Hollinger Rips on NO for signing Posey to 4 year deal.

Rocky5000 · Post #1 » by **Rocky5000** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:48 am

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... ets-080716

Some quotes:

And, as I mentioned, he's a 31-year-old who will be handsomely paid 'til age 35. Nobody wanted to pay him this kind of dough when he was 30, and his production wasn't any different last year -- just the result in June.

And since this is so hard for people to remember, I'll say it again: The Hornets aren't paying for what Posey gave the Celtics last year, or what he gave the Heat in 2006, but for what he can potentially give the Hornets from 2008 to 2012. And that production is likely to diminish substantially from its already modest levels.

As for Boston, losing Posey certainly was a blow, but it was correct not to match the Hornets' overreaction. If Tony Allen comes back healthy he can replace a lot of the defensive mettle Posey provided, while the hope is that rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker can also fill in some of the departed production. And if those options don't work out, of course, it's easier for the Celtics to sign or trade for a replacement if they're not saddled by a long-term midlevel commitment to Posey.

I agree with Hollinger, but then again, I'm a crackhead. :lol:

Gomes3PC · Post #2 » by **Gomes3PC** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:50 am

Like the Sox losing Pedro, Dave Roberts, or Johnny Damon, it stings a lot more now than it will 2-3 years into the future when they break down or fall off a cliff in production (or both). We might miss James this year, but from 2009 and beyond we'll look a lot smarter.

CelticFaninLBC · Post #3 » by **CelticFaninLBC** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:54 am

He makes a good point about Allen's health. Boston needs to pick up a shooter though..

Celtics_85 · Post #4 » by **Celtics_85** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:55 am

If you give TA Posey like minutes he will put points on the board also. He is the best next to Pierce driving to the hole and at least getting contact to get to the line. If he comes back the way he was before the last injury then Posey was that great one year replacement for TA while he recovered. TA deserves the chance again with the way he was a team guy this past year, never putting himself first, and that is what this team is about.

Ed Pinkney · Post #5 » by **Ed Pinkney** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:53 am

I still have a soft spot for TA so I would be happy if they resign him on a short contract. If he returns to previous form then resign him for a better contract or trade him when he has much higher value.

If Giddens and/or Walker turn out, then trade him or just let him expire.

JCizzle · Post #6 » by **JCizzle** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:04 am

Gomes3PC wrote:Like the Sox losing Pedro, Dave Roberts, or Johnny Damon, it stings a lot more now than it will 2-3 years into the future when they break down or fall off a cliff in production (or both). We might miss James this year, but from 2009 and beyond we'll look a lot smarter.

Exactly. I'm really glad we didn't overpay for him. We'll be fine.

CelticFaninLBC · Post #7 » by **CelticFaninLBC** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:27 am

Congrats to Posey.. His biggest contribution was being one of the few guys with a ring. His hustle and clutch shooting will be missed, but he's not a huge loss or worth his contract.

mr_sunshine · Post #8 » by **mr_sunshine** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:19 am

I hope that sick dunk at the end of Game 6 was only the start for TA.

Post #9 » by **canman1971** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:10 am

I think Hollinger speaks what many here feel. If the Cs need a cheap shooter, how about a trade for JJ Reddick? I know he can't play D, but as a spot up shooter, he is deadly. Not sure about the numbers and how they would fit.

PPAW4Life · Post #10 » by **PPAW4Life** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:47 am

canman1971 wrote:I think Hollinger speaks what many here feel. If the Cs need a cheap shooter, how about a trade for JJ Reddick? I know he can't play D, but as a spot up shooter, he is deadly. Not sure about the numbers and how they would fit.

Reddick could not crack the rotation on the Magic's squad featuring such bad @sses like Hedu Turkoglu, Keith Boguns, Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo.

I'm sure he's going to do wonders on a team featuring slouches like Rondo, Pierce, and Allen.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #11 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:21 pm

Gomes3PC wrote:Like the Sox losing Pedro, Dave Roberts, or Johnny Damon, it stings a lot more now than it will 2-3 years into the future when they break down or fall off a cliff in production (or both). We might miss James this year, but from 2009 and beyond we'll look a lot smarter.

