Celtics sign France's Pietrus, Grizzlies add two forwards

By Chris Bernucca Dec 25, 2011, 2:53 GMT

Los Angeles - The Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies did some last-minute Christmas shopping.

With the start of their season just hours away, the Celtics on Saturday night signed French forward Mickael Pietrus, who was waived two days earlier by the Phoenix Suns.

The Grizzlies made a pair of moves Saturday, signing free agent forward Dante Cunningham and trading guard Greivis Vasquez to the New Orleans Hornets for forward Quincy Pondexter.

The aging Celtics already are without injured forward Jeff Green for the entire season and All-Star forward Paul Pierce is doubtful for Sunday's season opener at New York with a bruised heel. Boston signed Pietrus after he cleared waivers.

'I have decided to be part of The Boston Celtics Family,' Pietrus wrote on his Twitter account.

Pietrus, 29, was traded to Toronto earlier this month, but the Raptors rescinded the deal after team physicians determined he had a knee injury that would keep him sidelined for two to four weeks.

He had the final year of his contract bought out by the Suns and cleared waivers earlier Saturday. The eight-year veteran likely will not join the Celtics until Tuesday.

'We are very excited to be able to add Mickael to our team,' Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a statement. 'His skills as a perimeter defender and an outside shooter provide great versatility to the roster.'

Pietrus averaged 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range in 57 games for Orlando and Phoenix last season. He reached the NBA Finals with the Magic in 2009 but was dealt to the Suns just over a year ago.

The Grizzlies also are trying to fill a hole created by an injury, hoping Cunningham and Pondexter will compensate for the absence of forward Darrell Arthur, who is out for the season.

The 6-8 Cunningham, 24, was a restricted free agent with the Charlotte Bobcats, who declined to match the reported three-year, $6 million offer sheet he received from Memphis. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games with Portland and Charlotte last season.

The 6-6 Pondexter, 23, averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 66 games for New Orleans last season. By trading Vasquez, the Grizzlies have rookies Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby behind starting point guard Mike Conley.

With the Hornets, the 6-6 Vasquez, 24, will back up Jarrett Jack. A native of Venezuela, he averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 assists in 70 games for Memphis last season.

In other moves Saturday, Nate Robinson and Eddie House - who were traded for each other in 2010 - were waived by their respective teams.

The 5-9 Robinson, a three-time winner of the Slam Dunk Contest, was released by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has averaged 11.3 points and 2.6 assists in 397 games with New York, Boston and Oklahoma City but managed a career-low 6.8 points last season.

The 6-1 House was let go by the Miami Heat. The 11-year veteran was a member of the 2008 champion Boston Celtics and has averaged 7.5 points in 717 games for nine teams. He averaged 6.5 points in 56 games for the Heat last season.

In February 2010, House was traded to New York in a five-player deal that sent Robinson to Boston.