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Kevin Garnett, his eyes fixed low, walked over to Kevin McHale after the final buzzer and gave him a long hug. Several other Celtics followed, embracing the Houston Rockets coach and expressing their condolences on the death of his daughter before McHale wiped away a tear and headed for the locker room. It was a touching end to Houston's 101-89 victory Friday night, when McHale's current team beat his old one. "I got to go over and give him a hug and talk for a little bit," said Boston swingman Courtney Lee, who played for McHale with the Rockets last season. "I saw the tears rolling down his face and it was definitely an emotional time." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Kevin Garnett, Courtney Lee 

In terms of those 108 offseason signees who become trade-eligible Saturday, at least three names are coming up repeatedly on the personnel grapevine: Indiana's D.J. Augustin, Phoenix's Michael Beasley and Boston's Courtney Lee. There's a reason for that, though: All three are seriously struggling. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Michael Beasley, DJ Augustin, Courtney Lee 

“He can continue to call us soft,” said Lee following what might have been his best game of the season. “If we’re going to respond like this and play, I guess we need to be told that for us to wake up. … We got called soft the other day, and we didn’t like that. When you watch the tape, you see those guys [Nets] coming down, running their offense, setting hard screens, getting layups and dunks and wide open shots. We took that personally.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

And yet teammate Courtney Lee suggested Rondo was playfully upset because he thought he could have put up an even more staggering assist number. "He was actually mad about the 20 assists," said Lee. "He felt like he could have got 30 tonight." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Courtney Lee 

Die-hard's salivated at the notion of a near 50% corner 3pt shooter with a reputation for tough-nosed defense and heady transition play that promised options far beyond what the aging Allen could offer a new Rondo-led running attack. Lost in this fervor was a deeper appreciation for the position Lee was in when deciding how to approach the choices that lay before him as a first-time free agent. "Shoot, that process was pretty tough. When you look at the short-term you've got to look at all the possibilities; one being injuries, two being the team's [potential for success], those are two things that really factor into signing a long term deal. For a long term deal you're looking for security, especially when its a good situation like it is here, coming to a great organization with a core group of guys to win big and continue [to do so] throughout my career. So, it was definitely the best decision for the long term." Celtics Blog

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Courtney Lee 

Yesterday, Rondo was the latest to dismiss his former teammate, refusing to mention his name. “A lot of people don’t know that Courtney, I think, was second behind No. 20 (Allen) last year in 3-point field goal percentage,” Rondo said. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Courtney Lee 

Courtney Lee says he turned down more money to join the Boston Celtics. The guard came to Boston from Houston after a sign-and-trade deal. He said Sunday that "the expectations every year for this team is to win big and that's one thing I want to do is win big." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

Courtney Lee on choosing the #Celtics: "Which team is going to be better? Which team was going to be playing in June? The money was never a factor because the other teams I was weighing my options with were paying more. To better your career, you've got to make the best move possible. And winning is one of those things you can't put a price on." - about 5 hours ago Sulia

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

“I had a lot of different offers from a lot of different teams, but the one I really wanted to come to was Boston,” Lee said Thursday from the Boston Children’s Museum, where the Celtics held their Summer Soiree to benefit the Shamrock Foundation. “So, I spoke to my agent and I spoke to my family. It was a decision that I had to take less money to come here, but in that I’ll be winning, I’ll have a chance to play on TV. That’s what everybody wants to do. They want to win big and a chance to win a ring, so it was a no-brainer for me.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

Jessica Camerato: Courtney Lee said he chose the chance to win a title over money when it came to deciding to sign with the #Celtics Twitter

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

"I thought Danny did a good job of trying to replace Ray Allen. As you know Ray Allen went off to Miami, on his choice, but he was a great teammate, it was fun playing with him. But I think the guys coming in here -- Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, trying to get a healthy Jeff Green, even some of our rookies -- I think we've added a lot more depth, and it's going to take a lot of pressure off me this upcoming season." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Paul Pierce, Free Agency, Ray Allen, Jeff Green, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry 

Darren Wolfson: Unlike with Jordan Hill, the #Twolves never made a formal offer to Courtney Lee's agent. They thought one would come, surprised it didn't. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill 

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has agreed to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Courtney Lee, which will send him to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade. The Rockets will receive from Boston a Charlotte Bobcats second-round draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, forward JaJuan Johnson, guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center Sean Williams. The pick was previously acquired by Boston via Oklahoma City. Houston also acquires the rights to guard Jon Diebler from Portland. Boston completes the deal by agreeing to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Sasha Pavlovic, which sends him to the Trail Blazers. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Trade, Daryl Morey, Sean Williams, Courtney Lee, Sasha Pavlovic, Jon Diebler, JaJuan Johnson 

Chandler Parsons: Congrats @Courtney Lee. Dinner on you when I get back to Orlando. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Courtney Lee, Chandler Parsons 

Marc J. Spears: Guard Courtney Lee lands a four-year, $21.5 million fully guaranteed deal from the Celtics in sign and trade deal, source tells Y! Sports. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Trade, Courtney Lee 

John Hollinger: Hearing C Lee deal is more like 4.6M to start. Celtics paying Pavlovic's salary for Blazers and threw Portland a 2nd. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Courtney Lee, Sasha Pavlovic 

John Hollinger: With Pavlovic in deal, Lee contract can start at just over $6M and make $26M over life of deal. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Courtney Lee 

Steve Bulpett: Deal for C. Lee brought back from dead. Portland steps in as 3rd team. Celts also sign and move Sasha Pavlovic (w/Moore, Johnson, Williams) Twitter

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Sean Williams, Courtney Lee, Sasha Pavlovic, JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore 

Jerry Zgoda: Interesting, isn't it, that Portland was 3rd team that stepped in to save Courtney Lee to Boston S-T at 11th hour? Twitter

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Sean Williams, Courtney Lee, Sasha Pavlovic, JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore 

It took awhile and a couple of false starts, but the Celtics got their man last night, acquiring Courtney Lee from Houston in a sign and trade for JaJuan Johnson, E’Twaun Moore, Sean Williams, Sasha Pavlovic and a second-round draft pick. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Sean Williams, Courtney Lee, Sasha Pavlovic, JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore