McHale, C's Agree to Terms

September 17, 1980

The Celtics will sign 6 foot-11 Kevin McHale, their No. 1 draft choice, to a multiyear contract within the next two days.



The signing of McHale became a certainty following a series of transAtlantic Boston-to-Italy phone conversations today between Ron Simon, McHale's agent, Celtic owner Harry Mangurian and general manager Red Auerbach.

McHale, accompanied by Simon, has been in Italy since Sunday where the two held conferences with officials from a Milan professional team. Simon had threatened to sign McHale to an overseas contract unless the Celtics made a counter proposal to McHale.

The guessing is that McHale and the Celtics reached a compromise. As a result, McHale will probably sign for $1 million over a five-year span.

It's believed that the Celtics will hold a press conference tomorrow if McHale can return from Italy in time. And McHale, an all-America at the University of Minnesota, could be in a Celtics uniform in time for Thursday's preseason workout at the team camp at Hellenic College.

Auerbach declined to confirm or deny that McHale has agreed to terms with the Celtics.

But McHale's parents have told local TV and radio stations in Hibbing, Minn., where they make their home, that their son has, indeed, agreed to terms with the Celtics.