THE NBA : Ellison Joins Rebuilding Celtics

Center-forward Pervis Ellison on Monday became the fifth player signed by the Boston Celtics in M.L. Carr’s drive to revive the franchise.

Since Carr took over as the team’s director of player personnel, he also has signed forwards Blue Edwards, Derek Strong and Dominique Wilkins and guard David Wesley.

Ellison, a 6-foot-10 shot-blocker, was the No. 1 pick overall by Sacramento in 1989, but played in only 34 games.

The last two seasons, Ellison, slowed by injuries, played in 96 games for the Washington Bullets. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last year. He averaged 20 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in the 1991-92 season.

*

Mark West, the Phoenix Suns’ aging center who in six seasons did not miss a regular-season game, was traded to the Detroit Pistons for second-round draft picks in 1996 and 1999.