Other than Corey Maggette and Elton Brand, Posey is easily the most coveted free agent out there. The Celtics thought they would be a lock to re-sign him, but as it turns out they're facing stiff competition. It seemed to me that they drafted Giddens as a kind of olive branch to Bartelstein, hoping he would do them a favor in return. Posey is widely regarded as the kind of player who brings championship intagibles to the table, and while Boston could repeat as champs without him, it would be easier to do so with him.

As Posey makes the rounds and his future seems less certain, the Celtics have found it difficult to find time to get Giddens' rookie deal done.

Hmmmm. A little cat and mouse action going on here?

I would hope that Giddens was drafted because the Celtics they felt he would help them the most.  However, now that he's here... I'm sure that there is some gamesmanship going on.  By the way, that link also has a Maggette update.  The Pistons are now in the mix.  At this point, its easier to tell you who is NOT in the Maggette mix.

Also out there... Scott Souza tells us about Bill Walker's positive outlook.  Marc Spears wonders if the Spurs golden age is over.  ESPN is really looking ahead... to the 2008 free agent class...and 2009 and 2010 too.

And there is a bit of a controversy brewing because Billy Donovan accepted Austin Rivers' commitment to Florida... even though he's in 8th grade.  The coach's association had recently said it would wait until a player's junior year in high school.  It was in response to what Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie had been doing.  But now Donovan did it... and no one seems upset.  Kentucky fans are NOT happy.

Note: I'm not actually this confident.

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.

[wp_caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="363" caption="kevin garnett"][/wp_caption]

We are spending some time looking back over the Boston Celtics championship season... in an effort to truly appreciate the efforts of those involved. In our twelfth installment of the series, we continue saluting our starters. 

 

 

I'll come right out and say it.

I didn't like the Kevin Garnett trade when I first heard it. And don't lie to me right now. More than a few of you out there agreed with me at the time. But that's because we didn't know about "KG."

Kevin Garnett is a name attached to a bunch of statistics that a lot of us thought Al Jefferson might soon be able to duplicate. KG is the irresistible force that permeated the organization and forced everyone to assimilate. It's a force built on pure emotion, with a hint of psychosis. I can't really figure out how to explain it, because its indescribable... and so is KG.

I'll admit that I had no idea what the KG effect would be. I'm also thrilled to have been wrong. Part of me is actually honored to have been alive to witness what goes along with it... the "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE" explosion/incoherant rant... the murderous, tongue wagging look he gave Lamar Odom... firing an 8 punch combo into Leon Powe's chest after a huge dunk... the million other instance that would turn this appreciation into a Bill Simmons-length column.

It is not an understatement to say KG came in and changed the culture of the Boston Celtics. His zealous commitment to defense, coupled with Tom Thibodeau's zealous commitment to defense, took what was supposed to be this teams most glaring weakness... and turned it into its biggest strength. Think about that for a second.

Everyone before the season had serious questions about our defense. We were supposed to be, in the eyes of experts, a team that had to outscore everyone to win. We were supposed to be a team that got 75 points a game from the Big 3 just to compete. But not only was KG a major force in shoring up our defense... the KG/Thibodeau combo turned this into one of the most dominant defensive teams in history.

It is absolutely impossible to comprehend how Garnett brings the level of emotion that he does every game. Its like the pre-game pounding of his chest starts a motor that doesn't stop until he's home from the game. I could write about it all day long, and never really come close to describing it (no matter how many analogies that I try).

I'm stating the obvious by saying the KG trade was the single biggest reason why the Celtics are where they are. But it goes well beyond the baskets, rebounds and blocks. Call it his aura... energy... life force... intensity... whatever. All that stuff... and maybe a few words that haven't been invented yet... make KG what he is. And whatever that is, doesn't exist in any other human being. But it exists in KG. And for that, KG, we appreciate the job you've done in helping us achieve the ultimate goal... an NBA title.

(Reuters photo)

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The Celtics are ending mini-camp a day early... so today's going to be the last chance for guys to make their impressions on Danny and Doc. In the meantime.. the  C's continue to work on James Posey

James Posey has been to Houston before, and one of the predominant rumors of the day has him pondering the chance to play there again. The Celtics would be happy to re-sign Posey, who was a crucial part of their championship equation, but they don't want to ink him to a long-term deal. Several other teams, including the Rockets, would like to lure him away from Boston and will give him the long-term deal he wants.

Not much new there, but its something.

Also out there:  We know about Doc's son, Jeremiah, who just transferred to Indiana.  Doc's younger son, 15-year-old Austin, has already committed to Florida (where his sister plays volleyball).  Apparently, it's a big score for Billy Donovan:

"He really knows how to play," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer told Gatorbait.net. "He's got a maturity level to his game that you don't see in a lot of college players. He's got the size and the skill to make all the plays and he's a true combo guard that excels at both the point and shooting guard positions. He's one of the best guards, if not the best guard, that I've seen in the 2011 class."

In a previous post, I pointed out some potential inexpensive big men. Hopefully, by Gil accepting less it will allow the Wizards to sign a bargain center and possibly spend at or around the mid-level exception on a small forward. Once the dust settles on this agreement, we will be able to see exactly how much money the Wiz can spend on free agents, and which direction they go.

P.S. I wonder if Gil feels even better that he did not have to pay an agent 10% to negotiate his deal with the Wizards? In hindsight, given what he said about staying with the team, it doesn’t seem like he would have needed an agent for this transaction. I am sure he paid some legal fees for his attorney to review the language, but it would appear that his decision saved him approximately $11 M.

Sources told ESPN.com that Diop, traded by the Mavericks to New Jersey in February as part of the Jason Kidd deal, will receive the Mavericks' full mid-level exception in a five-year deal starting at nearly $6 million.

He's a 26 year old who avearaged 3 points and 5 boards last season... and 2 points/4 rebounds over a 7 year career.  I was wondering if he might be in the mix for back-up center... and then Dallas gums up the works by throwing $6 mil a year at him.  How can this guy make more than James Posey next year?

Thanks Cuban.  Hope you enjoy not winning a championship over the next 5 years.  Everyone realizes that Dallas isn't getting over the hump... right?

