Have the Celtics made an offer to Corey Maggette… or not? Depends on who you ask. The Globe and The Herald are clearly taking sides in this. Yesterday, the Globe not only said the C’s made Corey and offer… Mark Spears had quotes from him saying Doc Rivers called him and talked to him. Meanwhile, today’s Herald says:
A Celtics source also continued to insist yesterday that the team has not made a formal offer to free agent Corey Maggette, and that the former Clipper is simply aware that the team has a $5.8 million mid-level exception available – the same amount the team has been unwilling to offer Posey.
This has become the biggest… and most annoying… storyline so far this offseason. It’s obvious the Celtics have spoken to Maggette and have told him what they’re willing to offer. Whether they’ve put a written contract in front of him right now means nothing until the NBA’s dead period ends Wednesday. Posey’s still entertaining other offers.
Also in today’s Globe… a tidbit about how winded Patrick O’Bryant looked in his workouts. Scott Souza has a nice write up today about Big Baby… and what he needs to do to continue to contribute.
“I will be here working out and living in this arena (HealthPoint) right here,” said the 6-foot-8 Davis, who was listed at 289 pounds this season after playing at well over 300 his junior year at Louisiana State. “I am going to live in this gym. I am going to camp right in this locker room.”
It’s a contract year for Davis… so he’s got added incentive to do well.
Elsewhere in free agency… Arenas is getting $111 from Washington, Chris Duhon is going to NY, and Chris Paul just got a big extension from New Orleans.
And check out John Hollinger’s look at what’s next in free agency. It includes a look at the curse of the mid-level exception… and the stupidity of Beno Udrih and DeSagna Diop getting the full mid-level.
I will go with Spears. He talked to Maggette. I think the Herald is just reporting company PR BS that is aimed at mitigating the anger in Posey’s camp (which seems pointless anyway but I guess it’s part of the game).
I really don’t blame the Celtics though for not wanting to give Posey a contract that pays him over $7M for two years when he will be 36 and 37 (as would be with a max MLE deal). My guess is the Celtics have between now and July 8 or 9 or whenever it is FAs can sign deals to pony up the dough; otherwise, Po-Z is signing elsewhere and not wasting time about it.
Odds seem a little long on getting Maggette. So who will they get as a wing? I say the odds favor…Tony Allen! I’m a pretty big Tony fan, so this isn’t as depressing to me as to I’m sure a lot of people. It is a playing with fire scenario, admittedly. The silver lining is we’ll have our MLE to get a PG and a C.
The C’s have to be smart. We fans can be emotional…. but the C’s have to remove that…. and I can appreciate that.
Like I said… if Poz goes for the money… more power to him. Its not like a max guy opting out to get even more money…. he’s got to get paid.
Just so long as he doesn’t go to the Lakers
just came by i found interesting quote from Corey he will make his decision soon
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Maggette-seriously-considering-joining-Celtics;_ylt=AslAlcxDpmwT_RypkKhq5hi8vLYF?urn=nba,92093
“I don’t want to hold the Celtics up or [general manager] Danny Ainge,” said Maggette in a telephone interview. “I talked to Doc . . . I’m not going to hold them up. I know they are still looking at James Posey. But I’m still weighing my options.”