Wyc's interview with Felger

[Jaycelt]

I thought it interesting that Wyc said that he thought the fan based was more connected to this team, that they liked last year's team but loved this one. I've been saying a similar thing for the last 3 weeks or so. Also, as much as it sounded as if Wyc was throwing Danny under the bus, he did go on to say that 2 years yes, 4 years no for Posey which lead me to believe that the decision wasn't completely Danny's.

It sounds to me like he agrees with the decision, not because he isn't willing to spend, but because they seemed to feel it just wasn't a prudent move.

Time will tell. If we get someone good this season and KG is healthy the entire season, than Posey might not have been a big deal.

That's exactly what I got from the interview.  He wasn't saying I wanted to sign Posey at all costs, he was sying that they were willing to give Posey more money, They had more money set aside for him, they just were not going to comit to 4 years, which is exactly what they've been saying all along.

It sounds to me like he and Danny were exactly on the smae page.

I also don't think he avoided the luxury tax question.  I thought he was very clear that he was ready and willing to pay the luxury tax. He has done so since he's been in the ownership and he fully expects to continue doing it.

[Roy Hobbs]

I thought it interesting that Wyc said that he thought the fan based was more connected to this team, that they liked last year's team but loved this one. I've been saying a similar thing for the last 3 weeks or so. Also, as much as it sounded as if Wyc was throwing Danny under the bus, he did go on to say that 2 years yes, 4 years no for Posey which lead me to believe that the decision wasn't completely Danny's.

It sounds to me like he agrees with the decision, not because he isn't willing to spend, but because they seemed to feel it just wasn't a prudent move.

Time will tell. If we get someone good this season and KG is healthy the entire season, than Posey might not have been a big deal.

That's exactly what I got from the interview.  He wasn't saying I wanted to sign Posey at all costs, he was sying that they were willing to give Posey more money, They had more money set aside for him, they just were not going to comit to 4 years, which is exactly what they've been saying all along.

The team offered three years, from what I understand.  If there was more money available, then doesn't that mean that ownership was willing to authorize at least a partial guarantee for a fourth year?  Since they couldn't give more than the amount of the MLE, this is the only interpretation that makes sense.

[Chris]

I thought it interesting that Wyc said that he thought the fan based was more connected to this team, that they liked last year's team but loved this one. I've been saying a similar thing for the last 3 weeks or so. Also, as much as it sounded as if Wyc was throwing Danny under the bus, he did go on to say that 2 years yes, 4 years no for Posey which lead me to believe that the decision wasn't completely Danny's.

It sounds to me like he agrees with the decision, not because he isn't willing to spend, but because they seemed to feel it just wasn't a prudent move.

Time will tell. If we get someone good this season and KG is healthy the entire season, than Posey might not have been a big deal.

That's exactly what I got from the interview.  He wasn't saying I wanted to sign Posey at all costs, he was sying that they were willing to give Posey more money, They had more money set aside for him, they just were not going to comit to 4 years, which is exactly what they've been saying all along.

The team offered three years, from what I understand.  If there was more money available, then doesn't that mean that ownership was willing to authorize at least a partial guarantee for a fourth year?  Since they couldn't give more than the amount of the MLE, this is the only interpretation that makes sense.

Yeah, it seems pretty simple.  Ownership did not put a limit on what Ainge could spend on Posey.  They left it up to Ainge to determine Posey's worth, and to make the offer, and ownership was not going to veto anything.

Of course the thing that could muddy up the waters is the fact that he was not clear about whether Ainge would have an overall spending limit for the team in a few years.  If Wyc had told Danny that he has a budget each year, and that he wants to be under the luxury tax line when they stop being contenders, then that would have a huge impact on Ainge's decision not to give Posey that 4th year, which would happen after Pierce and Allen are off the books, and he will likely be looking to reload.

So while Wyc did not tell Danny he couldn't give Posey more money, he likely did tell him that he is not going to have a blank check going forward, and he needs to take that into account.