This was a motif during the Finals

The general mood this offseason is that the Lakers need to acquire an outside shooting and above-average defending small forward. The main reason being that Paul Pierce blew by whoever was guarding him on his way to Finals MVP. Radman and Luke Walton weren't quick enough to stay with, Trevor Ariza was coming back from injury and even Kobe couldn't match Pierce's strength. Save for Ariza, athleticism is on the light side at the small forward position. On the offensive side of the ball, Vlad showed he could hit the three, but at the same time it seemed that he missed the most ugly shots. It made me cringe when the ball ended up in Walton's hands as the shot clock was winding down, trying to create his own shot. Ariza can slash and finish, but his perimeter touch is lacking. We played Kobe at the small during crunch time, but in the Finals, he took some bruising defense from Posey and Pierce. Thus, it has been determined that the final piece to our championship puzzle is a new small forward.

Small Forward?

Well, the answer to our small forward problem appears to be Lamar Odom. First of all, playing Odom at the small doesn't cost the Lakers any more money than they are already paying. Secondly, his size and quickness at the position are practically unparalleled, save for Andrei Kirilenko. We saw a bit of Lamar's capability for guarding small forwards during the Finals, when Phil was searching for an answer to Pierce. But, it was a small sample size in regards to how he would guard the rest of the league's small forwards. However, I noticed that he could stay in front of Pierce with his quick feet but left a lot of shooting room. Nonetheless, with Bynum back in the fold next year, Lamar will be able to play the shooter close, and if he drives past, Bynum will be there to alter. So much of the defense is based on the anchor at the back, and Bynum will be the defensive stopper that Pau Gasol could not be.

On the offense,  Odom would fit into his usual role of facilitating the offense. Playing the ball through to Gasol and Bynum. Odom's handle is definitely unique for his size and so is his passing ability. He struggled at times with finishing around the rim, but he knows how to take it strong. The only concern would be his outside shooting. Vlad was able to spread the floor and give Kobe room to operate, usually without the problem of double teams. As Boston showed in the Finals, they are willing to leave Odom open around the perimeter and use the extra man to give Kobe more trouble. Lamar's inability to consistently hit from deep will be a lingering problem that could plague the offense. But, Given Odom's length and agility, how can the Lakers not try him out at small forward?

What about starting Trevor Ariza and having Odom come off the bench? Not a bad idea, which Phil may end up doing depending on the match-up. Ariza can defend well, and he shoots better than Lamar, but his passing and court vision are not as good as Odom's. Ariza is also very athletic, so, him and Kobe could give defenders a hard time. As for Lamar off the bench, if you noticed during last season, Phil usually has Odom play with the mob, using him as a PF with Walton at the SF slot. It worked well during the season, and Odom is usually the main offensive option with the reserves.

The Future

Trade Odom to get a defensive small forward? I say the Lakers don't pull the trigger to any major deal this off season. Mostly because it would just be a rental. Main trade targets Shawn Marion and Ron Artest are unrestricted after this year, and they both want long-term deals. Also, we could try to nab Artest with the mid-level next year after he expressed his regret for not opting out this off season. We also need to try Odom out, just to see how it works. If he does great, we sign him long-term and problem solved. Trevor Ariza is then groomed to be a Caron-Butler esque type player for the future (Remember, we used to have this guy).

In other small forward news:

It appears that the Bobcats are looking to trade Gerald Wallace. He is one of the more talented small forwards in the league, and is known for his aggressive defense. Since he is seemingly on the outs with Charlotte, the Lakers might seriously look into acquiring him.

James Posey also appears to be looking for a change of scenery, after Boston decided not to offer him the full mid-level exception. Not a bad idea, as you can see situations that arise with players locked in for multiple years (see Walton, Luke and Radman, Vlad). The Lakers could probably offer Posey a slice of the MLE and see if he takes. He is going to be the next Robert Horry, so hopefully he'll accept a two year deal.

Baron Davis - PG, Golden State Warriors, Unrestricted, opted out of his contract after ongoing contract negotiations stalled with the team.  Baron Davis is a solid point guard with all-star caliber abilities and would definitely help a struggling team make the playoffs.  Unfortunately, with great ability comes a hefty price tag and "the Lord" will be looking for something close to $15 M/year. 

*UPDATE* - According to the LA Times, Baron Davis has reached a verbal agreement with the LA Clippers.  The deal Davis has signed is for an estimated $65 M for five years.  This is a huge coup for the Clippers and with the expected re-signing of Elton Brand this legitimizes their chances of making some noise in the Western Conference next year.

Gilbert Arenas - PG, Washington Wizards, Unrestricted, opted out of his contract much as he had been saying throughout the regular season.  Arenas is a native of Southern California and although he has been quoted for saying he wouldn't mind coming west and playing for the Lakers, he is expected to re-sign with the Wizards.  According to ESPN reports, Arenas told his teammate Antawn Jamison he would re-sign with the team as long as Jamison also re-signed.  In addition, he would be willing to take less than the max amount should Jamison re-sign.  ESPN has reported the Wizards and the Warriors have both offered max contracts to Arenas (Wizards, $127 M for six years, Warriors, $101 M for five years) who must now decide where he will sign.

Elton Brand -PF, LA Clippers, Unrestricted, opted out of his contract in order to restructure his deal with the Clippers.  Many pundits believed Brand had become weary of the Clippers ability to provide him with enough players to make a run at a championship and with the tragic injuries that plagued the Clippers all last season, Brand's opt out would provide him with the bargaining power to force the Clippers into making roster changes or the ability to bolt to a contender.  With that being said the Clippers are looking to re-sign Brand, who would receive a multi-year contract in excess of $13-17 M/year.

*UPDATE* - It looks like the signing of Baron Davis was just enough to keep Brand on the Clippers, who will have a good nucleus next year in Chris Kaman, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Cuttino Mobley, and Al Thornton.

 In terms of Lakers potential targets and free agent concerns, according to the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Lakers website, qualifying offers have been given to both Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf ($2.6 M for one year and $1 M for one year, respectively).  Both players are restricted free agents and through the offers the Lakers gain first right of refusal, which is the ability to match any other offers from another team to either player.  Kupchak has been adamant about wanting to re-sign both players and did not forsee dramatic changes in the team for next year.  However, this does not mean if the right deal comes along he will not pull the trigger.  It just means he will not be actively shopping around for another addition to the team beyond the team's MLE.

 On that note, it's no surprise that the Lakers have been rumored to be eyeing free agent James Posey in hopes of signing him to the Lakers' MLE.  Posey brings a toughness, defensive mind-set, and experience many believe the Lakers are missing and the main reason they lost to Boston in the finals.  Posey, however, is expected to the re-sign with the Celtics, but would be an unbelievable steal if they can woo him away.

