HoopsHype.com Rumors

Montepaschi Siena made official the signing of Dionte Chrismtas. The American guard was free agent after his short stint in Russia with CSKA Moscow. Christmas started the season in NBA with Boston Celtics who cut him during the training camp. Sportando

Italy, Montepaschi Siena, Dionte Christmas 

Dionte Christmas: “@drbad_: @Dchristmas22 Dionte, you join to Siena?”< Twitter

Italy, Dionte Christmas, Siena 

Mens Sana Siena agreed to terms with Dionte Christmas, according to Il Corriere dello Sport. The American guard started the season with the Boston Celtics who cut him during the training camp. Then Christmas joined CSKA Moscow with whom he has played a couple of months. Sportando

Italy, Dionte Christmas, Siena 

Olympiacos is interested in Dionte Chrismtas, as reported by Sport24.gr. The American guard was just released by the Celtics during the NBA training camp. Sportando

Boston Celtics, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived guards Jamar Smith and Dionte Christmas. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Jamar Smith, Dionte Christmas 

Jared Sullinger is "Sully." Dionte Christmas is "Temple," because that's where he went to college. And Kevin Garnett calls Fab Melo is "Melo" because "I don't like really calling a man 'Fab.'" The Boston Celtics rookies are getting nicknames, compliments of the man himself known as "KG" and "The Big Ticket." Garnett went out of his way on Friday to make it clear that he's doing it to be affectionate and not because, like many veterans throughout basketball and other sports, he can't be troubled to learn their real names. USA Today

Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, Dionte Christmas 

"My personal connection is a nickname. I'm not disrespecting people by not knowing their names," Garnett said. "Some people don't even talk to rookies." USA Today

Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, Dionte Christmas 

Dan Duggan: From being around the Celts the last few days, Dionte Christmas carries himself like he's part of the team. Twitter @DDuggan21

Boston Celtics, Dionte Christmas 

The text message alert woke him at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. Dionte Christmas had been taking a nap, part of his routine to get more rest in preparation for his first NBA season. He reached for his phone and read the question on the screen. “Me and Jason are going to the gym. You want to come?” The message came from a mutual friend of Christmas and Jason Terry. The rookie bolted out of bed, grabbed his gym gear, and headed from his hotel to the Boston Celtics practice facility in Waltham for an impromptu workout session with his new teammate. “I definitely wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to do that,” Christmas told CSNNE.com in a telephone interview. “So I got right up. He said, ‘We’ll be in the gym in five minutes.’ I was there in three minutes.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Jason Terry, Dionte Christmas 

In August, the two officially met as teammates when they spent the week at Reebok’s Canton, Mass., headquarters with fellow athletes John Wall, Jameer Nelson, Ramon Sessions, and Maalik Wayns. They worked out together, ate group dinners, and relaxed by going bowling. During this time, Christmas and Terry also began developing a relationship that quickly evolved as the summer continued. “Once we got to Boston, Jason told me he was going to look after me,” Christmas said. “[He told me] we were going to get in the gym together a lot, he wanted to see me be the best player I could be for Boston and be the best person I could be, period.” CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Jason Terry, Dionte Christmas 

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 

Jessica Camerato: Dionte Christmas said he was "pretty close" to signing overseas. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas 

Jessica Camerato: Christmas decided not to after speaking w father who told him it's not always about the money and to keep chasing his dream of the NBA. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas 

Steve Bulpett: Dionte Christmas works out deal to be in Celtic camp. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

Steve Bulpett: Christmas will get a partial guarantee. ... Even if he makes C's and gets full year's salary, he's leaving Euro money on the table. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

The Boston Celtics have reached an agreement with free agent guard Dionte Christmas, a team source confirmed on Sunday. Full details of the deal are not known, but Christmas said following the Celtics' 92-77 summer league loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that the contract will be partially guaranteed. He'll go to training camp with the Celtics in September looking to lock down a roster spot. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

"I actually got the call before the game started," Christmas said. "I don't really know all the details now, but I'm going to go over them with the staff. But I'm just happy, man, emotional. I actually got the call literally two minutes before the game started." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

Dionte Christmas: Wanna think the @celtics for giving me this opportunity to make my dream come true ....#wordscantexplain Twitter

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Dionte Christmas, Training Camp 

The Celtics now have 13 players under contract for next season, quietly adding guard Jamar Smith two weeks ago. They are trying to add Dionte Christmas to the mix and add another inside player, as well. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Jamar Smith, Dionte Christmas 

Jonathan Feigen: Some interesting names lined up for Rockets summer team, besides, you know 1/2 the actual tm: Scott Machado, Zoran Dragic, Dionte Christmas. Twitter

Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Summer League, Dionte Christmas, Scott Machado, Zoran Dragic