Posey Wants to Stay in Boston

[return2glory]

According to James Posey's agent, Posey wants to come back. It was pretty obvious that Posey loved his teammates, but it is still a business decision. I hope we can do what it takes to re sign him.

This is what Posey's agent, Mark Bartlestein said:
“The bottom line is that we want to get it done. The thing (that impressed) Posey is that the fans in Boston are so educated, they understand why he’s so valuable, and how his play shows with things that aren’t on the stat sheet.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bask ... position=2

[P2]

If he agrees to sign for the maximum without using the MLE, we'll get him. But I think there's no way this deal exceeds 3 years and $20M.

[KevinRiley28]

yeah, the question is if posey will be okay with a 3 year contract. if we can do it without using the MLE and have that flexibility to fill out the rest of the roster, it'll be a huge bonus.

[sunshinekids99]

This team really needs to bring Posey back. He did a whole lot for the team last season. And if there is a way to get him to come back without using the MLE I'm all for it.

[GreenGrizz]

Posey needs to stay for his own sake, too. More people are recognizing his fame and glory in Boston more than anywhere else. He will win the sixth man award next year.

[Kefa461]

A great bit of news....I hope we can come to some agreement.....

[MoBSTa]

Agreed, I hope a deal is made soon and Poz returns.

[Jammer]

This is a no-brainer business decision.

Full MLE, with raises in years 2 and 3.

The Celtics OWE Posey about $10 million for being the missing piece, when they chinced out last year and split the MLE.

To make up for last summer's penny pinching (saving $1 to $1.5 million in salary plus double that with lux tax), they now have to pony up with the contract that they should have offered the day that they signed Garnett (the same day Eddie House was called, and offered $1.5 Mil of the MLE).

They were able to play the game last year that $3.2 Mil was also that was available.

It won't work this summer, so don't be a-holes and screw up a second time.

To come so far, and make a school boy mistake a second time is unforgivable.

[cloverleaf]

Best news on the morning, now let's hope for some good draft news on the evening.

[Gomes3PC]

Great to hear that Posey and Bartlestein want to get this done. I feared that James' agent was going to try to springboard Posey's big postseason into the largest deal possible. It seems that both Ainge and Bartlestein are on a similar page in that they both want James Posey in a Celtics uniform next year, so that makes the odds of Big Game James returning much greater.

That being said, if he is expecting 4-5 years at MLE money, he can go test the waters; if someone is foolish enough to give him that, so be it. I would not mind something like 3 years, $18m. That'd be a healthy raise from the $3.5m he was slated to make this year. And at 31 years old, we won't be getting him TOO old at the end of the 3rd year when he turns 34.

[SonicYouth34]

That's really good news, makes it worth being up so early

[MyInsatiableOne]

I'll believe it when it's finalized but this is indeed great news!

[celticfan42487]

The only school boy mistake would be typing up your cap because of oweing someone something. If Posey will come back for max raise re-sign then great. If not we may need the MLE too much to fill other holes.

It's unlikely we are going to be able to plug in a good backup C or PG from the draft that can go deep in the postseason.

Like Myinstiableone, I'm sure Posey wants to return.. but I'm also sure he wants to get the best contract for him more. The guys 31, he needs to take care of his family because he might now be playing 5/6 years from now with 60+ years of life still to go.

[Celts17Pride]

Posey is opting out so the only way the Celtics can resign him is by using the MLE. I don't understand why people keep saying sign him without using the MLE. It's not possible.

Yes Posey loves Boston but it will come down to the money. It always does. My guess is it's going to take close to the full MLE for 4 years to get Posey back to the Celtics. Let's be realistic.

[DorfonCeltics]

Posey is opting out so the only way the Celtics can resign him is by using the MLE. I don't understand why people keep saying sign him without using the MLE. It's not possible.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong here. My understanding is if he opts out, we can give him another deal with a 20% raise on last years contract without touching the MLE. Maybe someone with more knowledge of this can explain it further but I think it would be a similar deal to the one he signed this year, one year deal with a one year player option. But the starting salary this year is a 20% raise.

[Athanacropolis]

Best news I've heard all morning. It might be agent B.S., but still!

[Celts17Pride]

Posey is opting out so the only way the Celtics can resign him is by using the MLE. I don't understand why people keep saying sign him without using the MLE. It's not possible.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong here. My understanding is if he opts out, we can give him another deal with a 20% raise on last years contract without touching the MLE. Maybe someone with more knowledge of this can explain it further but I think it would be a similar deal to the one he signed this year, one year deal with a one year player option. But the starting salary this year is a 20% raise.

The Celtics signed Posey using the MLE last year. The reason he signed for so little is because thats all Boston had left of the MLE and he wanted to win a championship. This year he wants to get paid.

[DorfonCeltics]

Posey is opting out so the only way the Celtics can resign him is by using the MLE. I don't understand why people keep saying sign him without using the MLE. It's not possible.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong here. My understanding is if he opts out, we can give him another deal with a 20% raise on last years contract without touching the MLE. Maybe someone with more knowledge of this can explain it further but I think it would be a similar deal to the one he signed this year, one year deal with a one year player option. But the starting salary this year is a 20% raise.

The Celtics signed Posey using the MLE last year. The reason he signed for so little is because thats all Boston had left of the MLE and he wanted to win a championship. This year he wants to get paid.

I guess we'll find out next week. I just remember several people around here saying we could sign him giving him a 20% raise and that would not come out of the MLE. Can someone back me up here? Also, he's either gonna get big money or long years, he's not gonna get both from the C's. If some other team wants to use their full MLE on Posey and give him a 4-5 year contract, then by all means. Danny Ainge is not going to do this.

[Celts17Pride]

I guess we'll find out next week. I just remember several people around here saying we could sign him giving him a 20% raise and that would not come out of the MLE.

That scenario would have been if he didn't opt out of his contract. He would have been with the Celtics for two years and the Celtics would have had early Bird rights on him and could have extended his contract. He is opting out so that no longer applys. If someone knows something different please share.

[Prophet_C]

Get it done