In a move that I don't think anyone of us saw coming, the Celtics have offered a contract to former Clippers guard Corey Maggette. Here's the latest on Maggette and James Posey from the Globe:

The Celtics have made contract offers to two forwards in their own free agent James Posey and Clippers free agent Corey Maggette, sources told the Boston Globe. The most the Celtics could offer is the mid-level exception (about $5.8 million), and it's doubtful that they could sign both players. The terms of the offers were not disclosed.

Posey averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds and was a NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate in his first season with Boston. The two-time NBA champion was a strong leader for the Celtics and opted out of the second year of a two-year deal on Monday to become an unrestricted free agent. Maggette averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds last season for the Clippers and played for Celtics coach Doc Rivers in Orlando during the 1999-2000 season.

Well we all knew that Ainge would offer a contract to Posey, but who could have guessed we would also throw a deal Maggette's way? Obviously both players would be looking for the full MLE, so there's no way to sign both of them. I would love to have Posey back, but to bring a player like Corey Maggette off the bench would be very interesting. My #1 priority is to re-sign James Posey, but if he decides to go else where, then I am all for bringing in Corey Maggette to replace him.

First off, let me say that I would LOVE. Repeat...LOVE to see Baron Davis on the Celtics. Not that its going to happen (or has any chance of happening at all), but I just want to make it known that he is one of my favorite players in the league.

So lets completely suspend disbelief (ala the movie "Wanted") and talk about why that would be awesome.

1) Eddie House and Sam Cassell are probably not coming back. I would love to have a 29 year old in his prime point guard (and fearless shooter) to split time with Rajon Rondo.

2) He's been not so healthy the last several years. If he only played like 25 minutes a game, maybe he'd be healthier?

3) Davis could also play SG in place of Paul Pierce or Ray Allen (however Doc is feeling at the moment) and lead the bench.

4) He has the greatest beard in the NBA since Walt Frazier.

The thing is, Baron Davis just seems to BELONG in Oakland. I don't know why. It just makes sense.

Here are some teams that could use a great point guard:

1) Cleveland: Imagine a Cavs team with Lebron and Baron Davis? That would be scary...Especially since Delonte West is not guaranteed to return.

2) Houston: Maybe the Rockets want to upgrade at Guard? I feel like adding Baron Davis would be a slight improvement. But doubt this happens.

3) LA Clippers: Imagine if the Clips made off season pushes for various free agents (since their team is essentially non-existent right now)? They could probably use a guy who fits in California. Also doubt this happens.

4) Milwaukee: The Bucks going for Baron would be funny. Because if they had him, Bogut, Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson and a rotating cast of 6'11" guys, they wouldn't be terrible. This won't happen.

Watch, he'll probably end up with the Knicks or Sonics or Blazers or somewhere strange...if he doesn't end up back in GState.

JAMES POSEY MUST REMAIN ON THE BOSTON CELTICS.

I don't care what they need to pay him. EVERY TEAM NEEDS SOMEONE LIKE POSEY!!!

Rumors are that if the C's don't re-sign him, he might be enticed by the Cavs.

For the record, Cleveland really MUST make some huge moves this off season if they want to have even a small chance of resigning Lebron in 2010. They NEED to get better players around him. Just not Posey.

Elton Brand rumors were swirling in Boston last Summer.

He's probably not headed anywhere but back to the Clips...supposedly.

Philly might want him. Philly should also make some interesting plays this off season. They could really turn into a top 12 team if they make some good free agency acquisitions or trades.

Gilbert Arenas could go anywhere. I hope he stays in the East for the sake of the East becoming more competitive.

Actually, I hope EVERY good free agent goes east. Lets level out the playing field here.

Maybe this is where the Sixers make a move? If their ownership wants to win, they're gonna need to spend some serious money. And as was proven in 07-08, what you do in the off season definitely DOES have a major impact on what you do when the playing starts. Imagine if the Sixers somehow made plays for Brand, Davis and Arenas? That would be insane.

Also, this is why its so shitty that the Knicks have fucked themselves for years, I really do think, if there was any money to spend, that Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas could both easily end up there and end up fitting in with D'Antoni's style. They can both run and shoot. A New York team with the two of them, the hated Italian, and less derelicts? I'd say the Boston/New York rivalry would be on in basketball...

Corey Maggette is one of those guys that no one really gets super excited about, but he does average 16 points and 5 rebounds a game and would definitely be a solid addition to any team that could use an extra hand on offense. He's not going to transform any team from a 30 game winner to a 50 game winner or anything like that. But he might be helpful in Cleveland or Philly or Orlando or Washington. Some team that is actively trying to get better (maybe even Miami or Chicago or Indiana...who knows?).

The Celtics forward reportedly is looking for a midlevel deal that starts at approximately $5.8 million and carries over 4-5 years.

Posey’s hometown Cleveland Cavaliers are said to be putting together an offer, in addition to the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. New Jersey, which came close to signing Posey last summer before he was talked into going with the Celtics, also may revisit the situation, though like most teams the Nets are carving out cap space for 2010, when big names like LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade could hit the free agent market.

Sorry James, but 5 years is too much.

I got this request a couple days ago: make an entry that hypothesizes on where the major free agents will end up. I think that’s a pretty good idea, especially since we’ve gotten news that big names like Baron Davis and Elton Brand are now unrestricted free agents at the eleventh hour. Neither of those players was expected to opt out of the final year of their deal so it’s exciting from a fan perspective, even if the Raptors don’t have enough money to pursue any of them.

However, I figured I should spend the first bit of this entry on the home team because even though there are many spots to fill and only roughly $5-6 million to fill them with, those spots are still important to the club. Using my initial report as a point of reference, which you can find at http://raptorcore.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/2008-free-agent-report/ , I will go through some potential candidates to fill out the roster here in Toronto.

Toronto Raptors: Looking for a Diamond in the Rough

The Raptors’ needs are clear: they need to get a back-up point guard for Jose Calderon as well as improved play on the wing. With these needs in mind, I have the following names to toss into the hat:

Earl Boykins (Bobcats):

It really looks like Earl’s stock has fallen around the league. I think the Raptors could get solid bench play from him but the downside is he is a very small player and it’s not like Jose is a big guard. It’d probably be best to look for a bit more size at the position. Boykins is still a veteran, though, and can keep the flow going when Jose takes a rest.

