Boston signs Posey

[Folster]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47775/20070825/breaking_news_boston_signs_posey/

August 25th, 2007
Celts agree to terms with Posey
Posted by Mark Murphy at 2:13 pm
The Celtics just agreed to terms with one of the hottest free agents still on the market - James Posey, a player who should give the Celtics defense a significant upgrade.
This 6-8 forward, known in particular for his role as a defensive stopper on the 2006 Miami team that won the NBA title, averaged 7.7 points, five boards and one steal per game last season.
The deal came together with relative haste. Though Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ director of basketball operations, had been in touch with Posey over the last month, discussions gained momentum yesterday, after Reggie Miller informed the Celtics that he would not come out of retirement to join the team.
By this afternoon, the sides had reached agreement on a deal that will pay Posey just over $3 million - the amount left on the team’s mid-level exception - next season. The full contract will pay him $7 million over the next two years, with Posey holding an option on the second season.
Posey’s decision is significant, considering that the Celtics initially considered his price to be too high. But dynamics of the market drove Posey’s price down.
According to agent Mark Bartelstein, Posey could have received more to play in some other locations, but was attracted by the Celtics’ growing allure as eastern conference contenders.
New Jersey had been close to a deal with Posey this week, but had less money to offer than the Celtics.
Though Posey had been thought to be angling for a return to Miami, the Heat’s signing of Anfernee Hardaway may have changed his thinking.
His modest scoring numbers aside, Posey is considered a high-energy player who is particularly adept that shutting down opposing small forwards and big guards.
At the age of 30, he is not only considered to be a player in his prime, but also one of the NBA’s most highly regarded role players - in short, the perfect player to compliment Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

 

[CaptainInsano]

The Celtics are shaping up to be a very dangrous team..

I am starting to think there is no way in hell our running style will manage to get through dallas, spurs, and then the new super celtics.

 

[Nasser22]

If we get the 1st seed we'll only have to go through two and we can do that. But without PJ Brown or anybody close to his ability, we won't get to 6 games vs. the Spurs and the Mavs really worry me.

 

[CaptainInsano]

A lineup of Rondo, Allen, Posey, Pierce, KG ?

God forbid if Rajon turns out to be a capable PG in that system, that will really sting us in the ass. PG and ball movement that is the only thing I see as a big weakness for the celts , IF and only IF rajon is a bust or semi-bust.

 

[Nasser22]

Rajon had a pretty nice rookie season. I see him doing fine. The weaknesses for the Celts would be depth and besides KG, their defense is very weak. Of course, those are the same weaknesses as we have. The Celtics are getting pretty close to us.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns and Celtics will play only twice next season, so the Celtics' improvement does not impact the Suns directly. However, it does appear that they are willing to make the kind of moves that are necessary to challenge the league's elite.

In related news, Posey's salary is entirely in luxury tax range and thus will cost the Celtics double. I guess their ownership is irresponsibly throwing money away, rather than managing the franchise as a proper business. Shame on them for not following the unwritten rules of sports ownership.

 

[Nasser22]

The Suns and Celtics will play only twice next season, so the Celtics' improvement does not impact the Suns directly. However, it does appear that they are willing to make the kind of moves that are necessary to challenge the league's elite.

In related news, Posey's salary is entirely in luxury tax range and thus will cost the Celtics double. I guess their ownership is irresponsibly throwing money away, rather than managing the franchise as a proper business. Shame on them for not following the unwritten rules of sports ownership.

Come on...NBA Finals...



If we don't play San Antonio that is... :-/

 

[elindholm]

Come on...NBA Finals...

If we don't play San Antonio that is... :-/

Or Dallas, and if everyone stays healthy, and if the referees break with decades of tradition and start calling regular-season fouls, and if...

 

[dodie53]

i would love a phoenix - boston finals..

heck,
anyone from the east will do,
as long as phoenix gets there..

 

[Nasser22]

The Suns can beat Dallas. Losing Kurt wouldn't be a problem against them since he never played. Besides him, our team improved a little, Amare will be better, Diaw can't be worse...we'll beat them.

It's only one "IF".

 

[CaptainInsano]

I think the problem is we got better against dallas and worse against the spurs. Doesn't really make me feel any better obviously. I am starting to think this team needs to really strive to get that 1st seed this year.

Then we run into the problem of hill probably playing 60-66 games, how do we clinch first seed then? This next year is definately going to be a rough one.

 

[azirish]

Obviously the big story with Posey is the Celtics going "Red Sox" on us and paying far more than Posey would get almost anywhere else.

The implications for the Suns is obvious. If other teams are prepared to go into the LT area, it will give players like PJ hope they can get the money they want. As long as quality players are settling for vet minimum, they might be more inclined to settle.

Right now there are only two unrestricted bigs with hope of more than vet minimum: PJ and Skinner. Nobdoy is even talking to Skinner (as best as I can tell from public reports), but that may be because his initial demands are too very hight.

One thing to keep in mind, if the Suns get to point where they decide they must pay more than LLE amounts, it is not out of the question that they will decide to look at trades with teams facing roster issues. Since the Suns have a hue TE, they do not have to worry about matching.

 

[Rab]

Good signing for the Celtics. They're not joking around, that's for sure. They are going for the gold this year.

 

[Mainstreet]

Good signing for the Celtics. They're not joking around, that's for sure. They are going for the gold this year.

Yep, while the Suns are settling for the money.

 

[Rab]

Yep, while the Suns are settling for the money.

AMEN BRUTHA!!

 

[azirish]

The Suns are going to be in the luxury tax area even if their next two signings are minimum contracts. My guess is that they are offering more than vet minimum for PJ, though there have been no estimates of how much. IMHO, the final number for the Suns is not likely to be much below what the Celtics are going to end up with.

 

[elindholm]

IMHO, the final number for the Suns is not likely to be much below what the Celtics are going to end up with.

Hoopshype has the Suns at $68.8 million right now. They don't have Posey's contract entered in, but if it's true that the Celtics gave him what was left of the MLE money after signing House, they'll be at around $74.4 million -- and don't forget that they, too, have one or two more roster spots to fill. That's a pretty big gap. If the Suns add as much as $4 million more salary for this season I'll be amazed; most likely they'll try to keep it under $3 million.

 

[azirish]

I had not read their numbers lately so I lost track that they were that high. I thought they were at at $71 million with Posey.

For my math on the the Suns, assuming just under a million for Strawberry, I'm projecting about $1.8 for PJ (similar to what Hill got). It gets to be bit more if they have to sign a roster player while waiting out PJ.

If you want to argue about Sarver being cheap, this is the area where the complaint might be valid. The Suns have unloaded $11 million in salaries and would have been higher than this level if their original trade deal for Noah had gone through, so they should be properly budgeted for enough to get PJ.

 

[F-Dog]

Posey is a good pickup for Boston.

I'm still not that concerned about seeing the Celtics in the finals, though. Frankly, I might prefer them to the Pistons.