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Rivers repeatedly called for Green to get the ball in both games of the trip to help him get his confidence and rhythm. The consensus so far in camp is that Green is the Celtics’ X-factor, a hungry, talented, and versatile player who was a starter for years in Oklahoma City and is accustomed to carrying a portion of the offensive load. The Celtics were robbed of seeing him with a full training camp last season because of his condition, and his addition is the equivalent of signing a front-line free agent. “Jeff is very important for us, I try to stress that to him every day,” point guard Rajon Rondo said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but he’s going to be key for us this year. He’s versatile, he can play the [small forward], he can play the [power forward]. I think Jeff is capable of [defending] the [point guard] through the [power forward]. “It’s not just going to be Jeff, but he’s going to play a key role in our success.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green, Training Camp 

And yet there was Green, with an unshakable grin, chatting up anyone who would listen and even those that wouldn't. "I was happy to be back on the floor," said Green. "People don't make a big deal out of practice, but I was glad to have a practice under my belt and get going. ... I was trying not to smile too much during practice. I had to keep a straight face. I mean, it's hard. "I let some emotions go, telling all the players I'm happy to be back, just encouraging them. Just talking a lot for no reason, because I was just glad to be back on the floor." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Jeff Green knew he was ready to come back when he was playing a pickup basketball game at his alma mater. He told those in the game, “When I get the ball, I’m going to drive to the lane and I want you to hit me.” Sure enough, they tested Green, making contact with his chest in the area of his heart where he had surgery last January to fix a faulty aortic valve. “I wasn’t worried at all,” Green said. “When I got hit, I got hit right in the area where I had the surgery and it didn’t affect me at all. I think that is what got me through the rest of the summer as far as confidence and being able to build on what I’ve been trying to do. It was mind-boggling to go through it. First time, I was very winded but it felt very good to be back out there.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Now for Green, it’s onto the business of getting back into the Celtics system, something he thinks will come quickly. “I don’t think it will take me long at all, with me being around the team last year,” Green said. “I’ve been here since beginning of September and I’ve had talks with Doc and assistant coaches just to figure out different schemes on the floor. Just to put it [to work] on the floor, maybe a day.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Chris Wilcox calls Jeff Green his mentor. Green calls Wilcox his “scar buddy.” Considering that both are healthy enough, following their respective heart surgeries last winter, to start practicing today with the Celtics, this support network is already off to a strong start. “I’ll definitely feel a bond with Jeff Green for the rest of my life,” said Wilcox. “When he first came into the league (with Seattle) he was my rook. We had a bond right there. But he’s been my mentor going through this thing, me asking him what’s next, and what to expect. He’s been great with what to expect. “We definitely help each other out,” said the Celtics big man. “We’ll be working out, and I’ll ask him have you ever felt this before, and he’ll say yeah, all the time. If I have any problems pertaining to the surgery, he’s the guy I go to. I’ll ask him what’s next. He’s been with me through it all, and it’s a blessing that someone has been through the same thing as me. I know what to expect. I saw him here during Game 6 (against Miami) and he told me he was good, and I was like, Oh man, I have to get there. When I went home I was burning, just trying to walk. It was motivation and my adrenalin was up.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Chris Wilcox, Injuries, Jeff Green 

In an attempt to satiate those still scrutinizing this contract, SI.com spoke to three league insiders (Falk, an Eastern Conference scout and a rival general manager) who shed light on Boston's rationale, Green's true value and more. Agent David Falk "Like most deals, there will probably be people who think that he was overpaid. I always feel he could have got a little more money, but because Jeff had such a strong feeling about returning to Boston, he [did this deal]. I feel that if he would've told me, 'I don't care where I go, just get me the most money,' then he probably could've gotten $11 or $12 million a year. "Because Boston withdrew the [one-year, $9 million] qualifying offer in January [after discovering the heart condition], he became an unrestricted free agent six months before everybody else. We had a lot of discussions with people. No one should [discount] it when I said we talked to 14 teams. Some were serious, some were inquiries, and I definitely feel we could've gotten him more money." SI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, David Falk, Jeff Green 

Rival GM: "It's the same thing with Jeff Green. Go back to that deal that Danny made. He made a deal for Nenad Krstic, who's now in Russia; Jeff Green, who missed a season with a heart condition; and the Clippers' pick, which was supposed to be this jewel of a pick but ended up being 22nd. Out of that deal, getting Jared Sullinger -- if he can stay healthy -- is probably the best asset. [The Celtics drafted Sullinger at No. 21 with their own pick and Fab Melo at No. 22 with the pick from the Clippers.] But if that doesn't fall in his lap, because of Sullinger's medical issue, then what is he getting at 22? And it's all for Kendrick Perkins, who helps Oklahoma City get to the NBA Finals. "You're talking about a guy who you're now making a part of your future who Oklahoma City knew they couldn't win a championship with. He doesn't have a position. He doesn't rebound it well enough to be a power forward, he doesn't shoot it well enough to be a small forward, he isn't quick enough to be a small forward, so you can't replace Kevin Garnett and you can't replace Paul Pierce. So not only do you overpay him, but you don't get an [injury] exclusion on the heart?" SI.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Jeff Green 

