Detroit's now willing to offer Magette the full MLE

[campybatman]

Boston and San Antonio just got some competition. Oh... Yay.

When free agency began, the Detroit Pistons had no intentions of using their full mid-level exception for one player. But the Pistons might have a change of heart, especially if they have a chance to land a player such as Corey Maggette. Maggette, a 6-foot-6 swingman, has made it clear he's willing to consider accepting the mid-level exception, which is expected to be worth about $5.8 million. Booth Newspapers

The Sixers are focused on trying to land Atlanta's Josh Smith, Memphis is expected to hold out and save its cap space for next summer's free agent class and the Warriors have a five-year, $90 million offer in to Brand -- about $15 million more than the Clippers' offer.

That means Maggette, who averaged a career-high 22.1 points per game last season, may have little choice but to settle for the mid-level exception.

And while the Pistons have been reluctant to use it all on one player this summer, they may if it means landing Maggette.

The NBA champion Boston Celtics also have been hesitant to commit their full mid-level exception to one player, even one of their own free agents, James Posey.

Maggette, who opted out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $7 million this season, appears to at least be receptive to the idea.

"If you want to win, you have to make sacrifices," Maggette told the Boston Globe.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... t_fre.html



There's a good point.

Interesting, isn't it, how the Celtics seem to be having issues about offering James Posey the full mid-level? At the end of the day, Boston seems to be viewing Posey as the Heat previously did, as a helpful reserve who simply does not merit starter's pay. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[Truthiracy]

Typical pissoffs

[TheCelticTruth]

hmm, do you sense a trend here? posey wins with miami, wants to be paid like a starter. posey wins with boston, wants to be paid like a starter.

if you arent a starter, you dont deserve starter's pay. it is ironic you can be a guy who understands the nuances of basketball so well, yet not understand the line on your own worth or what is a fair salary that also allows you to continue excelling as a team, which is something youd think hed be aware of

[Collinto]

hmm, do you sense a trend here? posey wins with miami, wants to be paid like a starter. posey wins with boston, wants to be paid like a starter.

if you arent a starter, you dont deserve starter's pay. it is ironic you can be a guy who understands the nuances of basketball so well, yet not understand the line on your own worth or what is a fair salary that also allows you to continue excelling as a team, which is something youd think hed be aware of

To use a poker anaolgy, if you know you have nothing, but paid for the flop, it can make alot of sense to represent your hand as if you flopped top pair and seeing if you can push your competitors off the pot. Bartlestien and Posey are representing, very loudly I may add, that they have multiple suitors and have implied that those offers are multi-year MLE's. They are trying to get Ainge to put more chips on the table...that is their job. It by no stretch indicates that they don't understand or aren't aware of 'what his value is'....they are simply trying to stretch that value as far as possible.

They very well may be recieving indications and/or actual offers that are for less than MLE or 2-3 year MLE. But how dumb would they be not to let it play our a little...although if they wait too long, the tide may turn. So ideally, Posey will wait until Maggette's situation plays out and take the best deal at that time (based on his criteria). That is when I see him get maximum value.

[cloverleaf]

Doesn't mean someone won't pay him a veteran starter's salary. This may be his last time at the cashier's counter and we shouldn't be shocked or totally disillusioned if he maximizes his chips.

Seems like most players have to be in the upper strata of salary to opt for less than all they can get. Funny thing is, human nature as it is, if we were back in the days when Posey's current salary were upper-tier in the league someone at his level would more readily take the better situation over the max salary. Income is almost entirely relative when you're much above subsistence level.

[TheCelticTruth]

well i dont hold it against posey. but my allegiances lie with the Cs. im not angry they wont overpay him like some posters, and im not angry he wants more money than i think he deserves. hes is a great role player, and very good team guy, but just because so many are overpaid doesnt mean he should be too.

some of our fellow posters seem more concerned about pose than the Cs

[campybatman]

Yes, you can make a sacrifice and you can make an unintelligent decision (e.g. Ron Artest electing not to opt out). Sure sounds good to say in highlight, don't it? No offense Maggette, but that's a spin job as far as I can see one. You bleeped up. Plain and simple. Now you'll likely consider choosing the payday with Golden State to save face. I don't know, I'm not buying that quote as being entirely genuine. But, it was a heck of a P.R. move.

All of these players could stop stalling and let these teams like San Antonio and Boston know what your move will be. I mean Clippers fans are feeling uncomfortable over the Brand situation. And Celtics fans are rightfully nervous about the prospect of losing out on signing Maggette or resigning Posey. Because neither is a guarantee and that's what's hard not to think about.

In related news, the Globe reported that Ainge has announced that Bostjan Nachbar was their plan C all along. It could happen.



"If you want to win, you have to make sacrifices," Maggette told the Boston Globe.

