The Boston Celtics have extended three invites for their 2011-2012 training camp, which is scheduled to being on Friday afternoon. Michael Sweetney, Jamal Sampson and Greg Stiemsma have all received camp invites from the C's, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Sweetney, a forward, had a training camp stint with the Celtics two years ago but was cut prior to the start of the season. Sweetney is a former No. 9 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks. Sweetney played in New York for two seasons. In his rookie campaign, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds but improved dramatically in his second season, averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 77 games.
In 2005, Sweetney was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he played two seasons. In the 2005-06 season, Sweetney averaged 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 66 games. The next season, he fell off track, averaging only 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 48 games. Sweetney, listed at 6-foot-8 and 275-pounds, has had conditioning problems in his NBA career.
Sampson, a forward-center, was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft. Sampson played five seasons in the NBA, each with a different team, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. In 72 games, Sampson averages 2.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Stiemsma, a 6-foot-11 center from the Wisconsin Badgers and the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, has never played in the NBA. In two seasons with the Skyforce, Stiemsma averaged 8.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in 46 games.
For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.