Boston Celtics: The club signed both of its first-round draft picks -- Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins -- on Thursday. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Banks, a 6-foot-2 point guard from UNLV, and Perkins, a 6-foot-10 high school center, both were acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a draft-day trade that involved Boston College's Troy Bell and Duke's Dahntay Jones.

Boston selected Bell with the 16th overall and Jones at number 20 and then exchanged them for Banks, picked 13th, and Perkins, the 27th selection.

Banks averaged 20.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals as a senior. Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said Banks will be given the chance to win Boston's starting point guard job.

Perkins, Boston's first-ever high school draft pick, averaged 27.5 points and 16.4 rebounds a game last year for Clifton J.Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Bob Donewald Jr. has been named as an assistant coach. Donewald joins Mark Osowski and Stephen Silas on new head coach Paul Silas' staff.

Donewald rejoins Silas after spending the last two seasons (2001-03) as an assistant coach on his staff with the New Orleans/Charlotte Hornets. During his tenure with the Hornets, he helped the team to a 91-73 record (.555) and two playoff appearances.

Donewald also worked with Silas while with the New Jersey Nets in 1993-94, serving as a scout and assistant to general manager Willis Reed.

Atlanta Hawks: Draft picks Boris Diaw and Travis Hansen have been signed to contracts, and will begin practicing immediately.

The 6-8 Diaw, selected with the 21st overall pick last month, was a three-year member of Pau Orthez, France's top league team.

The 6-6 Hansen, chosen in the second round (37th overall), led Brigham Young in scoring (16.8 points) and blocked shots last season.

Both players will be part of the Hawks' roster that competes in the Reebok Pro Summer League in Boston, July 14-20.

Philadelphia 76ers: Former NBA coach Chris Ford joined the club as an assistant to new coach Randy Ayers.

Ford, who spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Brandeis University, led the Boston Celtics to consecutive Atlantic Division titles in 1991 and 1992, and also coached the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers. The 54-year-old Ford has a career coaching record of 311-358.

Ford won three NBA championships with the Celtics as a player (1981) and an assistant coach (1984, 1986).

The Sixers also hired Chris Jent as assistant coach/player development, promoted Bob Bender to assistant bench coach and elevated Frank Zanin to assistant coach/advance scout.

New York Knicks: Willis Reed returned to the club on Thursday in the newly created position of special basketball advisor.

"Willis Reed epitomizes the heart and soul of New York basketball, and we are very excited to have him return to his home -- Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks," general manager Scott Layden said. "Willis' experience will be invaluable to the organization from both the business and basketball perspectives."

Reed, 61, was formerly the senior vice president of the New Jersey Nets.

Reed, who was the captain on the Knicks' NBA championship teams in 1970 and 1973, will be involved in player scouting, recruitment and evaluation. He will also advise on decisions regarding various basketball operations, and be involved in community and sponsor relations.

A Hall of Famer who played 10 seasons with the Knicks and was selected as one of 50 greatest players in NBA history, Reed coached the Knicks for parts of two seasons in 1977 and 1978, compiling a 49-47 record.