Former Los Angeles Clippers point guard Sam Cassell cleared waivers on Monday night and was planning to fly to Boston on Tuesday to sign with the Celtics.

"We anticipate him being a member of the Celtics," team spokesman Jeff Twiss said. "He is not a member of the Celtics until he signs, which will not be until he gets into town sometime [Tuesday]."

Cassell was virtually begging to be let go by the Clippers, who owed him $6.1 million this season in the final year of his contract, and be signed by the Celtics. He got his wish on Thursday, when Los Angeles bought out his contract and waived him.

The Celtics were allowed to sign him as of 6 p.m. Monday night, but Cassell was expected to finalize the deal when he arrived in town. Whether he suits up for Wednesday night's game against Eastern Conference rival Detroit is up to coach Doc Rivers, Twiss said.

Cassell's arrival comes a week after Boston, which has the NBA's best record (46-12) signed big man P.J. Brown. Brown, who had been out of the league this season, has not suited up for a game yet.

The 38-year-old Cassell missed four straight games with a sprained right wrist before being cut loose by the Clippers; he also missed 12 games earlier in the season with a strained left calf. In 38 games, Cassell averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 25.7 minutes.

Cassell was a member of the Houston Rockets teams that won NBA titles in 1994 and '95. His best season with the Clippers was in 2005-06, when he averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists and helped them move within a game of the Western Conference finals.

In Boston, he will be reunited with Kevin Garnett, his former teammate in Minnesota.



SI.com - NBA - Cassell expected to sign with Celtics on Tuesday - Monday March 3, 2008 7:28PM

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