Despite rumors that the Celtics may be interested in immediately filling the roster spot vacated by Darko Milicic (possibly with free agent forward Kenyon Martin), Celtics coach Doc Rivers said there is no sense of urgency to sign a new player.
"No rush. No rush, at all," Rivers said. "We're going to look around, but I can tell you we're in no rush."
According to Rivers, Milicic "most likely" would be leaving the team to be with his ailing mother in Serbia.
The coach said that the combination of a lack of playing time (totaling just four minutes this season), and the condition of his mother paved the way for the forward's decision. Rivers did say that he didn't believe there was intention on Milicic's behalf not to finish out the season when he first joined the team.
"We were hoping not," Rivers said. "But his mom got sick, he's not playing … It happens. I didn't fight it much. I told him he has to do what he thinks is right and I'm going to support him one way or the other. It's been going on for a little bit now."
Rivers said the news of his mother's illness seemingly did have an effect on Milicic over the past few weeks.
"I'm assuming it did because you could see a change when he found out his mom wasn't doing well," the coach said.
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