Free Agent Update 7/4/08

Kefa461 · Post #1 » by **Kefa461** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 12:36 pm

House
Eddie House, who Bartelstein also represents, has been contacted by New York. The former Celtics guard played for new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix before being supplanted by, of all people, ex-Celtic Marcus Banks in the Suns rotation. Boston Herald
Bartelstein added there was no news regarding another Celtics client, guard Eddie House. Boston Globe

Posey
James Posey: With the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and Cleveland all in contact with the former Celtic, he has business to tend to. “James has been through free agency before, and he knows that it’s never easy,” said his agent, Mark Bartelstein. “The one thing about James is that he has great faith in himself. James just believes that wherever he goes, he’s going to have an impact.” Boston Herald

An NBA source said the Celtics offered Posey a three-year, $12 million contract, but a team official denied it. "There is a lot of interest," Bartelstein said. "We'll work through it and get to a conclusion." Boston Globe

Maggette
The Boston Celtics have made an offer to Maggette as well, one he told the Boston Globe on Thursday he is seriously considering. The most the Celtics could offer Maggette is the mid-level exception, same as the Spurs. San Antonio Express-News

A day after talking with Celtics coach Doc Rivers, a longtime family friend, Clippers free agent forward Corey Maggette said he is seriously considering an offer to join the NBA champions. Maggette said he is still in awe about being contacted by the Celtics and has been mulling over their contract offer as well as interest from several other teams. Boston Globe

Miles
An NBA source said the Celtics surprisingly worked out Blazers free agent small forward Darius Miles yesterday and he had an impressive workout. Miles missed last season while recovering from knee surgery. Boston Globe

Others
The Celtics met with Hornets free agent Chris Andersen the past two days before he returned to his offseason home in Denver. Boston Globe
The Celtics worked out Pacers free agent center David Harrison and Timberwolves free agent swingman Kirk Snyder yesterday. Boston Globe
Today, Boston is scheduled to work out Golden State free agent center Patrick O'Bryant, who recently met with the Heat. Boston Globe
Celtics: In addition, the team has taken a prolonged look at former Knicks center Randolph Morris and former Bulls guard Eddie Basden during this week’s rookie/free agent minicamp in Waltham. Boston Herald

I hope I didn't miss anybody...... 8-)

cloverleaf · Post #2 » by **cloverleaf** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 12:43 pm

No official results in yet, of course, but it seems that having this free agent blitz/mini-camp the first week of July is a really good strategy for them. They get to talk to and look at more FA's than otherwise would be possible. I wonder whether they'll bypass the summer leagues in the future as well, or miss participating there and use both approaches next year.

grantlongforpresident · Post #3 » by **grantlongforpresident** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 1:16 pm

this is getting exciting.

Rocky5000 · Post #4 » by **Rocky5000** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 1:20 pm

That's surprising about Miles having an impressive workout, since just a few months ago a Doctor said he'd never be able to play NBA ball again. If a team does sign him, it's going to really piss off the Blazers, because it means that they'll have to go back to paying his massive contract.

GreenMachine · Post #5 » by **GreenMachine** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 2:07 pm

Rocky5000 wrote: If a team does sign him, it's going to really piss off the Blazers, because it means that they'll have to go back to paying his massive contract.

How does that work? If someone else signs him... the New team plays him... no?

TheCelticTruth · Post #6 » by **TheCelticTruth** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 2:34 pm

GreenMachine wrote:
Rocky5000 wrote: If a team does sign him, it's going to really piss off the Blazers, because it means that they'll have to go back to paying his massive contract.

How does that work? If someone else signs him... the New team plays him... no?

pretty sure the blazers have to pay because of the med insurance if he can play physically, because i thought the insurance was paying off the owed money right now under the belief he was unable to continue playing

Rocky5000 · Post #7 » by **Rocky5000** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 3:01 pm

It's just like when we had Vin Baker on the payroll, even when he was playing for the Knicks. When you sign a contract, you are obligated to pay it, unless the player retires or opts out of the contract by his own free will. If he has a career ending injury, then medical insurance will pay the contract, and the salary no longer counts against the cap. He had $18M left in salary when they waived him.

This page explains it.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/players/playerpage/196338

EdSkae · Post #8 » by **EdSkae** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 6:13 pm

If the blazers have to pay that contract. Would they then have to cut players to satisfy the salary cap?

Rocky5000 · Post #9 » by **Rocky5000** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 6:34 pm

Since there's no hard cap in the NBA, I imagine that they would just have to pay the luxury tax. According to hoopshype, they are at $68M (They haven't updated it yet to exclude Miles salary.), so that still puts them in the luxury tax. Since they're in the luxury tax, if they had to pay Miles this year it'd end up costing them $18M!
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/portland.htm

They are setup really well for the future though. Raef and Stevie Franchise both come off the books at the end of this year, putting them at just $12M in contract commitments for 09-10. That's enough space for them to sign 2 Elton Brands.