According to multiple reports, newly-signed swingman Mickael Pietrus isn't expected to play for Celtics until Friday's home opener against the Pistons at TD Garden. He will not be joining the team during its current three-game road trip, which includes stops in Miami and New Orleans, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Pietrus, who inked a one-year deal worth $1.3 million with the Celts, is scheduled to undergo a physical Monday. The 29-year-old is coming off an offseason in which he underwent surgery on his right knee. The ailment forced Pietrus to miss the last 12 games of the Phoenix Suns' 2010-11 regular season and led the Toronto Raptors to call off a deal for the eight-year veteran earlier this month. The Suns ultimately worked out a buyout for Pietrus, allowing for the signing by the Celtics.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters Friday that acquisitions, such as the 6-foot-6 Pietrus, might not be eased into action as if it was a regularly spaced-out schedule.
"Usually, if you did add a player, you would practice and show them (the system)," Rivers said. "But I don't think that anyone who gets a player this year, at any point, off of trades or whatever, it's going to be throw them in the fire and figure it out. That's the year we're going to have."
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