PTI goes after the Cs on Powe

[Fafnir]

Leon put his future on the line for the Cs and now it's time to extend him a contract.

How did he put his future on the line for the C's?

Well he might be referring to the first round, when the C's desperately needed help down low. Either KG or Powe was needed. Powe suited up and reinjured himself.

Players do this all the time in the playoffs. You can't be overly sentimental about that.

Would be dumb to waste a roster spot on someone who can't play. If he is still available, we can talk with him when he is ready. If he isn't available, then what did the Celtics do wrong? He would still be in the league.

Easy to be emotional and sentimental with other people's money and roster spots.

TP for making my argument for me  .

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't understand the outrage at all. There's no space for him at the moment, sad story but "crap" happens.

We have 11 players currently in our roster. Then we have Big Baby, that's 12. We plan to add another PF/C (Rasheed)... that's 13. We plan to add another SF (Ross, Hill, Barnes, etc.), that's 14. We are probably looking for another PG (Hudson, Marbury, etc.). That's 15.

Where does Powe and his massive injury fit at the moment? Nowhere. We could probably cur Pruitt, but it won't be to add an injured player... who knows, maybe he starts playing better. You can't make Pruitt the victim here, he deserves the chance to make the roster.

Before this happened, there were tons of speculations that this coming FA season, the Celtics will have to choose between Baby and Powe... by the majority this was an accepted turn of events, well we chose one. Too bad Powe is injured, but we're not a charity here.

[Scalablob990]

Depending on him to be the first big man off the bench while coming back from an injury like this is crazy. Giving him a five year $17 million dollar contract while coming back from an injury like this, would be crazy.

Giving Powe a minimum contract and the role of being the 6th big man on the team is a minuscule risk.

I might not be wrong about this, but I could care less about them declining the QO for Powe. Danny basically telling him "good bye" after Powe played on a torn ACL and meniscus to help his team is pure $%^&.

If Danny doesn't do something soon to keep powe somewhat *locked* to us he's going to lose him to another team. Most teams have seen Powe (an undersized PF) score and rebound hard against them.

Give him some minimum contract, the man is going to be back on the court again in the future it's 100% guaranteed, and I don't want to get nauseous seeing him in a jersey that doesn't have the words "Celtics" "0" and "Powe". They let him take more then two steps out of Boston, and he's gone, period. He's not going to be around to pick up in february....he'll be long gone by then.

[SCBirdman]

Its just the beginning of summer folks. Danny said the C's would monitor Leon's progress over the summer. Leon could still be back. Remember Danny was quotes as saying there were July 1 FA's, mid-July FA's, and August FA's. I think Leon falls into the August FA's category.

[bdm860]

I thought we were about the playoffs and championships here? Powe in March, April, May and June is what matters. I don't care about the 15th roster spot in November, December, January, and February. Sign him before someone else does.

The problem now is that some smart organization *is* gonna sign Powe --- similar to how teams signed Shawn Livingston last year (2 or 3 times IIRC).

I'd expect OKC to take a run at him, or if they're smart Golden St. would.

I agree he's more valuable than Hudson, Pruitt, even Giddens, but they may not be long for this team i'm guessing.

Gainesville did you just refer to OKC and GS as the smart organizations?  Where's that negative TP button at...

[vjcsmoke]

When Powe gets healthy again, I think the Celts will give him a look.  But right now they need the roster spots to add important pieces for the championship run in 2010.  Wallace + Hill, etc. are more important pieces than a guy we're not even sure will be coming back from injury.  I really like Powe, but the C's need to prioritize.

[Cman]

Just have to weigh in here:
I am a big fan of Leon Powe (I went to Cal, watched him play, and am very familiar with his hardship story and his workmanlike attitude).  That said, I think Danny made the right decision.  It is not an easy decision, and I bet Danny agonized over it a bit, but at the end of the day, he is running a business organization, and this organization has a short window to win -- probably two more years.  Leon Powe will not play professional basketball this next year -- that is pretty much a given.  Will he come back in the 2010-11 season at the same level?  Who knows.  But the Celtics, who struggled with bench depth last season (and are already in luxury tax land for this next season) can't afford to have a player on the bench not playing for this next year.

