Boston and LA: Offseason Moves

[Mr October]

Resigning Posey at 4-5 million/year is a must! Rondo will get his contract, after Ray's expires.

I think there is a good chance Powe or Davis are traded. The C's don't need both, and they each have only 1 year remaining on their contracts.

There are a lot of really nice free agent pieces. I'll get more into that when this website slows a bit in the next couple days.

The Lakers should move Odom for Artest. ..or a move like that.

[cordobes]

The most i'd give Posey is 3 years at full MLE.

no way he should be here longer than any of the new big 3.

Like the Big Three he is an older player.

Posey is our 4th best player.  He's important to the team.  This is a very tough call.  Do you let the guy test the waters and possibly lose him, for a chance that something better might come along for us to use the MLE on?  Or do we commit now and handcuff ourselves later on?  That's a tough call. 

  Rondo's our 4th best player, and he'll be better next year than this year. I like Posey, but let's keep it real. Is he that much more valuable this year than he was last summer?

Posey was undervalued last summer. That's why he only signed for one year. Anyway, offering him the full-MLE for 3 years would be insane. We'd have to fill the roster with minimum salaries and the LLE for the next 2 years. Throw the 5 years non-Bird exception at him. That would be perfect.

[steve]

Put me in the Diop camp.  I think we need a big defensive center and he fits that perfectly. 

I say draft a project and keep him oversees or the NBDL. 

Sign Posey and House. 

Next year will be the prime of this team. 

[keith]

Sign Posey,I think PJ will be back for 1 more year.I also think that we are going to have to address Powe/Big Baby.If we don't more than likely one will walk after next season.If you could put either one and the number 30 pick together and move up 5,6 or 7 spot's in the draft that could be a positive move.

[Barnabas]

Posey is more valuable to us than he would be to most teams.  He plays the type of defense and has the range on his shot that we really need. 

How would you feel about buying out the contracts of Scalabrine, Tony Allen, and Big Baby?  I know Big Baby's contract is relatively small, but every little bit helps. 

I like Powe but he has decent trade value.  For example, a team like Dallas could use a physical inside presence like him.  I'm sure just about any manager would prefer someone taller than Powe, but to a team that's over the salary cap like we are, you have to make do with what you can get.  And a team like Dallas could do a lot worse than having Leon Powe.  I say find a team like that, check their roster, and see if they have a player than can help us.  We may be able to put together a package that could be beneficial to both teams.

[Chris]

Posey is more valuable to us than he would be to most teams.  He plays the type of defense and has the range on his shot that we really need. 

How would you feel about buying out the contracts of Scalabrine, Tony Allen, and Big Baby?  I know Big Baby's contract is relatively small, but every little bit helps. 

I like Powe but he has decent trade value.  For example, a team like Dallas could use a physical inside presence like him.  I'm sure just about any manager would prefer someone taller than Powe, but to a team that's over the salary cap like we are, you have to make do with what you can get.  And a team like Dallas could do a lot worse than having Leon Powe.  I say find a team like that, check their roster, and see if they have a player than can help us.  We may be able to put together a package that could be beneficial to both teams.

They don't have to buy out Allen and Davis, since I am pretty sure neither is guaranteed for next year.

Buying out Scalabrine would be a horrible move though.  They would be stuck with him on the books for the next two years, but then they can't have him play, and more importantly they can't use the contract in a trade.

[Barnabas]

"Buying out Scalabrine would be a horrible move though.  They would be stuck with him on the books for the next two years, but then they can't have him play, and more importantly they can't use the contract in a trade."

Would his salary still count against the cap if we buy him out during the off-season?

We would still be over the cap, but from a financial stand point, freeing up that much money will bring some additional possibilities to this team.  And really, it depends on how big of a hit Wyc Grousebeck is willing to take.  Dallas exceeds the cap more than we do and they've nothing to show for it.  So does New York.

Does winning a championship bring additional $ to the team? 

