Signing Posey to a 5 year long non-bird Rights Contract

[BballTim]

  I've said this before, but $30M over 4 years for a 32 year old that will be a backup wing player  seems like crazy money. How many contender's biggest need is a backup (or low scoring starting) sf? The main thing he has going for him is the lack of decent free agents this summer, so he might get the money, but I'll be curious about who his bidders are.

The MLE is around the median income in the NBA. Posey is at least an average player.  Look around at guys who get paid in this range, like Tonio Daniels, Vlad Rad, Eton Thomas, Nazr Mohammed, Matt Carroll, Jerry Stackhouse, Antonio McDyess, Bobby Jackson, Jeff Foster, Marquis Daniels,  Tim Thomas, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton,  Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins, Dan Gadzuric, Marco Jaric, Troy Hudson, Stromile Swift, Mike James, Mo Peterson, Jared Jeffries, Tony Battie, Raja Bell, Leandro Barboza, Mikki Moore, John Salmons, Sharif Abdur-Rahim, Nick Collison, Earl Watson, Donyell Marshall, Luke Ridnour, Chris Wilcox, Jason Kapono, Matt Harpring,

  But most of those players were expected to be starters when they signed their deals. The bulk of them are also either younger or taller. I honestly think that anyone who gives Posey that kind of money will have buyer's remorse after a couple of years. Again, I'm not opposed to bringing him back, and it won't bother me if the Celts spend their MLE on him, but I don't see that many other teams waiting to swoop in and offer that kind of money to him.

  For instance, the Lakers are said to be looking at him. But would that make any sense for them? They have plenty of SFs under contract. They'd mainly need himfor a matchup with the Celts where they'd have trouble covering both Pierce and Allen. Tey have problems on defense, but Bynum's coming back. And, after watching Rondo blow by their PGs, they should be at least as concerned about facing Chris Paul in the playoffs as they are about facing Pierce in the finals. Do they stay with their PGs and add Posey?

[wdleehi]

  I've said this before, but $30M over 4 years for a 32 year old that will be a backup wing player  seems like crazy money. How many contender's biggest need is a backup (or low scoring starting) sf? The main thing he has going for him is the lack of decent free agents this summer, so he might get the money, but I'll be curious about who his bidders are.

The MLE is around the median income in the NBA. Posey is at least an average player.  Look around at guys who get paid in this range, like Tonio Daniels, Vlad Rad, Eton Thomas, Nazr Mohammed, Matt Carroll, Jerry Stackhouse, Antonio McDyess, Bobby Jackson, Jeff Foster, Marquis Daniels,  Tim Thomas, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton,  Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins, Dan Gadzuric, Marco Jaric, Troy Hudson, Stromile Swift, Mike James, Mo Peterson, Jared Jeffries, Tony Battie, Raja Bell, Leandro Barboza, Mikki Moore, John Salmons, Sharif Abdur-Rahim, Nick Collison, Earl Watson, Donyell Marshall, Luke Ridnour, Chris Wilcox, Jason Kapono, Matt Harpring,

  But most of those players were expected to be starters when they signed their deals. The bulk of them are also either younger or taller. I honestly think that anyone who gives Posey that kind of money will have buyer's remorse after a couple of years. Again, I'm not opposed to bringing him back, and it won't bother me if the Celts spend their MLE on him, but I don't see that many other teams waiting to swoop in and offer that kind of money to him.

  For instance, the Lakers are said to be looking at him. But would that make any sense for them? They have plenty of SFs under contract. They'd mainly need himfor a matchup with the Celts where they'd have trouble covering both Pierce and Allen. Tey have problems on defense, but Bynum's coming back. And, after watching Rondo blow by their PGs, they should be at least as concerned about facing Chris Paul in the playoffs as they are about facing Pierce in the finals. Do they stay with their PGs and add Posey?

I will say this about the majority of the MLE guys, they are worth what they are payed the first couple years, then they become overpayed. 


Teams need to do a better job of not giving the max raise to these guys every year. 

[Siggy]

I'd put it this way: If we knew that we'd get the 2008 James Posey Performance for at least 3 years out of a 4 year contract I'd say give him whatever he wants.

Look at his history, though. He ran afoul of Pat Riley by getting fat after he won a championship. Could that happen again? He kicked it up a notch this year with great teammates and a new contract on the line. Plus, half his worth is as a defensive specialist, and primo defenders other than bigs go downhill in their thirties (see Bowen, B.)

This could turn into a millstone contract fast. I think maybe we got the best year of James Posey. Let's be happy for that.

[slamdunk]

Question. If Posey is a big contributor to two more titles would it be worth overpaying him in years four and five? Look at Miami when they let him go to save money. We all know how hard it is to build a contender so why risk it over a couple bucks? Penny wise, pound foolish I say.

