"We would love him, but we're going to wait it out."

The Celtics haven't given up on the idea that P.J. Brown could come back, but they doubt he's coming out of retirement again. Alonzo Mourning's name is still being floated, and there is hope they could get a shot at Joe Smith. There is talk Oklahoma City could buy out Smith's contract, and word is strong the club is at least serious about trading him.

The Celtics can't and won't discuss him publicly, but he would seem to fit the club's need for a veteran big man.

--Patrick O'Bryant still hasn't cracked the Celtics' rotation, but at least he's taking responsibility for his two years with Golden State.

"Obviously, I'd like to prove to them that I'm better than what they thought I was," he said, "But I think I messed up those two years myself. I've got to take a lot of the blame for that. Now I've just got to take it as a learning experience and try to grow from there."

Asked to expand on "messed up," O'Bryant, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft, said, "Just work ethic, messing up sometimes... just things like that that they probably looked down upon.

"I've got to take the blame for it, because in the end, it's all on me to prove whatever notions they have of me wrong."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Needless to say, that was a lesson well-learned from NBA champions." -- Kings coach Kenny Natt after a 45-point loss to the Celtics.