The questions about his health are inevitable after he sat out all of last season after surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm, but Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green doesn't waste much time stressing that he's physically ready for the 2012-13 campaign. "Fully recovered, part of the team, cleared for everything," Green said Friday after joining teammates Dionte Christmas and Kris Joseph to run a basketball clinic at the Holland Elementary School in Dorchester, as part of a community service day alongside other members of the Celtics' organization, the Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare Foundation, and City Year volunteers. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Injuries, Jeff Green 

Jeff Green: B.O is killing Romney right now, this is amazing to watch Twitter

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney 

"So many things [were on my mind]," Green said Thursdsay in an interview with Celtics.com. "First family. My life. Basketball came last." Green had surgery in January, and during his recovery basketball wasn't close to being an option. For a long time, he said he struggled to do even simple tasks. "I view things differently now," said Green. "I don't take a lot of things for granted. After the procedure, just doing a situp was hard. Walking from door to door was hard. Catching my breath was hard. All the things that I do now were taken away from me. A procedure that only took a couple hours. "It was hard. It was like starting from scratch." Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Green was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm following a routine physical just prior to last season -- harrowing news for a player who had set a high bar for himself for the upcoming campaign. He told Molly McGrath of Celtics.com that "so many things" went through his mind when he was first diagnosed. "First, family. My life. Basketball came last. I mean, because being young, and not being able to play every day, you don't want to hear those type of things, that you have to stop your career, put it on pause, and have heart surgery. It was tough when I first heard the news, but over time and seeing my family, and meeting my family and becoming comfortable with what I had to go through, my nerves settled a little bit. But it was tough, it was real tough." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

"It was hard. It was like starting from scratch," Green explained. "Basically I felt like I had to learn how to walk again, run, breathe, everything. It was like being born as a baby but, you know, 25 years old. It was tough. I had to re-learn different functions of my body, running, certain movements. I don't wish that on nobody." The recovery process, which Green referred to as a "life-changing moment," proved to be lengthy, but over time, as his physical condition improved, he became determined to keep his absence from basketball as constructive as possible. "I made great use of [the time]," Green said. "Actually it was a blessing in disguise. I had the opportunity to finish my degree, graduate. I walked in May. I spent time with my family, so I used the time wisely. I came back and watched some of the playoff games. But the most important thing was that I had a chance to just be around my family and I got a chance to graduate, which was pressure and stress taken off my shoulders, so I used it wisely." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Gary Dzen: Green said he went back to school this winter and graduated. All his friends were gone. "I felt a little old," he said. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

According to sources, there were several reasons for the delay in getting things done. Green’s representative, David Falk, reported there were issues with the new collective bargaining agreement. But, in general, the parties just found the side issues were more complicated than expected once they agreed on the basic parameters of a four-year deal totaling some $36 million. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

Also, according to a player source, there were insurance issues to tackle. Green missed last season after having surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. While doctors have told the club there is less risk to Green’s career with this procedure than if he’d had a torn meniscus in his knee — and both player and club are confident he is healthy — there were hoops to jump through with the insurance situation. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

When asked if the Green signing would be the last major deal for the C's this offseason, Ainge said, "I don't know the answer to that. It depends on what opportunities are out there, but I like where we are right now." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

While all indications are that he has made a full recovery and might actually be even more fit now, skepticism will remain in play until Green returns to action. "When I sat with Jeff through the medical process and saw four different specialists about his heart, it was pretty clear that Jeff would return and that he would be in even better condition and in better shape," Ainge said in an earlier interview. "After his procedure, everything has gone great. He'll be out on the basketball court going full tilt very soon." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday evening that they have officially signed forward Jeff Green, ending more than a month of speculation over his contract status. Boston and Green have had a handshake agreement in place since mid-July, but nothing became official until Wednesday. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and Green's agent, David Falk, maintained during the lengthy delay that the deal would eventually get done, but wouldn't shed light on what was holding up the process. "We are thrilled to have Jeff back with the Celtics," Ainge said in a statement to the Celtics' official website. "Jeff's versatility on offense and ability to guard players out on the perimeter is something that we are looking forward to having on the court this season. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Jeff Green 

Jeff Green: FINALLY!!! Twitter

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green 

A bit of free agency housecleaning: The agent for forward Jeff Green, David Falk, told me last night that the four-year deal with Boston worth approximately $36 million should finally be formalized "in the next day or two...We just had some sort of technical and (salary cap) issues that were holding it up. Nothing serious." I'd reported in early July that I was hearing the deal was in the neighborhood of four years, $40 million and it wasn't too far off. So considering he's seen as a key piece of the semi-revamped Boston club, Celtics fans, do you like the addition or is it too pricey considering Jeff's health history? Sulia

Boston Celtics, Jeff Green