Celtics Close To Signing Sean Williams, Waiving Jermaine O’Neal, According To Report

The Boston Celtics are close to signing journeyman center Sean Williams, according to a report from ESPN's Marc Stein.

Williams, a former first-round draft pick of the Nets, has bounced around the league and overseas for five years. He started the 2011-2012 season with the Dallas Mavericks, but was released in March after an unremarkable three-month run highlighted by his throwing-up on the bench after being out of shape in the first week of the season. For all his unfulfilled potential, Williams can still be a remarkable shot-blocker and affect shots at the rim, which is something Boston desperately needs inside. If he does sign, he'll return to the town where he played his college ball for Al Skinner as a member of the Boston College Eagles.

To make room on the roster for Williams, Stein also reports that the Celtics would waive the injured Jermaine O'Neal. The veteran big man has been unproductive and consistently injured since joining the C's last season. O'Neal's season ended last month with wrist surgery, just a week after Boston released Chris Wilcox. Williams would join Ryan Hollins as late-season additions in the Celtics' frontcourt, as they look to make another playoff run with the veteran core of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.