Chris Duhon (Bulls):

Duhon’s stock has definitely fallen. Rob Babcock signed him to an offer sheet a few years ago, which Chicago matched. Times have definitely changed in the Windy City, though. Duhon has fallen out of favour with the team due to his attitude, they have a surplus of guards, a few of them need to be moved and he could be had at a cheap price considering that fallen stock. Could it be any lower than the $3 million he made this past season? Maybe not, but he’s worth a look to back up Jose.

Devin Brown (Cavaliers):

Devin Brown has really bounced around the league over the years but he’s never been a scrub after his stint in San Antonio. Statistically, he had a good year with the Hornets in 2006-2007. I think he’s a pretty solid defender and made barely over $1 million this past year. He’s not the scorer the Raptors need, which is the downside but at least he can provide defense. This isn’t anywhere near the top of my list but he’s still on it.

Antoine Wright (Mavericks):

I realize this is more of a project and less immediate help but Antoine Wright has shown small signs in the past of being a good basketball player. For whatever reason, he’s pulled a Joey Graham and not been able to put it together but before he was dealt to Dallas this past season, he put up some nice stats with the Nets. That may be due to injuries they had down there and the fact they weren’t playing meaningful games but if he could be had for dirt cheap, why not take a look at him?

J.R. Smith (Nuggets):

I’m definitely not holding my breath for this one. It’s not even likely on either end because he’d command more on the free agent market than the Raptors can afford and B.C. probably wouldn’t like his ‘chucker’ mentality much either, especially coupled with the fact his defense is non-existent. Still, if the price was right, J.R. has given Denver a lot of offense in his years there and he’s a sparkplug. He’s also extremely athletic so these are things to think about – not that it’s likely, though.

Jarvis Hayes (Pistons):

I like Hayes’ game. He’s not the best defender but he stays active. Maybe it’s just Detroit’s system instilling that in him but it may be an individual thing as well. He’s also seen decreases in his minutes every year since his sophomore season, which explains the gradual drop in his stats. He shoots good percentages, though, and when he is in the game, he contributes. I like him at the small forward spot and he made $1.2 million this past year so he should be in the Raps’ price range after factoring in a raise.

Lindsey Hunter (Pistons):

This is unlikely for price reasons and also age concerns but Hunter brings good ball pressure in the backcourt, which we saw throughout the playoffs and in his career overall. He can hit shots when necessary but at least he’d help the Raps with their guard play on the defensive end off the bench.

Kelenna Azubuike & Mickael Pietrus (Warriors):

I pretty much lump these guys in together because they’re so similar. Both can be termed ‘chuckers’ but that’s probably a product of the Warriors’ system in Oakland. They encourage shooting the ball and doing so in the flow of the game so a bad shot here wouldn’t be considered a bad shot to them. Both guys are fairly athletic but I think Pietrus has the advantage there. He also has length and uses it to gamble on defense, which can be a good thing and a bad thing, depending on the play. Neither of these guys are particularly good ball handlers but I like Pietrus and I think he’s one of the more realistic names B.C. will contact.

Ronald Murray (Pacers):

I have always been a Flip Murray fan and I think I always will be. I like his game in the backcourt as a poor man’s Ben Gordon. I think he’s capable of putting points on the board in bunches when he gets an opportunity to do so and it’s always nice to have an aggressive guard off your bench to contrast the style of the starter. That’s what made the Raptors so great in the past with Jose and T.J. and it’s not like Murray can be considered a selfish guy. He passes as well and I think had a good season once he got to Indiana last year.

Quinton Ross (Clippers):

I like Ross because he really is a ‘swingman’. He can play the shooting guard position and the small forward spot. I like his defense at both positions, as well as his size. At 6’6, he can play a lot of different players. I’m not really impressed with his shot, which takes away from him playing the 2 but with some different opportunities, he might shine.

Ramon Sessions (Bucks):

This is a little ridiculous. I’m including a guy on this list that played a total of 17 games last season. He started seven of those due to injury to the Milwaukee backcourt and had that amazing game back in April where he had 24 assists against the Bulls. That’s not something I’m going to forget any time soon. He averaged over 7 assists when he played, as well as 8 points and 3 rebounds, shooting decent percentages from all over the floor in only 26 minutes. He’s only 22 years old and could be a really good player down the road so if the Raps could get him for a minimum deal or even $1-2 million, they could have a diamond in the rough. If it doesn’t work out, there’s very little lost.

Keyon Dooling (Magic):

I like Dooling’s game a lot. I think he’ll get more money than the Raps can afford but he can play the point guard spot if necessary and he guards both backcourt positions fairly well. He has good size, deceptive quickness and explosiveness. He’s also good with ball pressure at all points on the court, which we saw glimpses of during the playoffs against Toronto. His offensive game is sufficient but he definitely doesn’t have 20-point potential, which is acceptable because of the budget the Raps are working on. He’d still be a good addition at the right price but I don’t think that opportunity will arise.

Louis Williams (76ers):

This is another player who will almost certainly be out of the Raptors’ range. Philly tendered him a qualifying offer, which I doubt he’ll take considering how he helped his stock rise this season. He was an integral part of Philly’s late season run and then his numbers got even better in the playoffs against the Pistons, which is no easy task. If the Warriors lose Monta Ellis to free agency, Louis Williams would be a good fit for them. I wish he’d come to T.O., though. The only downside is he’s 6’2 and that’d make for a very small shooting guard, no matter the line-up at the time.

There’s my short list. Of the guys on here, I think Bryan Colangelo will be making a push to find out about the following: Mickael Pietrus, Kelenna Azubuike and Quinton Ross. We’ll probably have a very good idea of who he’s targeted within the next few hours.

The Headliners

A lot of ‘big names’ have reached free agency this year as well. Most of them aren’t the top tier talents like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, but they are bona fide ‘number two’ guys like Corey Maggette. Also, Ron Artest decided at the last minute not to opt out of the final year of his deal so he won’t be a free agent until next summer barring an extension with the Sacramento Kings between now and then.

Josh Smith

Current Team: Atlanta Hawks

Signs With: Atlanta Hawks

I really don’t see the Hawks letting Smith go. He’s arguably the most important piece to their puzzle. Guys like Joe Johnson are very important when it comes to shouldering the offensive load but Smith is very athletic and useful inside. His offense gets better every season to match his amazing defensive abilities and if they’re ever on the same level, he will be a scary two-way player. They would be foolish to let him leave for any amount of money.