[BlamePitino]

No offense to Detroit, but they don't get Maggette over the Celtics. For both teams, he's a sixth man; that said, if you're Maggette, would you rather go play with the favorites to repeat in the East--and with you, possibly repeat period--or the Pistons? Would you rather go play for a franchise that's the media darling of sports right now, with all the history and banners and all that--or the Pistons? Would you rather go play for a personal friend in Doc--or the Pistons? Again, nothing against Detroit, they are a fine franchise, and as we all know, one "I think the Euro might be a stiff" away from still dominating this league to this day, but the Celtics have the edge here. San Antonio remains the only other team that worries me as far as Maggette goes.

[armageddon]

None of these owners who know that they aren't going to win a championship soon are going to go over the salary cap. They are not stupid, and are probably smarter than us dweebs on this site who cannot afford an NBA franchise. Magette will get full MLE offers only from teams who know they can win now and only from a couple of them. For equal money, SA is our only competition.

[campybatman]

Well, here's yet another possible twist that could affect Maggette signing with the Spurs at least. I've just read that supposedly there's a rumor that San Antonio has an interest in Ben Gordon. Apparently, this could be slightly old news but I was unaware of it until now.

But right now the most interesting rumor is Ben Gordon to the Spurs. This would change them dramatically, well not really, but he is sure better than Michael Finley.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/ ... ney/286135

[MoBSTa]

I was wondering when Brian Scalibrine, signed the extention with the Celtic's does anyone know what the contracts value was for, Amount/years?

[campybatman]

Read this on the CB site.

Written by JB

There are a lot of questions being asked about the Celtics free agent plans and draft night strategy and even some seemingly straight answers given, as in this report from Bill BurtThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it of the "Lawrence Eagle Tribune," as long ago as July 2nd.

The Celtics forward (Posey), who officially became a free agent yesterday, has basically been told, via his agent Mark Bartelstein, that the Celtics will not enter a bidding war. And I mean not even close to a bidding war.
The Celtics ownership group has told Danny Ainge & Co. that Posey's dream of twentysomething million isn't happening here....the Celtics would like to keep that mid-level exception open...some interesting veterans might want that slot (see Corey Maggette) and shot at a championship for one season.
That would mean Posey taking another deal in the $3.5 million vicinity, probably for one or at most two seasons. Celtics owners would have to be convinced, too. And I'm not sure if they would do that.

As has been noted, most answers, just lead me to more questions......

With a gaping hole at back up center, more glaring with Kedrick Perkins' (can we now say chronic?) shoulder problems why has the team drafted two wing players and made overtures (if not a "formal offer") to a free agent at the same position, which is theoretically manned here by two all-stars?

Does it take a "Grassy Knoll" freak to wonder about Paul Pierce's knee? There were several reports from "team sources" that he had indeed torn the cartilage which was why he refused to take an MRI during the playoffs. Could the interest in Maggette be linked to impending knee surgery on the captain?

Or, even more off the wall...I have another theory.....do you remember early to mid season reports that Ray Allen was not happy here? It wasn't about lack of shots in the offense or any on court situations, but word leaked out of the locker room that he really didn't like Kevin Garnette's demeanor and foul language or Paul Pierce's life style and would grin and bear it for the season, but had already asked to be traded once the campaign had been concluded.

I'll give you another wrinkle here; a writer who covers the Clippers has stated that L.A. has long coveted Ray and is it too much of a stretch to consider that perhaps the confusion over the offer/non-offer to Maggette has to do with a possible sign and trade that is being contemplated? Think of a Clippers team with Elton Brand, Baron Davis and Ray Allen? Instant contenders?

If there is a sign and trade, of course there would have to be more than Maggette headed this way........is GM Elgin Baylor so pissed at Chris Kaman for going to play in the Olympics for Germany, a country he's never even visited, that he'd include him in such a deal....perhaps taking back Leon Powe?

http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?op ... iteComment

[MoBSTa]

Well I hope there is no Truth to any deal with the Clippers for anyone let along a Meggette.

I believe, if anyone would want to go to L.A. it wouldn't be Ray Allen. It would be more like The Truth.

He has alway's wanted to play with B-Ditty, Now that B-Ditty is in L.A. and the C's won a championship, it wouldn't blow my mind, but I sure hope The Truth isn't wanting to be traded...

[campybatman]

I was wondering when Brian Scalibrine, signed the extention with the Celtic's does anyone know what the contracts value was for, Amount/years?

What extension? Scalabrine signed with Boston after being with New Jersey as a free agent for half (or all) of the MLE in 2005. He has two years remaining.

Scalabrine's new pact is a five-year, $15 million deal, the sources said. But according to the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can't sign free agents until July 22.

[campybatman]

It would seem to me that Maggette would equate to more than Vujacic and Turiaf. But, it probably makes more sense to keep the bench intact as much as possible. And the Lakers would need to move odom beforehand in order to slide Maggette into the starting lineup.

It's believed that Maggette, without an offer from a team with cap room, favors San Antonio if he has to sign a contract starting at the midlevel. But he has also drawn similar interest from a variety of enticing contenders -- Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, New Orleans and Utah are the known suitors -- and the Lakers would be a dangerous suitor if they wanted to get involved given Maggette's close relationship with Kobe Bryant. The Lakers, though, would have to abandon any interest in resigning Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf to sign Maggette, and the team still favors retaining those two key reserves. ESPN.com