Davis happy to step out of Garnett's shadow

By: Chris Tomasson
Fox Sports Florida

It often works the other way around. When a player joins the tradition-laden Boston Celtics, it elicits giddiness. But not for Glen Davis. He was happy to be leaving the Celtics.

"I was really excited," Davis said of hearing the news earlier this month that a sign-and-trade had been worked out for him to head to Orlando. "It's a great opportunity."

"Big Baby" played four seasons with Boston, winning a championship and almost getting a second one before the Celtics faltered in a Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals. But Davis was tired of being a reserve at power forward behind eventual Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, and sought to move on when he became a free agent.

"My whole career, I was playing behind KG, and I don't think people really were able to see what I can do," Davis said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. "The times that I didn't have to play behind KG, I did a great job. Now, I'm (with the Magic), and I have an opportunity to be a starter, and I'm just embracing the moment."

The Celtics knew that Davis wanted to start. They were able to salvage the situation, helping get Davis to Orlando along with guard Von Wafer and receiving forward Brandon Bass in return. Davis' new deal is worth about $26 million over four years.

The 6-foot-9 Davis, who started Orlando's first preseason game Sunday at Miami, has a career scoring average of 7.6 and playoff average of 7.5. But Davis has averaged 12.8 points in his 31 career regular-season starts and 16.3 in his 15 career playoff starts.

Magic fans well remember one of those starts. Davis drilled a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer May 10, 2009 to give the Celtics a 95-94 win in an Eastern Conference semifinal.

After the shot, Davis accidentally bumped into a 12-year-old fan while running down the court in celebration. The boy's father, Ernest Provetti, who identified his son as Nicholas, complained before retracting his demand for an apology. But Davis apologized anyhow, and said he called the boy.

"I saw him at the open practice," Davis said of last Saturday's event open to fans at Amway Arena, and said that the boy welcomed him to Orlando.

Davis, who is a good defender and can hit an open jumper, is being enthusiastically greeted by plenty of others in town.

"He comes with championship experience, winning the Finals and going to Game 7 of the Finals, and learning under players like Kevin Garnett," said Magic swingman Quentin Richardson. "I think he's definitely going to help us."

Davis will help the Magic more if he can control his weight. That was a problem in Boston, where he had a weight clause in his contract. Davis said he was up to as much as 317 pounds in Boston, but he says that he's at 298 and wants to get down to 289.

"I've been working out," said Davis, who trained during the summer at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. "I still have a long ways to go to where I want to be. But I'm making good progress one day a time."

The Magic begin the season Saturday at Oklahoma City. Davis is expected to be on the floor at the start.

"He seems happy," Orlando guard Chris Duhon said of Davis. "Obviously, what he wanted, a goal of his was to start, and he has an opportunity."

Davis welcomes the opportunity. It's why he was happy to see Boston is his rear-view mirror.