[kenmaine]

Hello, the C's just won it all. They really don't have any holes. A couple of minor upgrades couldn't hurt, but I wouldn't change a thing, if possible. No, I'm not stupid, but I do think people are still underrating both Rondo and Eddie House.
Other than PJ and Cassell, who hopefully will both be gone(I think everyone is going a little overboard on PJ's contributions, he was just ok IMO), everyone is either young and still improving,  or within a year or two either way of their prime.
I wouldn't trade Powe. Maybe Big Baby, who I like a lot, but he didn't seem to improve at all during the season.
The one area I'd like to improve is backup center. Although, you can all laugh at me if you like, but if Pollard could come back healthy, couldn't he be at least as effective as PJ?
Anyway, what a great season

[BrickJames]

Jermaine O'Neal. (if and only if he's on the cheap.  He's unrestricted).

Better yet - here's my FA wishlist, in order, as being complementary for the team:

G: Mo Evans, L Hunter, Duhon, Baron Davis ($?), Vujacic (Restricted)
F: James Posey (Player Option), Elton Brand ($?), Eduardo Najera, Matt Barnes, Ryan Gomes (Restricted), Corey Maggette ($?)
C: J O'Neal, Brezec, Diop, Birdman

Although I recant my Vujacic suggestion

[rondofan1255]

I think Pollard is legit 6-11? I might be wrong, but I would like him to come back for the same veteran's minimum if possible, because even though he is known to be injury prone, he is a fun team guy, and can contribute in short 5-10 minute spans if healthy. If not, he can be on our injury reserve for most of the time. Anyways, he could be a backup Center against teams with legit big men, instead of Powe or BB. Then, if we can find another decent (Better than pollard) 6-10+ legit player, whether it be in the draft, or in FA market that doesn't cost too much (DIOP WOULD BE MY HERO), then I will be happy. I think we will not be able to win without enough true 6-10+ people (sorry Powe and BB, although you all are nice bench players), anyway..

Matchups.

Btw, no thanks to Jermaine O'neal.

[Hoops]

I'm too lazy to start another thread, so here will do. Re-signing Posey is assumed - we'd be crazy not to lock him up. Other than that, I dare say that this team will be significantly better next year without changing a thing.

You have to believe that Rondo will gain a jumper over the summer - which makes him significantly more dangerous. Powe and Baby are super young and figure to improve. Tony Allen should be fully healthy going into the season and could return to the level he was playing at before he blew out his knee.

Perhaps more importantly, all the players can play with a different purpose next year. They spent most of this year figuring each other out and figuring out how to win. Now that they have that championship experience, they can use it to improve and master the finer points of their team game during the regular season to get prepared for the playoffs.

Forget thoughts about repeats and three-peats for a minute - if you just simply look at this year's team in and compare it to next year's team, I think you'll find next year's team to be much better. Whether it's enough to win the title next year, who knows. But there's no question that they'll be a better team next year even without any trades or moves.

[Cman]

I would be curious about people's thoughts if the Celtics were unable to resign Posey.  Which FA would you try to target instead?

My two (both from GSW): Pietrus, Barnes.
Both can hit the three.
Pietrus is longer.
Pietrus is known as more of a defender than Barnes, but I think both would thrive outside of Don Nelson's system; specifically, I think both would thrive in a defensive oriented system like we have got going here in Boston.

Other 2/3s that people have in mind??

[slamdunk]

They need to resign Posey. He was a key off the bench and can still play. It isn't like he's some washed up guy just hanging on. It doesn't matter what your cap looks like several years later if you've won multiple titles. Just give him the full MLE for 4 years and focus on other issues.

[paintitgreen]

To me, there are six absolute essential players for this Celtics team: the starting five and James Posey. Fortunately, we only have to face the possible loss of one of those guys - Posey. To me, he brings a unique skill set and energy to this team and I think we should make sure he stays as long as we keep PGA together.

His situation is that he has a player option for $3,462,480. As far as I know this amount does not count against the MLE - we would still have our $5 mil + MLE (plus our $1.5 mil + LLE) available for FAs if Posey exercises his player option. If he doesn't exercise it, we will probably have to offer him the full MLE to keep up with the MLE offers I expect him to get from teams like the Spurs, Lakers, Suns, Mavs, Hornets, Magic, Nuggets, maybe even Cavs, Warriors, Jazz, Blazers, Raptors, and if they trade Prince, Pistons.