James Posey

Current Team: Boston Celtics

Signs With: Boston Celtics

I’m not saying Posey is an All-Star in this league but he’s definitely important to a contender’s success off the bench. This is probably one of those deals where the player opts out to test the waters but ultimately re-signs with the same team at a greater salary. It makes sense for Posey because his stock has risen yet again and while the Celtics may not enjoy doing it, it makes a lot of sense for them to keep him. He’s the perfect utility role player.

Emeka Okafor

Current Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Signs With: Charlotte Bobcats

Okafor hasn’t been an amazing pro. He’s shown defensive skills inside but all in all, the Orlando Magic made the right choice when they went with Dwight Howard at #1 back in 2004. Okafor hasn’t shown a lot of offensive power like I thought he would when I saw him play in college. He’s definitely not going to get anywhere near a max deal but what happens to the ‘Cats if they let him go? Sean May? Right.

Luol Deng

Current Team: Chicago Bulls

Signs With: Chicago Bulls

Deng is very important in Chicago right now. With all the guards they have, they can probably swing a nice deal for a useful player but he’s a forward that should really stay. Who else is there after him? Tyrus Thomas? It makes sense for Deng to sign an extension with the Bulls because things are looking up for them after drafting Derrick Rose. They have tons of assets to make the deals that will put them in a position to win. His skills are valued in a variety of places but who has the money to pay him what he deserves?

Ben Gordon

Current Team: Chicago Bulls

Signs With: Philadelphia 76ers

I don’t know what it is but for some reason, I think Gordon will end up in Philly if Louis Williams leaves. They have a lot of cap room right now to sign someone and while I think that’d probably be a big man, Gordon wouldn’t be too bad either as a complementary player to Andre Iguodala. On second thought, it might be a bit of a style clash but I can’t think of a good fit for him anywhere else but Golden State.

Monta Ellis

Current Team: Golden State Warriors

Signs With: Memphis Grizzlies

Marc Iavaroni apparently loves Ellis and what’s not to love? The sky is the limit for him in the right system and Memphis will definitely be implementing one that favours his skill set. He’s quick, athletic, and explosive, as well as possessing the ability to fly. He’d be a great addition to what the Grizzlies are building with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. That will be a high-powered offense for years to come if they can get a versatile big man down there. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Warriors match the offer even to a max deal since Baron opted out. They have to protect their assets.

Baron Davis

Current Team: Golden State Warriors

Signs With: Golden State Warriors

I just can’t see Baron leaving California. With that said, would he play for the Kings? They don’t have the money and probably don’t need him right now. What about the Clippers? Well, they might have the money depending on what happens with Maggette and Brand but would he want to sign with them if their next best player is Chris Kaman? Probably not. Let’s not even get into the possibility of him playing with the Lakers because that’s just not happening barring something unforeseen. I’m pretty sure it’d require a sign-and-trade involving Lamar Odom. I was shocked Baron even opted out to begin with.

Elton Brand

Current Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Signs With: Los Angeles Clippers

I really want to say he’ll end up in Philadelphia or Miami but the Heat don’t have money to offer him. They have the expiring contract of Shawn Marion worth $17 million, which would allow Michael Beasley to get into the line-up right away but I’m not sure. Pat Riley clearly likes Brand from the reports I’ve read around the league so he may try all he can to put a package together. Philly has the room and he’d be a great fit there, although his style differs from how the Sixers are playing right now. I’m sure they’d alter that for him or maybe he could alter it for them. Either way, I don’t think anything will get done. I’m fairly surprised he opted out coming off an injury year. There must be something out there that got back to him and prompted him to test the waters. Charlotte might be interested as well but would have to backload the contract since they may not have all the room necessary next year.

Corey Maggette

Current Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Signs With: Los Angeles Clippers

I have to admit that this one is a cop out on my part. I really have no clue where Maggette will end up. If Brand stays in L.A., it probably makes sense for Maggette to do so as well because there isn’t a lot of money out there. The teams that do have cash don’t really need his services. Maybe a team like the Warriors would make sense if Monta Ellis walked? How about the Bobcats? Hell, even Brand could be an option for the ‘Cats if they wanted to team him up with Jason Richardson, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Wallace. That’d actually be a very potent mix in Charlotte if they had the cash to make it happen.

Andre Iguodala

Current Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Signs With: Philadelphia 76ers

I know he turned down the extension early in the season but Iggy has to be happy with the progress the team made in the last few months of the season after the All-Star break. They were arguably the hottest team in the East other than the powerhouses like Boston and Detroit. They were doing it on a fairly cheap, young roster as well and if they keep the nucleus together, they could build toward something great. It starts with Iguodala, though, and I think he’ll realize that soon enough.

Gilbert Arenas

Current Team: Washington Wizards

Signs With: Washington Wizards

Agent Zero really shouldn’t get the maximum deal of six years, $124 million. It just doesn’t make sense for him to be paid like that based on a stellar 2006-2007 season and then injuries after that. I don’t see the dollars he’s looking for anywhere else so he should take what Washington offers and stay there with Caron Butler and the newly re-signed Antawn Jamison (who got a four year, $50 million deal Monday). If Iggy doesn’t stay in Philly, then that’s an automatic location for Gilbert to land if they want him but otherwise, no one else makes as much sense.

Guys like Shawn Marion and Ron Artest actually decided not to opt out, so we got a little swerve from them. Baron Davis and Elton Brand didn’t come up too often in the past week or so but then news broke on Monday night that both of them exercised their opt-outs to become free agents while others will stay put. It’s amazing. It may seem lame to state that most of these guys will return to their original team but that’s how free agency plays out very often. This year, there isn’t a lot of money to be spent on the market and the teams that have the money are nowhere near title contention. Also, it’s few and far between that major stars leave their respective teams. We’ve seen it with Shaquille O’Neal leaving Orlando for Los Angeles, Grant Hill leaving Detroit for Orlando and even Steve Nash – to a lesser extent – leaving Dallas for Phoenix, but it doesn’t happen as often as it seems. Free agency only yields a few major address changes each year and I don’t think this will be one that bucks the trend.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this ‘supplementary’ report for the 2008 Free Agent season. It’s going up the morning of July 1 so a lot of it will be relevant for about five minutes before news leaks start spreading across the net. Enjoy it while you can and I’ll be back sooner rather than later to share my thoughts on the signings being reported. Of course, nothing’s official until July 9 but we’ll still have a good idea of what’s going on. Until next time..

-Mark R.

