Sources in Boston said the chances of the Celtics acquiring Pau Gasol are slim.  The report indicated that the package would center around Al Jefferson, but the Grizzlies are not especially keen on what the Celtics have to offer.

?Yeah, but I know this one?s not true,? Jefferson said, before pausing to add, ?At least I hope it?s not true.?

Boston forward Wally Szczerbiak returned to the court Sunday after missing nine games with a sprained right ankle.

Szczerbiak wasn't expected to return until later this week, but decided to come back for the Celtics' game against the Washington Wizards after an encouraging workout on Saturday.

"I guess he had a good workout yesterday and he felt great, so he says he's ready," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

The Boston Celtics, according to Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post, are the front-runner to land Pau Gasol.

Boston is reportedly offering Al Jefferson in their package.

Sebastian Telfair lost his starting job to Delonte West and Rajon Rondo is eating into the remaining minutes.

?Oh, I?m overly pissed,? Telfair said.  ?I?m pissed at myself,? he said. ?I can?t be pissed at nobody else. Me being on the bench now, I can?t possibly see it having to do with anybody besides myself.?

Delonte West (back) and Wally Szczerbiak (ankle) are both looking to return to the lineup on Friday against Sacramento after West ran through a full practice Wednesday, while Szczerbiak sat out but spent the afternoon working on cardio. Brian Scalabrine (knee) also sat out practice, and while he was shooting around afterward, he's not expected to be ready for Friday.

Coach Doc Rivers expects to at least have West back in the mix against the Kings, saying that despite some expected rust, West looked great.

"We've got to go over some stuff, because we've changed some stuff without Tony and Paul," said Rivers. "Some of the things don't fit right now. We're a post team and a pick and roll team now."

The Boston Celtics announced today that guard Tony Allen had successful anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery along with cartilage repair to his left knee. The surgery was performed this morning at New England Baptist Hospital by Celtics Team Physician, Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by Dr. Paul Weitzel.

Allen is out indefinitely with no timetable set for his return.

Allen appeared in 33 games this season, averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. The 6?4? guard had set or tied career-highs in 12 statistical categories this season.

Tony Allen will miss the rest of the season with two torn ligaments in his left knee.

Coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Allen will be out at least six months. Allen hurt the knee when he landed awkwardly after an uncontested dunk in the final minutes of a 97-84 loss to Indiana on Wednesday.

Rivers said Allen "was not in good spirits" when he spoke with him earlier Thursday.

"As a coach, you can be emotional, but you still have to function," Rivers said. "He came to believe he could be a great player in this league and now he has to start over again."

Forward Wally Szczerbiak will miss at least a week because of recurring ankle injuries.

Szczerbiak, who is averaging 16.9 points, has already missed a total of nine games with sprains in each ankle. He was supposed to start for Boston on Wednesday night against Indiana but was a late scratch with swelling in both ankles and knees.

Guard Delonte West also sat out Wednesday with a sore back. Rivers said West will miss a game Friday against Toronto and then be listed as day-to-day.

Tony Allen scored 19 points for Boston before leaving with an injured left knee with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter.

Allen went up for a free dunk and landed awkwardly, writhing in pain for several minutes until his teammates carried him off the court.

Allen was taken to New England Baptist Hospital for an MRI.

"This is just terrible," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "When he came down, you could see his heel jam into the ground and I reacted right away because I could see it, I could feel it"

Celtics forward Wally Szczerbiak will miss at least a week because of recurring ankle injuries.

Szczerbiak, who is averaging 16.9 points, has already missed a total of nine games with sprains in each ankle. He was supposed to start for Boston on Wednesday night against Indiana, but was a late scratch with swelling in both ankles and knees.

"We didn't see that one coming," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He's got some swelling in his knees and his ankles. They thought that a week would heal things."