^^QFT

End of thread right here.

underneathtoDJ · Post #12 » by **underneathtoDJ** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:37 pm

I also thought of JJ Reddick as a possibility, but he really hasn't shown the ability to play well or stay healthy in the pros. He's undersized and gets abused on D.

The only kind of trade that I can think of that would work would be to deal Scals and a future 2nd round pick for JJ Reddick and Marcin Gortat (the huge white dude they used a bit in the playoffs). But I just don't see Orlando getting too excited about Scals and a 2nd rounder and I don't see Ainge getting too excited about Reddick or Gortat.

Kobe_not_MJ · Post #13 » by **Kobe_not_MJ** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:56 pm

Hollinger could not be more wrong, but then what do I expect, he's an ESPN guy. Posey's impact on a team will never show up on a stat sheet (other than maybe 10-12 points and 5-7 boards), but he was a very valuable member of two title teams the last three years. Dwyane Wade would not have a ring if not for Posey and his defense. Likewise with the Three Amigos.

Did NO overpay? Maybe a little, but that's the price of winning titles. The Celts have to pay luxury tax after all, but who cares? We are NBA Champs. Posey is the kind of guy you must have in order to win a title. They do have worth. I am sure D-Wade, KG, Doc, and Pat Riley would nod their heads in agreement at this.

New Orleans now has a very good shot at a title in 2009. Chris Paul and David West will be a year older and more experienced. Bank on either NO or LA in the Finals in 2009. Jon Hollinger will eat his words.

Post #14 » by **shackles10** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:02 pm

Antoine Walker also played a big role for Miami winning a title. I think you could even say that production wise, especially in the Finals, he did more. He would have been a rotation player for us last year too. I'm not saying I'd prefer him to Posey, but there are role players on EVERY title team that wins it all. I don't see anyone touting Devon George as a super role player now or when he was winning titles. He actually started for the Lakers even. I love what Posey did, and every title team needs a guy like him. The thing is, every title team does have a guy like him, and only 2 of the NBA titles ever one had James Posey being that guy.

JHTruth · Post #15 » by **JHTruth** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:14 pm

Tough to let Posey go, but that contract from NO was simply absurd. 4 years for a 31-year old bench player. Disgusting. We were correct not to match this silly offer. Bartelstein raped NO..

bruno sundov · Post #16 » by **bruno sundov** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:35 pm

Yeah DA learned from his past mistake with Mark I smoke blounts all day long. Good move not matching. I would like to see TA step up. I just don't know if He can do it.

Post #17 » by **sully00** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:18 pm

The worst part about this signing is that they don't seem to really have a handle on who Posey is. Reading the papers in New Orleans they are looking at Posey as a 2/3 who can run the floor. That may have been him 8 years ago but he is a 3/4 halfcourt player now. He is not going to be able to play SG and I don't think that he and Peja is going to be a very effective 2/3 tandem.

They just spent a lot of money and certainly got a better guy, but at the 2/3 I don't know that Posey is a better player than Bonzi Wells.

francishsu · Post #18 » by **francishsu** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:25 pm

I've always thought Bartelstein was very good at what he does. And he did not give the Celtics or any other team a chance to match the four years at the MLE. He had made it known that the first team to step up would get Posey, and that other teams would not get a chance to counter. I think that gives teams incentive to put forth their best offer, because they know they are not being played.

Tenbomber · Post #19 » by **Tenbomber** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:48 pm

James Posey was a good Celtic....and he earned his big payday!

I'm happy for him....we will be OK...!

Someone else will enter the picture....Someone else will fill the role....

Thats just life in NBA circles in the modern era...

We offered what we could... somebody offered more...so it goes!

grantlongforpresident · Post #20 » by **grantlongforpresident** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:27 pm

Hollinger is wrong. Not that it matters but all four people on around the horn and both guys on PTI loved this deal for the Hornets.

The reality is we broke up the core of an NBA champion for 1 year of the MLE in 2012. I'm willing to give up some financial flexibility in the 2011 offseason if we have a shot to win in the next two years.

It's ok though, we'll replace him with some POS like Snyder, Azubukyasfdf, Miles, Barnes etc. Way to get worse boston.