[The Raptor Core]

Aún no es oficialmente uno de julio (al menos en Estados Unidos), y ya se han producido algunos movimientos (más) en el mercado de jugadores. Ojito que alguno resulta francamente interesante:

Baron Davis: El que ha sido hombre franquicia de los Golden State Warriors en los últimos años ha renunciado a su último año de contrato para hacerse agente libre este mismo verano. Va a ser uno de los jugadores más buscados por los equipos de la liga, y se dice que uno de los pocos que tienen dinero contante y sonante para gastar, los Clippers, van a ir a por todas para ficharle. No hay que olvidar que él es nativo de California. Davis renuncia a los casi 18 millones de dólares (fruslerías, vaya) que cobraría en su último año para buscar un nuevo contrato más jugosón, tal vez con los Warriors, tal vez no (al igual que con Monta Ellis, se haba de un posible "sign and trade"). 

Antawn Jamison: Los Wizards quieren retener a Gilbert Arenas, y si eso supone renovar a Antawn Jamison (lo cual no es, ni mucho menos, una mala cosa), por ellos no va a quedar. Jamison acaba de firmar un contrato por 4 años y 50 millones de dólares con los Wizards que supone un pasito más en el intento de Washington de retener también al "Agente 0" y conservar así el trío de jugadores (junto con Caron Butler) que tan buenos resultados han dado a la franquicia en los últimos años. A sus 32 años, Jamison ha cerrado una de las temporadas más completas de su carrera (21,4 puntos y 10,2 rebotes por partido), con nada menos que 44 dobles dobles. Es un jugador fiable y experimentado, así que se puede hablar de un muy buen movimiento de los Wizards.

Elton Brand: El "power forward" de los Clippers ha anunciado que también renunciará a su último año de contrato, en un claro intento de meter presión a los Clippers. Brand ha anunciado que quiere renovar con el equipo, pero llegados a este punto, cualquier cosa puede pasar, claro. Según el agente de Brand, quieren ver si los Clippers hacen un esfuerzo por reunir un buen equipo. Bueno, las palabras exactas han sido "un equipo ganador", pero mucho tendrían que cambiar las cosas en el equipo de Los Ángeles para que se ajustara a esa definición. Y más con Corey Maggette dejándose querer por los Magic...

James Posey: Uno de los hombres importantes de la final de este año, James Posey, sabe que su valor nunca ha estado tan a la alza en la liga, y no ejercerá una cláusula que tiene con los Boston Celtics, optando por convertirse en agente libre de forma inmediata. Anda que es tonto el amigo... Ofertas seguro que no le faltan, y probablemente superiores a los 3,2 millones que cobraría en Boston el año próximo. 

Eso es todo por ahora. Y eso que la cosa ni siquiera ha empezado de forma "oficial"...

The NBA's transactions page was updated at 1:15 am, and it did not include an offer to Tony Allen.  Therefore, I'm working on the assumption that Tony Allen is a free agent.  HOWEVER, there's also no indication that James Posey has opted out of his contract... which we all know he's going to do.  I'll update this post if anything new happens overnight.

---- UPDATE ---

We have removed the question mark from the headline...Tony Allen was not extended a qualifying offer... he is now an unrestricted free agent.

The Lakers were expected to make a move for Artest should he have opted out... in an effort to get that defensive stopper they desperately need.  Now, the next best option for them might be James Posey.  The good news is, they can only offer him the MLE, so they can't crazily out-bid the Celtics unless they go nuts with the length of the deal... and that doesn't make too much sense for them.

But, you never know.  The Lakers will definitely be making a play for The Mongoose... so things will get interesting.

Still no word on Tony Allen, by the way.

James Jones: The 6-8 forward quietly put together a strong season last year for the Blazers, finishing third in the NBA in three-point shooting (44.0 percent) while bringing other intangibles that helped that young team blossom. He opted out of the final year of his contract ($3.1 million), but he probably could be picked up for only slightly more.

Mickael Pietrus: Once considered a rising star in Golden State, he has been buried on the bench in Don Nelson's system. But the 6-6 swingman is a terrific athlete who can defend and shoot the three. With a change of scenery, Pietrus just might live up to his potential and turn out to be a steal at the right price.

Pietrus  made $3.4 million last season, while Jones collected $3.1. Throw either of these guys a 3-year deal worth 12-13 million....and you have your swingman who can shoot the three and defend. And both of these guys (Jones - 27, Pietrus - 26) are younger than Posey who turns 32 in January. Plus you save close to $2 million to throw at another player.

Is this lanky lefty in Kupchak's crosshairs?

While the 08-09 roster is essentially set, Kupchak could wheel-and-deal this offseason. To start with, the main "weaknesses" in the Lakers roster are at the small forward and point guard positions. I have divided potential targets into how they can be acquired (ie. free agency and trade).

Free Agency

Point Guards (depth only)

Should Derek Fisher go under with an injury next season, Jordan Farmar cannot handle the point all by his lonesome. The Lakers will not be looking for a starting point guard or a point guard of the future; they will most likely sign a veteran guard.

Anthony Carter and Anthony Johnson

The elders are Anthonys Johnson and Carter. They will be 34 and 33, respectively. Farmar is miles ahead in skill, but then again, they will only be needed for depth. I say the Lakers sign Carter; better shooter and a tad younger than Johnson.

Carlos Arroyo

Carlos Arroyo will probably not sign for the minimum, but he would give some great play. He was a solid reserve for the Orlando Magic last season.

Shaun Livingston

Shaun Livingston has not played basketball in a long time, but he showed some promise earlier in his career. If the Clippers do let him go free, he would be a cheap flier.

Small Forward (starter)

If the Lakers do in fact delve into free agency for a small forward, it will be to secure a starter. The roster already boasts a number of small forwards (Ariza, Luke Walton, Radman, Lamar?), so no backups needed. However, I do not see any signings happening since there is such a glut on the roster. A trade will most likely be used to acquire a small forward.

Corey Maggette

Corey Maggette has opted out, but is looking for a big deal. I do not think he would fit in well with the Lakers, mostly because he needs a lot of possessions (Kobe's possessions). He is also not too good defensively, which would be a must at this position.

James Posey

James Posey hasn't been a starter since his first season in Miami, but I think he could start and give the same production he gives off the bench. Posey plays excellent defense, as we saw, and he is great at shooting the trey. If we can sign him for less than the mid-level it would be a steal.

Mickael Pietrus

Mickael Pietrus was buried on the depth chart in Oakland, but he has enough talent to be targeted by the Lakers. He shoots decently from three and can play solid defense. But, do we already have a player just like him in Ariza?

