Paul Pierce on Posey's Situation Article

[BudweiserCeltic]

Here's an article on Pierce's take on the Posey situation... he also talks about his knee and being a champ, etc.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_07_08_Pierce_push_for_Posey/srvc=celt&position=1

It was a cool article in my opinion, some funny moments.

While Paul Pierce [stats] was offering a testimonial to James Posey yesterday, the Celtics [team stats] free agent was looking at an increasing pool of suitors.

Pierce, in town for his hoop camp at Basketball City, believes the Celts should go the extra mile (i.e., money and years) to keep the valuable reserve. But if the club isn’t willing to get closer to the full mid-level exception (about $5.8 million) and increase the term to four years, other clubs may be ready to step in.

While staying with the Celtics still appears to be his first choice, Posey’s side was negotiating with different teams yesterday.

“I think a lot of teams figured at the start that they’d have no chance to get James,” said his representative, Mark Bartelstein. “They just figured the Celtics wouldn’t let him go and they didn’t want to waste their time (pursuing Posey). But now that it’s gone this long, it’s opened the door to a lot of teams who realize they have a chance.”

Pierce hopes they don’t. He hopes Posey remains in green when teams are able to begin signing free agents tomorrow.

“He’s just huge for us,” the captain and NBA Finals MVP said. “And if you’ve got to spend extra, I probably would.

“You’ve got to understand the position ‘Pose’ is in. I mean, he’s 31 years old, and this is probably going to be the last contract he’s going to get, so I guess he’s looking for a little extra security - maybe a little more than we’re willing to give him. But hopefully we can retain him and he can look at what we offer him as a sense of security.”

Pierce also plans to toss in some sentimentality when he speaks with Posey.

“You know, I try to tell guys winning a championship with the Boston Celtics is not like winning a championship anywhere else,” he said. “I think down the road you forget about certain championship teams, but those Boston teams never get forgotten.”

“When I talk to him, I’m going to let him know that - the significance of being a Boston Celtic even after basketball. Hopefully I can convince him to come back for whatever the offer we’re giving him. I don’t really know the offer that (director of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) and them are talking about. I know it’s less than the mid-level and I know there’s teams out there probably trying to give him the mid-level.”

Posey’s importance to the Celtics has been raised in the form of a hypothetical. How would things look if the Celts were starting the Finals against the Lakers tomorrow and Posey was playing for L.A.?

Pierce laughed and said, “They’d be in trouble because he’d have to guard me.”

He then joked about knowing all of Posey’s “nasty defensive tactics,” then added, “But, hey, he’s a huge key, man. Everybody knows it. A huge key in what we try to do. No. 1, he changes what type of team we are out there because of versatility. You put him at the 4 and he’s a matchup problem for the other team. Then you move him to the 3 and he can defend there, too. He gives our lineup a whole other dimension. He’s tough and he has experience.”

[bucknersrevenge]

thats cool that pauls gonna talk to him. i dont know that its gonna work and as paul said you really cant blame posey at all for wanting to make as much as he cant with likely the last big contract hes gonna get. if some team out there wants him at his price james would be a fool not to go. id love him to stay here at our price but i think were all coming to the point where were realizing poseys probably going elsewhere.

[Brickowski]

Gee, Pierce said it better than many of us here on the forum have been trying to say. It's crazy to try to nickel and dime James Posey.

[jimmehx]

Pierce has it right. I would also spend that bit extra to get Pose back. He played like a champion in the playoffs. Here's to hoping..

[Who]

I don’t really know the offer that (director of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) and them are talking about. I know it’s less than the mid-level and I know there’s teams out there probably trying to give him the mid-level.”

Why less than the midlevel?
I understand less years but why less than midlevel?

[fan33]

Of course the Captain wants to keep BGJ and so would I if I were him and as a fan, but not for 4yrs at 5mil ea.... It would be best for James to sign with those other teams who were first reported by his manager to be offering 5.8 for 5 or 4 years as James deserves as big a payday with as much security as he can negotiate.

Having said that, I find this quote sounding soft: “I think a lot of teams figured at the start that they’d have no chance to get James,” said his representative, Mark Bartelstein. “They just figured the Celtics wouldn’t let him go and they didn’t want to waste their time (pursuing Posey). But now that it’s gone this long, it’s opened the door to a lot of teams who realize they have a chance.”

 

[bucknersrevenge]

I don’t really know the offer that (director of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) and them are talking about. I know it’s less than the mid-level and I know there’s teams out there probably trying to give him the mid-level.”

Why less than the midlevel?
I understand less years but why less than midlevel?

because its irresponsible of danny to pay a spot up shooting 6th man that averages 7ppg off your bench 6mil dollars. with all due respect to his intangibles thats just not smart. this team has other holes to fill and other people to sign. you cant tie that whole thing up into posey.

[BudweiserCeltic]

A little off topic, but when can teams start signing players... is it at midnight tonight? Or is there some specific time tomorrow that marks when teams will be allowed to sign players?

