BOSTON, Sept. 7 -- Forward Xavier McDaniel is expected to become the second Boston Celtic to ditch the NBA this summer after reportedly agreeing to a two-year contract to play for a professional team in Greece. The Boston Globe reported that McDaniel has agreed to terms with Thessaloniki Iraklis and was to leave for Greece Thursday.
According to the report, McDaniel's contract contains a clause in which he can return to the NBA for training camp if he gets a better deal. 'I have to stay 30 days and then I have 15 days to decide if I want to go back; that is, if I have something to go back to,' McDaniel told the Boston Globe. 'I don't know what's going to happen here. But I do know I can play and this will help me get in shape. I wasn't given much of a chance the last three years.' McDaniel follows teammate Dominique Wilkins, who signed with Panathinaikos in Athens last month for a reported $8 million over two years. The Globe reported Thursday that the Celtics have officially notified the NBA and agent Steve Kauffman that they have no intention of stopping Wilkins from playing in Greece this season. Wilkins had two years left on his contract with the Celtics but the deal contained a buyout clause, which apparently was being challenged by the NBA and the Celtics. The 32-year-old McDaniel averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 68 games for Boston last season, his 10th in the NBA.
