The Mickael Pietrus update thread

[Lucky17]

Looked around, but couldn't find a thread specifically dedicated to MP (although his name pops up in CLee, Stiemsma, and Jet threads).

At any rate, found this tidbit this morning:

Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

From a source close to Pietrus: He was playing "80 percent on 1 leg" last year. Got his right knee scoped, starts running soon. No Olympics.

1h Jared Zwerling Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Count Mickael Pietrus out for ‪#Knicks‬. He has a "huge" offer overseas but wants to play for an NBA playoff team for more than vet's minimum.

This is the first real mention I've seen of a price tag for Pietrus. For more than the vet min, and for a playoff team. I do think the BAE could do it, given the right team.

Also interesting to hear of an overseas offer, although that may simply be posturing for leverage.

[heitingas]

More than vet min, we have the biannual and he didnt rule it out, so if he's back it's for the biannual.

Sign Birdman or Blatche for the vet minimum then.

[celticinorlando]

sign him to the BAE for one year with a player option..sounds like our biggest threat is overseas and not a current team.

[LEHGOCELTICS]

Much rather see if we could sign Delfino for the vet's min and save the BAE for midseason drops.

[heitingas]

   
In addition to their pursuit of Carlos Delfino, the Celtics remain very much in the picture for Mickael Pietrus. 

His agent, Bill McCandless, has told CSNNE.com that his client has had a number of teams express interest, but the connection Pietrus made with Celtics players and their fans is very strong. 

"I think it goes without saying that he loved it in Boston," said McCandless. "We'll see how it all works out in the end."

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Celtics-still-in-the-mix-with-Pietrus?blockID=742757

[Jon]

Yeah, I really wasn't believing that anyone was going to offer him big money.  The overseas thing makes sense. 

I think if the C's offer him the BAE, there only real competition will be Europe. 

[Celts Fan 92]

Pietrus didnt exactly ball out of control last year to deserve more then a vets min contract lol if he askin for too much then pass

[Professor of Rondology]

Pietrus didnt exactly ball out of control last year to deserve more then a vets min contract lol if he askin for too much then pass

We can't really afford to just pass, unless we have another SG who as already agreed to accept the BAE or a vet min contract.  On the other hand, if by "too much" you mean "above the BAE" than we will be financially unable to sign him and we will be forced to pass. I really hope that isn't the case.

I really hope the BAE is enough.  The SG market is drying up very quickly, and few out there are have as much to offer as Peaches does.  I'm hoping his injury will scare of other potential suitors. 

[saltlover]

The BAE will be enough, although one could debate if it's too much.  If he really wants to come to the Celtics, that's the most they can offer.  That said, I would be surprised if the C's offered more than his non-Bird rights, which would be 20% over the vet min, and roughly halfway between the vet min and the BAE.  I think they use the BAE to acquire a big, assuming this rumored Stiemsma to Minny deal ever actually happens.

[Texstyles]

I know it says Knicks but same might be said for Celtics

Per the ESPN rumor mill:

Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York provided an update this morning on free agent swingman Mickael PIetrus.

"Count Mickael Pietrus out for #Knicks," Zwerling tweeted. "He has a 'huge' offer overseas but wants to play for an NBA playoff team for more than vet's minimum."

One would think that PIetrus could find a NBA team willing to make such an offer, but if it doesn't happen it sounds like playing overseas could be a decent fallback plan.

- Joe Kaiser

[Professor of Rondology]

I think they use the BAE to acquire a big, assuming this rumored Stiemsma to Minny deal ever actually happens.

Is there a BAE-worthy big man available?
Is there an open spot in the Celtics front-court rotation for said BAE-worthy big man?

As much as I like the idea of a beefed up front-court, I think the answer to those questions is no.

[gar]

SG market is fine. If you are looking for a shooting guard with size that can guard Kobe then it is a little smaller.

[GreenEnvy]

We still have the BAE.

If we can't get Lee, Peaches is a good option for depth at the 2/3.

[wahz]

I think we need MP, Delfino and another big who can be as good as Steamer was when steamer was playing ok. and we need all this because of injuries and the superteams on the horizon: Miami, and LA with Howard. We can match them, or nearly so but unfortunately we do need even more than has already happened this summer.

[saltlover]

I think they use the BAE to acquire a big, assuming this rumored Stiemsma to Minny deal ever actually happens.

Is there a BAE-worthy big man available?
Is there an open spot in the Celtics front-court rotation for said BAE-worthy big man?

As much as I like the idea of a beefed up front-court, I think the answer to those questions is no.

I mean, the difference between the vet min and the BAE isn't huge by NBA contract standards -- $600k or so, so I don't know what "BAE-worthy" is.  If there's someone they like, and they can offer the BAE while another team can't/won't, it could be enough to sway.

And while I like Wilcox, if someone beats him out for minutes, so be it.  Same goes for Sullinger.  There are certainly minutes to compete for in the center/power forward rotation even when everyone is healthy, much less with the inevitable injuries (which is why I want one more big to begin with.)