[bucknersrevenge]

i think its midnight tonite(july 9th)

[timepiece33]

Because its irresponsible of danny to pay a spot up shooting 6th man that averages 7ppg off your bench 6mil dollars. with all due respect to his intangibles thats just not smart. this team has other holes to fill and other people to sign. you cant tie that whole thing up into posey.

You could argue that is irresponsible to have a mediocre 6th man with a team that has Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen in their 30s. 

[Bankshot]

Because its irresponsible of danny to pay a spot up shooting 6th man that averages 7ppg off your bench 6mil dollars. with all due respect to his intangibles thats just not smart. this team has other holes to fill and other people to sign. you cant tie that whole thing up into posey.

You could argue that is irresponsible to have a mediocre 6th man with a team that has Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen in their 30s. 

Agreed.  The time to win is now with the Big 3 up there in age.  Now is not the time to be nickel and diming players that can help the Celtics get another ring.  I say give Posey the full mid level for 3 years or extend their current offer of $4mil x 3 years to 4 years. Personally, I think Posey is worth the full mid level.  I get sick and tired of hearing people say we can't give a guy that scores only 7 pts a game that kind of money.  Are people crazy?  Do these people really think that all Posey contributed was 7 pts a game?   You cannot look at the stat sheet to determine Posey's worth.  Just can't be done.

[Roy Hobbs]

When people talk about "nickel and diming", keep in mind that there's a chance that we're talking about $10 - $15 million here, over the length of the contract.  That's fairly significant.

Now, if we're nickel and diming anybody, it's J.R. Giddens, according to his agent.  Still, every dollar counts.

[CT34]

Sorry I would give James Posey a 3 year deal and not a 4 year deal. I wouldn't blame him if he follows the money.

[NicaraguanFan]

Here's an article on Pierce's take on the Posey situation... he also talks about his knee and being a champ, etc.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_07_08_Pierce_push_for_Posey/srvc=celt&position=1

It was a cool article in my opinion, some funny moments.

While Paul Pierce [stats] was offering a testimonial to James Posey yesterday, the Celtics [team stats] free agent was looking at an increasing pool of suitors.

Pierce, in town for his hoop camp at Basketball City, believes the Celts should go the extra mile (i.e., money and years) to keep the valuable reserve. But if the club isn’t willing to get closer to the full mid-level exception (about $5.8 million) and increase the term to four years, other clubs may be ready to step in.

While staying with the Celtics still appears to be his first choice, Posey’s side was negotiating with different teams yesterday.

“I think a lot of teams figured at the start that they’d have no chance to get James,” said his representative, Mark Bartelstein. “They just figured the Celtics wouldn’t let him go and they didn’t want to waste their time (pursuing Posey). But now that it’s gone this long, it’s opened the door to a lot of teams who realize they have a chance.”

Pierce hopes they don’t. He hopes Posey remains in green when teams are able to begin signing free agents tomorrow.

“He’s just huge for us,” the captain and NBA Finals MVP said. “And if you’ve got to spend extra, I probably would.

“You’ve got to understand the position ‘Pose’ is in. I mean, he’s 31 years old, and this is probably going to be the last contract he’s going to get, so I guess he’s looking for a little extra security - maybe a little more than we’re willing to give him. But hopefully we can retain him and he can look at what we offer him as a sense of security.”

Pierce also plans to toss in some sentimentality when he speaks with Posey.

“You know, I try to tell guys winning a championship with the Boston Celtics is not like winning a championship anywhere else,” he said. “I think down the road you forget about certain championship teams, but those Boston teams never get forgotten.”

“When I talk to him, I’m going to let him know that - the significance of being a Boston Celtic even after basketball. Hopefully I can convince him to come back for whatever the offer we’re giving him. I don’t really know the offer that (director of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) and them are talking about. I know it’s less than the mid-level and I know there’s teams out there probably trying to give him the mid-level.”

Posey’s importance to the Celtics has been raised in the form of a hypothetical. How would things look if the Celts were starting the Finals against the Lakers tomorrow and Posey was playing for L.A.?

Pierce laughed and said, “They’d be in trouble because he’d have to guard me.”

He then joked about knowing all of Posey’s “nasty defensive tactics,” then added, “But, hey, he’s a huge key, man. Everybody knows it. A huge key in what we try to do. No. 1, he changes what type of team we are out there because of versatility. You put him at the 4 and he’s a matchup problem for the other team. Then you move him to the 3 and he can defend there, too. He gives our lineup a whole other dimension. He’s tough and he has experience.”

TP for PP.  He is talking like the captain he is.

[BballTim]

When people talk about "nickel and diming", keep in mind that there's a chance that we're talking about $10 - $15 million here, over the length of the contract.  That's fairly significant.

Now, if we're nickel and diming anybody, it's J.R. Giddens, according to his agent.  Still, every dollar counts.

  If you look at the two situations together, though, if Ainge is trying to save a few hundred thousand on Giddens I doubt that the "give Posey the full mid-level for 5 years" option is an easy option for him if it's an option at all.