he was forced to play 80 percent on one leg. Pietrus began working out again in France on Aug. 1 and has been pain-free ever since. “The swelling and pain that he was experiencing much of the year in Boston, are gone.” the source said. “Mickael is healthy and he's looking forward to next season.” CSNNW.com

Boston Celtics, Mickael Pietrus, Injuries 

Darren Wolfson: Nothing new w/ the #Twolves & Mickael Pietrus. But his camp says they think they're close to a deal with someone. #nba Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Mickael Pietrus: I want to choose the team that can take me the furthest in the playoffs. Thank God, I'm good financially. Le Parisien

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Mickael Pietrus is practicing with Pau Orthez (in France). Catch and Shoot

Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus, France, Pau Orthez 

I do know there has been some internal discussion of Pietrus, who remains arguably the best player without a contract. But the fact is, these guys don’t have the money to pay him, a lot of their exceptions were eaten up by the likes of Aaron Gray, Alan Anderson and John Lucas, all of whom fill roles. Now, I do think they should call Pietrus’s agent and see if he’d be willing to work on a minimum-value deal and I presume that call will be made, it’s only prudent business to do so. However, I doubt a team like Toronto for a minimum value deal would be attractive to Pietrus. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Among the free agents remaining on the market is former Celtic Mickael Pietrus, who does not want to play for the league minimum. The Bucks had expressed interest in Pietrus but he remains without a team. The Celtics still have their $1.95 million biannual exception remaining but are expected to wait until close to the regular season to use that, perhaps on a player waived by another team Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Darren Wolfson: Nothing concrete, but Kahn has spoken with Mickaël Piétrus' camp. Suppose if Kahn moves a guard, he could become an option. #twolves Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Gery Woelfel: While Bucks interest in Mickael Pietrus has waned, they're still in market for a big wing. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Bill McCandless, Pietrus’ agent, said his client is drawing consideration from several teams. McCandless confirmed he and Bucks general manager John Hammond have had exploratory talks. “We talked about 10 to 14 days ago,” McCandless said. “We’re waiting to see what happens. Mickael would be interested in playing for Milwaukee, absolutely.” Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus, John Hammond 

As Mickael Pietrus has discovered, there may not be much room left at the inn now that Dooling is coming back. That said, the Celtics have still not spent their $1.9 million biannual exception on anyone. Their roster, including Dooling and the recent addition of Jason Collins, is now one over the league maximum at 16. Guard Jamar Smith will be brought into training camp on a non-guaranteed contract, and guard Dionte Christmas is partially guaranteed. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus, Jamar Smith, Jason Collins, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

Mickael Pietrus‘ days in a Celtics uniform may be numbered. Pietrus is “still open to a return,” according to his agent Bill McCandless, but the 30-year-old free agent swingman will not play for the NBA’s veteran minimum salary — which, after his nine years in the league, is $1.23 million. WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

“MP will not play for the veteran’s minimum. Period,” said McCandless. “It’s not happening. That’s the beginning, middle and end of that. … He is not a veteran’s minimum player. There’s no chance he’ll ever sign for that.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

That leaves the $1.96 million bi-annual exception as the C’s only option, but that may not be enough. While Pietrus signed for the $1.22 million minimum after being waived by the Suns in December, the French-speaking Guadeloupean has “a standing offer triple that overseas,” his agent said. They’ve also engaged in serious talks with several NBA teams, including one Monday, “and the money was much more than the veteran minimum.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

In addition to their pursuit of Carlos Delfino, the Celtics remain very much in the picture for Mickael Pietrus. His agent, Bill McCandless, has told CSNNE.com that his client has had a number of teams express interest, but the connection Pietrus made with Celtics players and their fans is very strong. CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus, Carlos Delfino 

Jared Zwerling. Count Mickael Pietrus out for ‪#Knicks‬. He has a "huge" offer overseas but wants to play for an NBA playoff team for more than vet's minimum. Twitter

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Mickael Pietrus 

Dallas has around $4 million in cap space remaining to sign players, plus a $2.5 million "room" exception. There are a number of shooting guards remaining on the market, including O.J. Mayo, Leandro Barbosa, Marco Belinelli, Mickael Pietrus and Carlos Delfino. Mavs free-agent guard Delonte West also remains unsigned. There remains mutual interest on that front and a move might be on hold until the Mavs figure out how they will be spending their remaining cap space. Scola can be crossed off the list, but teams still have two more days to amnesty players. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Delonte West, Mickael Pietrus, Carlos Delfino, Leandro Barbosa, Marco Belinelli 

Ainge said the team has been in contact with the representatives of Mickael Pietrus, who had been somewhat of an afterthought. “We have been in contact with the whole list of guys you would look at,” Ainge said. “I don’t want to mention names, but we have been in contact with them. We’ll continue to find the best player we can. “We’ve added a couple of great professionals in Jeff Green and Jason Terry, and we drafted three guys that I think are very professional and add to the locker room. Talent is a hard thing to find but we put a great deal of value into what goes on in the locker room also.” Boston Globe

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Mickael Pietrus, Jeff Green, Jason Terry 

A. Sherrod Blakely: "If Ray comes back, I just don't see it coming together with the ‪#Celtics‬, but we'll see," said the agent for M. Pietrus. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Ray Allen, Mickael Pietrus