Suns waive Mickael Pietrus

[Jack_Frost]

One media from France (Basket USA) just wrote a quote from Pietrus agent, Bill McCandless

"Mike devrait recevoir quatre offres, et il donnera sa réponse �  18h00 (heure locale)"

"Mike recedived four offers and he's going to announce his next team by 18h00, local time" (i don't know wich "local time")

In another reporting they say Pietrus will decide in about 24hours. And they think the Lakers can steal him from Boston.

here you have the link
http://www.basketusa.com/news/89525/mickael-pietrus-reponse-samedi-a-minuit/

P.s. forget my poor english

[Fafnir]

Yeah the Celts or the Lakers probably have the best offers for him, but who knows someone else could swoop in.

[hpantazo]

Yeah the Celts or the Lakers probably have the best offers for him, but who knows someone else could swoop in.

looking at the lakers this year, I think the celtics have a better chance at winning a ring if that's what he wants most

[Kuberski33]

1)It's very possible his agents fluffing us and he's doing this to bump up his price because he wants to play for a nice team in the East- knowing that teams will want to keep Boston as weak as possible knowing that Green is out. (He is potentially a great Green replacement).

When I see something like 'leaning heavily' that to me is an indication that what you're suggesting is correct.  Sounds to me like an agent trying to drum up interest in his client...so we'll see.  Maybe the knee scares people off. 

Unfortunately when all you can offer is the vet min, you're basically looking at someone else's trash meaning to get anyone decent, you're probably going to have to roll the dice with an injury or personality issue.  Bottom line...I don't think we should get our hopes up too high....

[gar]

Don't know if there is really a chance we could get someone like Chandler who is younger and looking for a pay check Pietrus negotiated a buyout so a cut in pay may not be an issue for him.

Would rather have Chandler; but Pietrus is the next best thing. Keeps him off the Lakers. Lakers would be happy to have him sitting on their Bench rather than guarding Kobe.

Knee is a concern; but Boston could bring him along slowly. Need a vet who can pick up the system quickly because there will be limited practices once the season starts.

[cman88]

Article on nba.com states celtics are at the top of his wishlist. Cant get the link since im on my phone

[j804]

Via NBA Hang Time Blog

The agent for swingman Mickael Pietrus, placed on waivers by the Suns on Thursday, said four teams are most interested in picking him up once he clears waivers Saturday, with league sources strongly believing the 29-year-old will sign with the Celtics.

The Celtics are desperately hoping that Pietrus will clear waivers. Boston’s need for a defensive wing player is profound, and the Celtics know Pietrus well from his days with the Magic. Pietrus killed the Celtics off the bench in the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinal series, averaging 12 points in 25 minutes. He scored 17 points in three games of the series, including going six of seven from the floor, making all three of his 3-point attempts, in Orlando’s Game 7 win at Boston.

But agent Bill McCandless said Friday morning that he thought there was a “15 percent” chance that a team would claim Pietrus off of waivers before he clears. But that team would have to pay Pietrus the $4.2 million on his original contract (that is pro-rated for the 66-game regular season this year; Pietrus originally was to make $5.3 million this season). Pietrus and the Suns worked out a buyout that will pay him $3 million of the $4.2 million once he clears waivers; after that he’d be free to negotiate a new contract with the team that signs him.

Currently the most teams are offering Pietrus is the “mini” mid-level exception for teams that are more than $4 million above the luxury tax threshold of $70 million. The mini mid-level can run as many as three years and a little more than $9 million total. Pietrus, who was a key contributor during the Magic’s run to The Finals in 2009, wants to play for a contending team and is willing to take a little less than may be available to do so.

“In this case, cap space is a little less relevant,” McCandless said. “If you’re on a team that’s successful, then you’re successful.”

McCandless said that Pietrus got a clean bill of health from an independent medical examination on his right knee on Wednesday. The Suns had originally dealt Pietrus to Toronto earlier this month for a protected second-round pick, but the deal was voided when Pietrus’s knee swelled up after working out in Toronto. The Raptors then signed veteran Rasual Butler and got forward Gary Forbes from Denver via offer sheet. The independent physician “said he’s fine and ready to go,” McCandless said.

The Suns were still trying to work out a trade for Pietrus when they reached the buyout with him, and were not happy with his comportment while in Phoenix. Pietrus came there last season as part of the trade that sent center Marcin Gortat to Phoenix in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu going back to Orlando. Pietrus played in 38 games last season for Phoenix, averaging 7.4 points in a little more than 18 minutes a game, almost all of those as a reserve.

“You know the old saying, ‘all’s well that ends well?’,” Suns GM Lon Babby said. “In this case, it’s ‘all’s well that ends.’ “

I guess teams could still claim him. It also mentions he could be getting the mini-mle I thought we don't have that anymore? Nonetheless he says we're at the top of his list finally a guy that wants to come here, unless it's all to drive up his price.

[Inside-Out]

 Jeff Green with Dooling, Quisy, Bass, and Wilcox would have been the best bench in the league.

