BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics, seeking a quality forward now that Larry Bird has retired, Thursday signed free agent Xavier McDaniel.
McDaniel used a clause in his contract with the New York Knicks last season to purchase his unrestricted free agency. To gain such an option, McDaniel paid the Knicks $500,000.
The Celtics will need all the help they can get up front now that back pain has forced Bird to end one of the great careers in basketball. Boston's problems are further complicated with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish nearing the end of their playing days.
'First, let me say that I am no Larry Bird,' McDaniel said at a news conference. 'There was only one Larry Bird and he was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I can't make the long three pointers and the behind the back passes the way he could. All I can be is myself and play as hard as I can.'
McDaniel rejected an offer of more than $4 million from the Knicks. Terms of the deal with the Celtics were not announced but McDaniel is expected to receive $1.65 million this season.
'I didn't know where I fit in the Knicks' plans. They discussed a lot of players but they had nine months to get it (my contract) settled and didn't do it. The Celtics got it done right away. They let me know they wanted me,' McDaniel said.
McDaniel, 6-foot-8, can run the floor and hit the boards. However, his play last season was inconsistent and he was never the force for the Knicks during the regular season as he was with the Seattle SuperSonics.
'The Knicks seemed to be more interested in statistics,' McDaniel said. 'They told me they were disappointed after last year based on what I did in previous years. When I sat down with the Celtics they said they didn't care if I scored four points a game as long as we won.'
Both Bird and McDaniel are represented by the same agent, Bob Woolf, who lives in Boston.
The Knicks indicated recently that they hoped to sign McDaniel after his strong performance in the playoffs.
'I didn't know where I fit in the Knicks plans. They discussed a lot of players but they had nine months to get it (my contract) settled and didn't do it. The Celtics got it done right away. They let me know they wanted me.'
McDaniel, who starred at Seattle early in his career before being dealt to Phoenix, was traded to New York on Oct. 1, 1991, for forward Jerrod Mustaf, guard Trent Tucker and two draft picks.
The seven-year veteran finished third on the Knicks in scoring last season with a 13.7 point average and pulled down 5.6 rebounds a game. In the playoffs, McDaniel raised his game a level, averaging nearly 19 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.