Trade

Point Guard

I can't see any scenario where the Lakers would acquire a point guard in a trade, other than a throw-in as a part of a much bigger deal (see below).

Small Forward

Acquiring a small forward in a trade is the most likely scenario. Lamar Odom will be moved as part of any deal in the off season.

Shawn Marion

Marion and the Heat are on the outs with each other, especially after Michael Beasley was drafted. They could use Odom's versatility and the Lakers could use Marion's defense. Marion wouldn't spread the court with his shot, but we have Vlad for that. Also, Marion's speed and athleticism would be tremendous for the team. He can also play both forward positions well.

How: A trade straight up for Lamar Odom could do this deal.

Ron Artest

Ron Artest is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA, alongside Marion and Shane Battier. He can shoot the three decently enough for his defender to respect it. Artest is probably not opting out, and the Kings want to get some value from him before he inevitably leaves Sactown.

How: The Lakers would trade Lamar Odom and receive Artest and either Mikki Moore or Shareef Abdur-Rahim as well.

Tayshaun Prince

Tayshaun is another great wing defender, and is looking to be dealt in the Joe Dumars fire sale. Like the other small forwards here, he can spread the floor adequately with his three point shot. He also has some great post moves, for his position, as well as a great jump shot. Again, will Prince essentially be a slightly upgraded Ariza?

How: I doubt Joe Dumars would pull a Lamar Odom for Prince and Amir Johnson deal. It will probably have to involve some other teams.

There are salary cap tricks that could allow Posey to be signed to a longer deal and maybe let him draw a salary after he retires... thus increasing the overall value of the contract.  I just started to try to figure them out... but then my eyes started to bleed. 

By the way... today's the day to make a qualifying offer to Tony Allen.  If not, he's a free agent.  So far... I haven't heard anything about the C's making him an offer.

Today may be the last day James Posey is officially a member of the Boston Celtics.

Aside from any sentence involving the words "devastating injury" and any member of our Big 3... that is the scariest sentence for a Celtics fan to read right now. Quite honestly, the appreciation of James Posey could end right there, because that perfectly sums up how we feel about him. Losing him will be a major hit to our chances of celebrating Banner 18.

Now comes the good news.

The Celtics want him back. The fans want him back. And he, apparently, wants to be back. His agent has said many times over the past week that Posey loves it in Boston. He loves the situation. The loves the management. And he loves how the fans are very well aware that he's extremely important to our chances. When Danny Ainge signed Posey, the whole thing snapped into focus. Like one of those old magic eye posters, a clear picture suddenly emerged from the muck ("Oh look... it's a championship ring").

Posey is a do-it-all guy. When the Celtics were embarrassing the Lakers in Game 6, Posey became "The Mongoose," because he was the point-man in shutting down The Mamba. When the other team's big slasher was feeling his oats, it was Posey that took more charges than Visa. And When the Celtics were making their epic comeback in Game 4, it was Poz and Eddie House who were drilling back-breaking 3's. In fact, many of Posey's biggest 3's over the season were comeback-killers... 3's that killed momentum and made sure the Celtics maintained, or even extended, a lead.

James Posey is a classic Boston hero. He comes in, does his job, does it well, and leaves. As die-hard as we all are, do you know what his voice sounds like? If you turned on the radio mid-interview... would you know right away that it was Posey talking? Probably not... because he doesn't do much talking after games.

Nope, he just comes in and does the dirty work. And for that, James, we appreciate the job you've done in helping us achieve the ultimate goal... an NBA title.

(Getty Images Photo)

----

Herald: Big spending might not occur during free agency  |  Nets set to wheel and deal  |  Globe:  Coach K testing his mettle with the stars 

They day after the draft, Doc Rivers spoke about the free agents on the Celtics and wanting them all back.

"We would like to bring our whole team back. Pose we love. With P.J. we just don’t know. I talked to him right after the season, and he just didn’t know. But I told him that he had to go home and think about it. I would like to have P.J. back - our goal is to bring everyone back - but he’s going to need some time."

I think Celtics Nation would agree with Doc on both of these guys. Posey is a player we must try our hardest to re-sign (although with Giddens and Walker around, maybe it isn't as necessary to break the bank) as he brought so much to this team. PJ Brown was a perfect pick up by Danny. Allowing him to sit out the entire regualr season until there was 20 games left. This allowed PJ to be fresh and back into the flow of things when the playoffs started.

Doc Rivers also would like to see the dreaded Sam Cassell come back to this team.

"Sam just didn’t have long enough (to learn the system), but we want him back, too,"

Sam's job was to come in and give us a reliable ball handler, veteran leadership at the point guard position and some clutch buckets down the stretch. Looking back at it, he may have been a liability at times when it came to his ball handling and he definitely wasn't a point guard for this team by any stretch of the imagination. To say he didn't have enough time to learn the system is a respectable thought, but when you decide every time you step on the court that you are running your own system, something is wrong there. Eddie House was our backup point guard the entire season until Cassell got here and we played great basketball. When House replaced Cassell as the backup point in the playoffs, he played great, so I see Sam I Am as one free agent we can do without.

Tony Allen has been a roller coaster since his knee injury. Before it, he was playing great basketball in place of Paul Pierce. After returning from that gruesome knee injury, he hasn't been the same. He definitely doesn't have the same explosion as he used to and has lost a lot of confidence in his game. By season's end, I made the decision that I would love to have Tony back. After the draft, now I'm not so sure if TA has a spot on this roster.

Of course Doc would want everyone back from his championship team, but who wouldn't? After winning a title, free agents always seem to leave to get their money. Posey has played for peanuts compared to what he's worth, so you can't blame him for trying to get his money. If Tony Allen can get a significant pay increase on the market, he has to go take it as he is one knee injury away from being out of the league.

Ultimately, I'm hoping we can bring back James Posey and Eddie House, let Tony  Allen, Sam Cassell and Scot Pollard walk and assume PJ Brown will retire. That would allow us to give Gabe Pruitt some minutes as the third point guard and our one concern would be to find a veteran, backup center to play the PJ Brown role later in the season.

Over the next two weeks, we'll be looking back at the Boston Celtics championship season in an effort to truly appreciate the efforts of those involved.  This is the first installment of the series.

The 5th pick.

After all the Celtics had been through, the Celtics had gotten the 5th pick. 

Now what?

Danny Ainge had been ridiculed for his so-called "5 year plan," which we're pretty sure didn't include a #1 or #2 pick after year 4.  The blame raining on the team and its coach was starting to splash onto him.  On top of it all, his superstar had had enough of a decade's worth of not winning, and was starting think it would never happen here.  Something had to be done.