Good choice Danny.  A very very hard choice, no doubt, but it is a business.

And I love Leon and those sentences pained me to write.

[winsomme]

Depending on him to be the first big man off the bench while coming back from an injury like this is crazy. Giving him a five year $17 million dollar contract while coming back from an injury like this, would be crazy.

Giving Powe a minimum contract and the role of being the 6th big man on the team is a minuscule risk.

Which is what I think Danny said he'd be willing to do. But only after the rest of the bench has been filled out. I think that's a smart move from a business stand point. Why tie up money and a roster slot if you could potentially need it depending on how your FA signings work out.

If another team swoops in to pickup Powe, that's fine too. He'll be getting paid while he rehabs at least.

there is a lifetime of space between 5yrs and 17 million and a minimun contract for one season.

how about 2yrs and 2 million?

and again, this isn't a pity signing. This is a smart move AND good karma. It's short money on  player that has been productive in our system, a great piece to team chemisrty and could be back for the second half of the season...

[Celtics17]

This is a hard call on Powe. I mean, if the Celtics "forced his hand" on a premature comeback in the playoffs then he should be resigned. If, however, Powe came back to help promote himself and earn himself a potentially better contract then I can't say that the organization owes it to him. I mean, if I were an accountant for a public firm and had heart problems, decided to come back and help out because it was tax season and suffered a major heart attack then I cant see my company really "owing" me anything.

[tenn_smoothie]

you gotta ask WWRD ??

What Would Red Do ?? given Red's lack of loyalty to Max back in the 80's and Silas in the 70's - maybe we can guess the answer. but i think Ainge needs to make whatever arrangement is needed to keep Leon Powe.

all this talk about this being a business and all is great, but this is also the Celtics - we are supposed to still be a special franchise that treats our players right !!!

Leon Powe deserves loyalty.

[timepiece33]

For the right price, I'm sure Danny will revisit the Powe thing ... but they have bigger fish to fry. 

[tenn_smoothie]

For the right price, I'm sure Danny will revisit the Powe thing ... but they have bigger fish to fry. 

you're probably right TimePiece ............ just don't like the guy being treated like some untested rookie with an injury. Leon Powe has played his heart out for the Celts - he practically put the team on his shoulders in a very crucial finals game 2 win in '08 and did risk his health in this year's playoffs in an effort to help the team. give the man the respect he deserves.

[Scalablob990]

you gotta ask WWRD ??

What Would Red Do ?? given Red's lack of loyalty to Max back in the 80's and Silas in the 70's - maybe we can guess the answer. but i think Ainge needs to make whatever arrangement is needed to keep Leon Powe.

all this talk about this being a business and all is great, but this is also the Celtics - we are supposed to still be a special franchise that treats our players right !!!

Leon Powe deserves loyalty.

TP for the post, very well said.

[BASS_THUMPER]

powe pimpin battled every night for us

he is very under sized for his position and he made it happen

whats goin on like marvin gaye

[davemonsterband]

I said before the huge offseason, during and after. Have faith in Danny. As long as the team's contending he's the only one that knows what's going on. If he needs a roster spot he knows who to drop and why. It's rediculous to speculate the reasoning for this, there are too many variables. Leon had some great games and stretches, and if healthy he'll be a heck of a ball player. His heart, story and enthusiasm are all great pieces, but they're a separate issue from the big picture. He doesn't deserve to be rewarded for landing on a championship caliber team full of superstars. He got his ring, that's his reward, and he earned it. Move on, everyone. Quite frankly, IMO, why go undersized when you can go sized? It makes things much easier. Now everybody, get on my vamoose BBD bandwagon, ALL ABOARD!