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 Wednesday, February 9
Celtics, Raptors make a deal
 
ESPN.com news services

  BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics traded underused forward Danny Fortson to the Toronto Raptors for forward-center Sean Marks and guard Alvin Williams, ESPN's David Aldridge reported Wednesday.

Danny Fortson
Fortson

Alvin Williams
Williams

"We just weren't able to get Danny the minutes he was looking for," Celtics general manager Chris Wallace said. "We were not confident in our ability to re-sign Danny this summer. No one wants to lose something for nothing."

Williams was averaging 6.5 points and three assists this year for the Raptors. He will back up point guard Kenny Anderson on Boston.

"We needed to make a change there," Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said. "I don't think it was working for Alvin and it wasn't working for us."

Marks has appeared in just five games this season, averaging 1.6 points in 2.4 minutes per game. Wallace scouted Marks in college and liked what he saw.

"Basically, we get to try him out for the remainder of the season," Wallace said.

The Celtics traded Ron Mercer to Denver this summer for Fortson, hoping that he could bring along his 11 rebound per game average. But Fortson hasn't been able to find playing time for Boston at power forward, which is Antoine Walker's position.

Fortson was is averaging just 5.9 points and five rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game this season after missing 25 games with a stress fracture in his right foot.

"Danny Fortson adds another tough body up front that is crucial to any team's success in the Eastern Conference," Grunwald said.

Fortson's name had come down from his FleetCenter locker and he was not available for the Celtics against the Indiana Pacers. Williams and Marks were expected to arrive in Boston on Thursday and practice with the team in Salt Lake City after the All-Star break.
 


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