Pietrus filling in might still give us the edge.  Great defense on the perimeter (Dooling, Quisy, and Pietrus).  Bass and Wilcox look good together on the boards and around the hoop.  If a little chemistry develops, I think this could be a great 2nd squad, but would struggle to score more than a unit with Green at SF.

[jc3celticsphan]

when hes in a green uni i will believe it thats how i feel about this offseason

[Snakehead]

Don't know if there is really a chance we could get someone like Chandler who is younger and looking for a pay check Pietrus negotiated a buyout so a cut in pay may not be an issue for him.

Would rather have Chandler; but Pietrus is the next best thing. Keeps him off the Lakers. Lakers would be happy to have him sitting on their Bench rather than guarding Kobe.

Knee is a concern; but Boston could bring him along slowly. Need a vet who can pick up the system quickly because there will be limited practices once the season starts.

Chandler is one of my favorite young players in the league and I'd love him.  I think we might actually have a decent shot as by the time he can come over in February teams (definitely the quality ones) probably won't be able to offer him much more than the mini-MLE (which won't be much more than the vet min as pointed out by smarter people than myself recently).  So I'm hopeful.

However, Pietrus is a high quality backup SF and would be , like you say, about the next best option at this point.  He also has added value vs the Chandler pickup because he would be available now, not in February.  In this condensed season having him now vs Wilson Chandler later would maybe be more valuable, even if Chandler is superior, because Pietrus can provide quality minutes that allow our starters and other bench players to rest earlier in the season.  This issue could be an even bigger one because of the question marks surrounding Paul Pierce's heel injury.

[snively]

Via NBA Hang Time Blog

The agent for swingman Mickael Pietrus, placed on waivers by the Suns on Thursday, said four teams are most interested in picking him up once he clears waivers Saturday, with league sources strongly believing the 29-year-old will sign with the Celtics.

The Celtics are desperately hoping that Pietrus will clear waivers. Boston’s need for a defensive wing player is profound, and the Celtics know Pietrus well from his days with the Magic. Pietrus killed the Celtics off the bench in the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinal series, averaging 12 points in 25 minutes. He scored 17 points in three games of the series, including going six of seven from the floor, making all three of his 3-point attempts, in Orlando’s Game 7 win at Boston.

But agent Bill McCandless said Friday morning that he thought there was a “15 percent” chance that a team would claim Pietrus off of waivers before he clears. But that team would have to pay Pietrus the $4.2 million on his original contract (that is pro-rated for the 66-game regular season this year; Pietrus originally was to make $5.3 million this season). Pietrus and the Suns worked out a buyout that will pay him $3 million of the $4.2 million once he clears waivers; after that he’d be free to negotiate a new contract with the team that signs him.

Currently the most teams are offering Pietrus is the “mini” mid-level exception for teams that are more than $4 million above the luxury tax threshold of $70 million. The mini mid-level can run as many as three years and a little more than $9 million total. Pietrus, who was a key contributor during the Magic’s run to The Finals in 2009, wants to play for a contending team and is willing to take a little less than may be available to do so.

“In this case, cap space is a little less relevant,” McCandless said. “If you’re on a team that’s successful, then you’re successful.”

McCandless said that Pietrus got a clean bill of health from an independent medical examination on his right knee on Wednesday. The Suns had originally dealt Pietrus to Toronto earlier this month for a protected second-round pick, but the deal was voided when Pietrus’s knee swelled up after working out in Toronto. The Raptors then signed veteran Rasual Butler and got forward Gary Forbes from Denver via offer sheet. The independent physician “said he’s fine and ready to go,” McCandless said.

The Suns were still trying to work out a trade for Pietrus when they reached the buyout with him, and were not happy with his comportment while in Phoenix. Pietrus came there last season as part of the trade that sent center Marcin Gortat to Phoenix in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu going back to Orlando. Pietrus played in 38 games last season for Phoenix, averaging 7.4 points in a little more than 18 minutes a game, almost all of those as a reserve.

“You know the old saying, ‘all’s well that ends well?’,” Suns GM Lon Babby said. “In this case, it’s ‘all’s well that ends.’ “

I guess teams could still claim him. It also mentions he could be getting the mini-mle I thought we don't have that anymore? Nonetheless he says we're at the top of his list finally a guy that wants to come here, unless it's all to drive up his price.

Sounds like he was a real pain for the Suns's brass.  Rare to see a GM be so frank.

[TA9]

YES SIGN HIM!!!
This is exactly what i want on our bench

[Snakehead]

Sounds like he was a real pain for the Suns's brass.  Rare to see a GM be so frank.

Agreed.  This potentially adds some validity to his claims of really wanting to play for a winner though, going from Orlando to PHX... yeah.  If you wanted to win you wouldn't be happy there.

Hopefully he is more of a "cognitive thinker" than David West (LOL).

[Lord of Mikawa]

I'll be happy when he is signed to us. Anything else really ain't worth it.