There's no need to go into detail about the trades.  We know what the trades were.  But a lot of GM's wouldn't have traded away the amount of players that Danny did.  They see it as some kind of admission that the plan didn't work.  Ultimately, however, that usually just leads to more mistakes as GM's try to cover the stench of their rotting plans.

So Danny had enough guts to make just about everyone available.  He also had enough of a head on his shoulders to make sure Rajon Rondo was NOT available.  That's just as important as the deals that were done.  Danny knew what he had in his young point guard, and he knew that keeping him was key to this team's success.  Its easy to say "everyone's trade bait" and just start shuffling pieces off here and there to make it look like you're doing something.  It's another to actually come up with a plan B and know what needs to be done to make it happen.

Yes, Danny made a name for himself with the trades he did (and didn't) make... but he built a champion with his free agent signings.  The plan came together when James Posey came into the fold.  Our identity as a defensive team that could make you pay on the offensive end became clear with the Posey signing.  The Eddie House signing gave us an offensive option that destroyed teams that decided to collapse on defense.  And in the end, when we knew we needed just a little more help, he coaxed PJ Brown out of retirement. 

And as we head into the NBA draft in just a matter of days... don't we all feel very comfortable letting the man who essentially stole Leon Powe and Big Baby make the pick?  Aren't we ok with the man who locked onto Rajon Rondo from the beginning... even when we didn't really know what he was about... making a selection in a spot that many consider a throw-away?

Danny has shown no fear for doing the unpopular (Doc Rivers extension anyone?) when he knew it would be best for the team.  Yes, he's made mistakes, but he made up for them by being willing to change course when he had to.  And for that, Danny, we appreciate the job you've done in helping us achieve the ultimate goal... an NBA title.

---

The daily links are few and far between.  But I'd like to call attention to this quote... which was emailed to me by a few people.  It comes from Paul Pierce: 

"Life has so many hurdles. Some of them I've hopped over, and some of them I've tripped over. The key is to get back up and finish the race."

That'll end up in some email and forum signatures.  Hey... if you got an extra $8,000 lying around... you can own Paul Pierce's game 1 jersey. 

Also out there:  Minnesota can shape the entire draft  |  Is Anthony Parker ditching the NBA for Europe?  |  Stephen A. Smith is bad at draft analysis  |  Which might be why he's been pulled   |  And check out the latest Carnival of the NBA.

And its Wyc that we think about when it comes to cutting checks... and Wyc will be cutting a few this offseason.

A year ago today, we were debating whether the Celtics should extend Doc Rivers by a year as a show of good faith.  The added year (2008-09) would be the insurance Doc needed to go into this season without fear of the Sword of Damocles.

Now Doc's a champ going into the final year of his contract... and I'm sure he's looking for a raise.  He'll make $5 mil. next year... but what will he make beyond that?  Will he be looking for a 2 or 3 year extension?  Will he be looking for 6 or 7 mil?  At some point this summer... we'll hear something about extending Doc.

The Celtics have a decision to make about Tony Allen.  He is a restricted free agent, and the C's have to make him a qualifying offer of $2.7 million by June 30 or he'll become an unrestricted free agent.  I've believed from early in the season that the Celtics would, and should, part ways with Tony... but I'm starting to wonder.  Tony can be a lock-down defender and a pretty good scorer when his head is on straight.... and it was NOT on straight this year.  But with a healthy year under his belt... and maybe a stronger bond with his championship teammates... it might be worth a good, long talk with TA to see where his head is at.  And with James Posey potentially in limbo, it might make sense to take a $2.7 million gamble on Tony.  If they both go, then we're left without a go-to defender off the bench.  Of course, another team can still come in and make a higher offer for Tony and force the C's to make another decision... but for now... I'm open to the idea of making that qualifying offer... especially if the C's don't think they can retain Posey.

Leon Poweand Big Baby are both entering the final years of their initial contracts.  Leon will make just under $800k this year... and Baby will make $711k.  Will either of them get extended THIS offseason?  Will both?  I think it depends on the draft.  The Celtics will still have needs at the back-up point guard and center positions.  Gabe Pruitt will get his shot to back up Rajon... so I'm guessing the C's go big in this draft.  At least one mock draft (HoopsWorld) has Roy Hibbert falling to the C's at 30.  If the C's DO get Hibbert... Powe or Davis will become expendable... and in my view right now... its Davis.  Powe is just a better rebounder and scorer.

Of course, none of this takes into account what might be spent on James Posey.  With Poseyand Tony Allen, we've got an 11 man roster under contract.  If they both go, we're at 9 and the payroll is still $68 mil.  We'll have at least one draft pick to bring it to 10 (the mandatory guaranteed salary for the 30th pick:  $797,600 in '08-09, $857,400 in '09-10)... but there are still a couple of slots to fill.  The Celtics will have to probably split up their mid-level exception (in the mid $5 mil. range) to lure some lower-level free agents to town.  Could someone like Chris Duhon get a chance in Boston?  And what about Eddie House?  I'm thinking he's earned himself more than the Celtics are willing to pay. 

Danny Ainge built this championship team by not only trading for Ray and KG... but through key signings like House, Posey and PJ Brown (... and I guess Sam Cassell).  The core is coming back.  The Celtics will have their same starting 5... but their role players could be much different.  No matter what the final team looks like at training camp in a few months... Wyc will be writing some big-time checks to make it come together.

Hey... check out ABC News correspondent (and friend of Red's Army) TJ Winick's piece on the journey of a life-long C's fan.  Captures what a lot of us were feeling over the past year.

Herald:  Postseason report card  |  Booster Shot  |  What a trip  |  Globe:  Commemorative Championship Section  |  Fellowship of the ring  |  Draft:  2 for the show  |  Kidd will lead team USA  |  RIP Former Celtic Bennie Swain |  Souza:  Repeating no easy task  |  Megliiola:  Emotions ran high with Garnett  |  Patriot Ledger:  Owners were committed to a championship |  EnterpriseNews.com:  Ainge makes up for one of Celtics biggest blunders  |  Burlington Free Press:  C's fan gets revenge on Pistons fan..... Vermont Style  |  NewsHerald.com:  Bill Russell had a good week too  |  SacBee:  Big mid-season trades had little playoff punch  |  LA Times:  LA doesn't have to worry about expensive victory parades  |  ESPN:  Questions and Answers after the series  |  Hollinger:  Rating the draft's big men