Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports that the Celtics will finally get help in the frontcourt. They are expected to sign 7-foot, 230 pound center Mikki Moore to a 10-day contract today.

The team was looking for a veteran player who could play multiple frontcourt positions. Moore will undergo a physical today and is expected to be in uniform for tonight?s game against the Wizards.

The Celtics were seriously considering Grant Long for the contract, but passed when it was learned that he has a broken hand. Long may still be an option depending on how fast his hand heals and Moore?s performance.

''We had a desire to bring in Grant Long, but Grant has a broken hand, so we are not going to sign a player with a broken hand,'' said coach Jim O'Brien. ''He's coming in to have our medical people examine the break and give us the best understanding as to when [he'll] be ready to play. We are in a situation where if Mikki Moore is the guy, then there will be no Grant Long.

''If Grant Long is able to play 20 days from now, and we don't think that what Mikki is giving us is [good enough], then we'll look at our options and they may or may not include Grant. My hope is that we don't have to be in a position to sign Grant, that Moore will be everything that we want, that he will be the guy that will be our 13th man. If Long was healthy, he would be coming in right now, but he's not, so we're bringing in the next-best thing.''

Moore played with Detroit and San Antonio over the last four years and is in the middle of a great season in the NBDL where he is averaging 15.0 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks for the Roanoke Dazzle.