His full name is Clinton Renard Moore. Mikki (MY-key) was his nickname because he loved Life cereal as a kid….according to the Kings media guide. So, I guess he’s really a guy with two nicknames.
Mikki Moore, alligator, snake, and reptile lover, will slither onto the Celtics team shortly, we are told. Whatever deficiencies he may have, I’m starting to like this guy already.
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald just reported it….
Mikki Moore is expected to be a Celtic by this time tomorrow, according to NBA sources. The 7-footer, waived last week by Sacramento, will by all accounts clear waivers Tuesday morning, at which time he will be a free agent.
If it happens, it will rejoin Mikki Moore to former team mate’s Ray Allen and Eddie House. I would guess that Danny or Doc might have talked to Ray or Eddie about Mikki.
Ray and Mikki were together on the 2005-6 Seattle team that went 35-47 under Bob Weiss and Bob Hill. House played with Moore in New Jersey in 2006-7 when the team went to the play-offs with a 41-41 record. They beat the Raptors in the first round 4-2, before falling to the Cavs 4-2.
While some think a deal was worked out with Sacramento previously, as part of sending Sam Cassell to them to be waived, Danny Ainge denies he has made a formal offer….
Celtic director of basketball operations Danny Ainge had no comment on the issue, other than to deny he has made a formal offer to Moore. It is known that he has spoken with Moore’s representative, though the same is true for other potential free agents.
But league sources insist Moore, 33, will pick the Celtics [team stats] over a number of other high profile suitors.
Mikki Moore, a 6′ 11″ 225 lbs. forward/center, is 33 years old and an 11 year veteran who is averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 minutes for the Kings. His best year was 2006-7 with the Nets when he averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting a healthy 61% from the field. Mikki’s career shooting percentage is a solid .548 and hits his foul shots at .744.
Play-Off Experience Isn’t Bad
Moore does have 15 games of play-off experience. He played in 3 games with the 2000 Pistons, and 12 games with 2006-7 New Jersey Nets, averaging a combined 29.4 minutes per while contributing 10.2 points on .545 shooting with 5.3 rebounds.
Moore’s career highs are: 24 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks
While this signing will drastically lower the chances of Joe Smith coming here, if Joe does get bought out, the Celtics do still have an open roster space they could use.
Some think that Stephon Marbury is the player that space is being held for. Talks went into arbitration today on a $400,000 fine. But there is no currently known movement on the basic contract with the Knicks. Once the arbitration is settled, it is hoped the rest is resolved as well.
Moore Facts
As a side note, Joe Smith and Mikki Moore were team mates on the Pistons team in 2000-1. Moore is nicknamed the Snake because of his affinity for reptiles. According to the Kings media guide….Moore “owns several varieties of alligators and exotic snakes, such as a pair of Columbian Red Tailed boa constrictors, a Burmese albino snake, and two American alligators.”
Ya gotta love it.
Moore is a capable enough offensive player and a better option than Patrick O’Bryant. Moore has deficiencies at the defensive end of the floor that need his attention on a team like the Celtics. But for short minutes, say 10-15 per game, he should be able to add value as a stop gap.
The Celtics play the Denver Nuggets this evening at 9:00pm.
