Greg Stiemsma will spend today being wined and dined by the Minnesota Timberwolves. And in the coming days, there will be more teams showing the Boston Celtics restricted free agent some love.
However, his agent tells CSNNE.com that a return to Boston is still Stiemsma's preference.
"He loves it there, and they've indicated that they really like having him around," his agent Mike Naiditch, told CSNNE.com during a phone interview on Sunday morning, the first day of free agency. "But we understand, and so do they, that this is a process."
With Kevin Garnett in the fold, Naiditch expects that will be the first of a number of moves made by the C's to bolster their roster.
While Stiemsma fits in with the Celtics' plan moving forward, Naiditch accepts the reality that there's likely other players at various positions that the C's will pursue before they get around to Stiemsma.
In the meantime, Naiditch will continue to field calls and inquiries from other teams to better gauge Stiemsma's value when the time comes to sit down and talk about a new deal with the Celtics.
"He's going to listen to Minnesota and he'll probably visit with a few more teams, too," Naiditch said. "But Boston is where he wants to be. At the same time, he has to make sure he knows what all opportunities are out there for him. But what he wants when all is said and done, is to keep playing for the Boston Celtics."
Boston Celtics
The C's made him a qualifying offer of 1.05 million last week, making him a restricted free agent. So if another team offers Stiemsma a contract, the C's will have an opportunity to match it and retain his services.
Having Garnett return to Boston certainly bodes well for Stiemsma, an understudy of sorts to Garnett, who on more than one occasion didn't mince words in discussing Stiemsma's future in the NBA and more specifically, as a Boston Celtic.
Hes playing good basketball," Garnett said of Stiemsma prior to the playoffs. "Were all happy for him, just because you want to see the hard workers and the grinders of the league get an opportunity and hes taking his. I truly hope that Danny (Ainge, Bostons president of basketball operations) rewards him at the end. If not us, somebody at the end of the year, gives him something long term to where he can build off of, substantial.
As a rookie, Stiemsma led the Celtics in blocks per game with 1.5 per game, along with scoring 2.9 points and grabbing 3.2 rebounds.