WALTHAM, Mass. -- The news on Jermaine O'Neal is not good.
The Boston Celtics center might miss another two to three weeks, coach Doc Rivers said, due to ongoing left knee woes. O'Neal hasn't played since Nov. 8, when he logged nearly 11 minutes in the Celtics' 89-87 loss at Dallas. He had a second opinion while the Celtics were in Miami (he played for the Heat last year, so he was familiar with the doctors there) and was not with the team in Memphis on Saturday.
He was at the Celtics' practice facility Monday, but did not go through the workout.
"He's still going through a couple more evaluations,'' Rivers said of O'Neal.
The coach said he had not heard the word "surgery" mentioned in conversations about O'Neal's situation. Rivers said the team was not now looking for extra help at the position, adding, "there aren't a lot of good, 7-footers walking the earth who aren't signed."
Rookie Avery Bradley, like Delonte West (who was suspended for the first 10 games of the season), is eager to make his season debut. Bradley has been recovering from a left ankle injury and has been on the inactive list for all 10 games of the regular season, after playing a little in the exhibition season. Bradley went through a certifiable practice session Monday -- "it's the most he's done in a long time,'' Rivers said -- and said he felt great afterward.
"It feels good to finally be out there, getting a chance to practice with my teammates,'' he said.
If the Celtics choose to make O'Neal inactive for Wednesday's game, Bradley might get to dress for the first time this season.
Longtime Celtics reporter Peter May is a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com.