[crownsy]

I'd put it this way: If we knew that we'd get the 2008 James Posey Performance for at least 3 years out of a 4 year contract I'd say give him whatever he wants.

Look at his history, though. He ran afoul of Pat Riley by getting fat after he won a championship. Could that happen again? He kicked it up a notch this year with great teammates and a new contract on the line. Plus, half his worth is as a defensive specialist, and primo defenders other than bigs go downhill in their thirties (see Bowen, B.)

This could turn into a millstone contract fast. I think maybe we got the best year of James Posey. Let's be happy for that.

how is bowen a good example?

while i hate him and think he's as dirty as they come, he played high level defense this year....not sure how he's going downhill fast.

he's what he has always been, a defenisve specilist off the bench.

i also find it hard to belive magicaly next year, we'll look back and say "yeah, thank god we didn't resign posey, we clearly got his only good year out of him."

the Maimi thing, all ive heard out of thier is riley complaning he wished they had payed posey this year, but that since they weren't a championship squad, it would have been a waste since james fits best on a contending team.

do you have a link to when riley called him out for not caring after thier win? not doubting you, just never heard anything of the sort before.

[Siggy]

Kobe lit up Bowen in the WCF.

As far as Riley, remember that he suspended Posey and Antoine in early '07 for not meeting the body fat guidelines. In retrospect, probably not a great move, but I think it speaks to his desire to try and motivate Poze in a post-championship year.

[Jon]

Ultimately, Posey is potentially worth the price of another title.  This is the same argument that some of us were having about 10 months ago when some people were looking at guys like Patterson and Udoka as equivalents to Posey, and that's simply not the case.  He does more than give great defense, he does more than hit big threes, he basically does every little thing it takes to win.  Moreover, as Allen begins to age, Posey is the perfect guy to have around as he can play 25 mpg and not give us a huge drop-off. 

Plus, you also have to ask yourself what else we need the MLE for?  Who else could possibly give the C's the production of Posey?  Sure, there are people who could score more, but that isn't what this team needs.  On top of that, while there are other holes besides the 2/3 spot, we should be able to fill them much the same way we got House, Cassell, Pollard, and Brown this year. 

[Mr October]

Put me in the camp of thinking that the C's will need to pay Posey the full MLE in order to keep him. And is he worth it? Yes. He is the most valuable FA from the C's perspective.

The exception, and who knows how these talks would go, could be to split the MLE among top guys and let Posey walk.

For example: Q.Ross for 3 million / year. And Mourning for $3 for one year.

We need to prepare ourselves for either only getting Posey as a big pickup... or watching him walk to another contender.

[P2]

Posey must understand that he has to take less money to make us a better team and increase our chances to repeat. But most likely, Posey will go with the maximum money option, still having a good chance to win it all.

[Jon]

The only thing the C's do have going for them is that Posey really only has great worth for a contending team.  While he could make the Lakers champions next year, he's not going to do the same for the Knicks or even the Sixers or Hawks for that matter.  So while we should have some competition for his services, it's not like we'll be competing with the entire league. 

[P2]

The only thing the C's do have going for them is that Posey really only has great worth for a contending team.  While he could make the Lakers champions next year, he's not going to do the same for the Knicks or even the Sixers or Hawks for that matter.  So while we should have some competition for his services, it's not like we'll be competing with the entire league. 

If Posey wants a full MLE multi year deal, I want no part of him, and I actually think we won't sign him in that case. But still, it is important to keep him away from the Lakers, Spurs, etc. However, we could use the MLE for two players to fill our holes, and if Posey decided to sign for 120% of his previous salary, we would be all set.

[Scintan]

Posey's a nice player to have coming off the bench, but a 5 year MLE deal is a bad idea, in my opinion.  It's just too much, both in dollars and in years.

[JSD]

Oh man, So what the Cut off for you guys!? There needs to be a cut-off. If Posey gets offered 4/yrs MLE you match that? To much.

In my book, unless its non-bird  Posey walks     Yeah I said it.

Personally I think a back-up PG and C (both from Miami) are at the top of the list as far as needs for this team. I think Tony Allen can step in after a year of rehabilitation and fill the role of the "great" James Posey. Don't get me wrong I love Po-z for 5 years non-Bird but I root for laundry and the full MLE will severely handicap filling our other areas of need.

[Mr October]

Absolute max i'd give: 4 years MLE. He is the answer off the bench at 3 positions. He'd be 35 at the end of the deal. Of course I'd try to get him for less.

And it all depends on how the talks go with the other free agents. It's not a cut and dry system. Do guys like Duhon, Dooling, Ross, Mourning, Barns etc want to play in Boston for under 3 million/year? Lots of questions. Only Danny will have the answers.

[wdleehi]

3 year MLE with full raises works


4 year MLE with smaller raises.