I see at least 4 of those teams going after Posey because he showed his utility to all those contenders. Imagine him on the Spurs adding another outstanding perimeter defender to go alongside Bowen or in lieu of Bowen in crunch time, getting open looks from Parker, Manu and Duncan? Imagine him taking over that huge hole at the 3 in LA, providing them with much needed-perimeter D. Kobe can't stop Pierce, but maybe Posey can. With the Suns, they're going at it now but need that bigger perimeter defender to go alongside Bell (especially with Grant Hill so fragile). And for the Hornets, they have a great team, but if they can bring in Posey who has proven his ability to play great D on scorers as diverse and talented as Lebron, Kobe and Dirk, to lead their bench, wouldn't that put them over the top?

Why he wouldn't exercise option: (1) He can almost certainly make $2 million more than he would on his current contract, since there WILL be suitors and somebody will pony up the full MLE. (2) He's going to have his choice of contenders, from Boston to LA to SA to Phoenix, so it's not like he has to go to a low level team to get more money, he can still say on a contender. (3) After the Heat title, when his value was highest, he couldn't go cash in. Just one year later, last summer, there was almost no market for him because of a perception that he was over the hill and his defense wasn't the same. Had he become a free agent in 06, he would have gotten at least $5 mil. One year later, he got less than $3.5 mil. He, or at least his agent, will remember that. (4) He's proven his worth to Boston, and he may be able to stay in the same situation but get an extra $1-2 million.

Why he would exercise the option: (1) If he does leave Boston, he has to start over on any Bird rights. If he exercises, after next season, the Celtics can sign him for up to 175% of his current salary for a period of 2-5 years. So he could exercise this year and get $6 mil + from the Cs for 09-10 and 10-11 at least. After that, he'd have full Bird rights. (2) Maybe he wants another ring and can be convinced that by exercising and not forcing the Celtics to use their full MLE to keep him, Boston gets over $7 mil to play with in free agency instead of just $1.7 mil. Maybe he sees the ability to keep Eddie House, Tony Allen and bring in a high quality backup center and maybe point guard. How much loyalty has really grown in this one year?

Those are really his only reasons to exercise - a wink and nod deal that if he exercises and lets the Cs pick up some more help, he gets a 2 year-$12 mil or 3 year-$18 mil extension under his early Bird rights during the season.

Now, getting extra players, of course, comes down to the owners agreeing the luxury tax is A-OK since our salary for Garnett, Pierce, Ray, Perk, Posey under his option, Scalabrine, Rondo, Powe, Pruitt and Davis - 10 players - is already almost $75 mil - close to $5 mil over the luxury tax. Add in Tony Allen at a qualifying offer, and it's $77.5 mil, $7.5 mil over the luxury tax. How much of that $7 mil in exceptions (not to mention any salary to the 30th pick) will ownership really want to spend? Ownership has been extremely generous, but $75 million is actually $80 million, $77.5 million is actually $85 million, and $85 million is actually $100 million.

Bottom line, I would expect Posey not to exercise his player option and hit free agency instead, but I would give him whatever it took to keep him in Boston. We can find adequate replacements at other spots, but to me, Posey's a necessity and cannot be duplicated by Pietrus, Barnes, Childress or any other wing defender who might be available.

[Gainesville Celtic]

To me, there are six absolute essential players for this Celtics team: the starting five and James Posey. Fortunately, we only have to face the possible loss of one of those guys - Posey. To me, he brings a unique skill set and energy to this team and I think we should make sure he stays as long as we keep PGA together. .....

<snip>

Bottom line, I would expect Posey not to exercise his player option and hit free agency instead, but I would give him whatever it took to keep him in Boston. We can find adequate replacements at other spots, but to me, Posey's a necessity and cannot be duplicated by Pietrus, Barnes, Childress or any other wing defender who might be available.

I mention earlier in this thread that we can come very very close to a 4 year MLE offer from another team (i can't see teams going full 5 years with Posey) using a 5 year non-bird tender.

I also agree that Posey's a necessity -- but we need an insurance policy for him and T. Allen getting hurt.  Just keeping Posey doesn't mean he'll play the full 4/5 years...

I think the closest to Posey is Trenton Hassell.... move Scal and Big Baby (though Scal earned his full 5 year salary with his presser last night) for Hassell and we've got another lock-down defender.