This Corey Maggette thing is getting worse than a soap opera. The Globe announced that the Celtics had made offers to both Maggette and Posey on July 1. On July 3, the Herald reported that the Celtics denied making an offer to Maggette. Ok, maybe the Globe was mistaken and the Celtics didn't make an offer, but just contacted his agent and inquired about him. But, then, on July 4, the Globe had another article on how the Celtics made an offer to Maggette and Doc even called him to talk to him.
An NBA source said the Celtics offered Magette the full midlevel exception, expected to be worth $5.8 million.
The Celtics have made offers to their own forward, James Posey, and Maggette, but it's doubtful they can accommodate both. While there is no news regarding Posey, Maggette said he could be coming to Boston in the near future to visit with the Celtics. Free agents can't sign until Wednesday.
"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."
And then on July 5, the Herald reported once again that the Celtics didn't make an offer to Maggette.
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.
It's like dueling newspapers. The Herald continues to say that the Celtics didn't make an offer to Maggette and the Globe reports that they have made him an offer and even publish quotes from him about the offers. Enough already!!
The offer to Posey is supposedly 12 million over 3 years. Reports are that he is also receiving interest and offers from the Lakers, Pistons, Sixers, Rockets, Cavs, Nets, and Hornets, most of which are willing to give him the long term contract he wants. Supposedly the offer to Maggette is for the MLE for 2 years. Danny is not willing to bog the team down with a big long term contract for Posey and if Posey isn't willing to settle for less, he will likely take one of the other offers from teams who are willing to tie up big money long term for him.
On the day that the Herald printed this:
The Celtics' offer reportedly has come up short of Posey's demands in both money and length. Though he doesn't discuss these matters, Danny Ainge reportedly was ready to cut his losses and avoid spending too much on a proven contributor to a championship, even before free agency began.
The idea of paying the full mid-level exception to Posey reportedly made the Celtics director of basketball operations squeamish.
The Globe adds this from the Heat's Dwayne Wade, Posey's former teammate.
"I don't think Boston is letting Posey go," Wade said recently. "I was looking at Posey the whole playoff series and thinking, 'Man, he was good for us.' It's indescribable what he does. He's one of those guys that won't get the national attention, but he will get the locker room respect. That's probably more important, when you get the locker room respect. I miss him and miss what he does on the court, for sure. I'll be surprised [if he leaves Boston]."
How can the Celtics not realize what this guy does for a team? I can see wanting to keep the payroll manageable, but they also need to see how important a player like Posey is to the team.
Maggette is willing to sign for less if it means playing for a contender. But, that doesn't mean that it is a foregone conclusion that he would take the Celtics' offer. He also has offers from the Spurs, Magic, Sixers, Jazz, and the Warriors and there have been reports that he is leaning toward the Spurs and also that he would like to return to Orlando where he began his career. But, there are also reports that he is seriously considering the Celtics. He is very comfortable with Doc as they are old friends and former teammate Sam Cassell also told him that if he wants a ring he needs to come to Boston. More to come, I am sure. It is the Globe's turn to talk about the offer that Danny made that the Herald insists he didn't.
Elsewhere, Chris Duhon is reportedly ready to sign a 2 year, 3.25 million a year, contract with New York, passing up on an offer from the Magic. The difference was a better chance to start in New York. The 2 year contract for Duhon still puts the Knicks in the running for the 2010 LeBron sweepstakes. This little tidbit on the Duhon signing comes from the NY Daily News;
Also, Duhon's lifestyle concerned team officials, who felt that the 25-year-old enjoyed the nightlife too much. When Duhon played at Duke, he would often sleep at the house of coach Mike Krzyzewski to prevent him from staying out late.
Manhattan is a long way from Durham, N.C., and privately the Knicks know they'll have to keep a close eye on their new point guard.
With their offer for Duhon rejected, the Magic are expected to turn their attention to Maggette and Keyon Dooling. With real management and a real coach and now some good players being signed in New York, they are going to be a much improved team this season.
The Celtics wrapped up their mini camp a day early as none of their rookies were involved. JR Giddens left when his agent advised against playing without a contract in place. Bill Walker attended the final two games to watch even though he had arthroscopic knee surgery on the first day of the camp. Gabe Pruitt and Big Baby benefited from the camp and the Herald reports that David Hawkins, a muscular swingman who played in Rome last season, caught Danny's attention during the camp. Patrick O'Bryant also worked out for the Celtics as did other big men Chris Andersen, and David Harrison. Here is the report on O'Bryant from the Globe:
Patrick O'Bryant:
The 7-foot center showed decent range and solid footwork taking feeds in the post. But when he hit the low post against Wisconsin's Brian Butch and Detroit Mercy's Ryvon Covile, who had each been practicing since 9 in the morning, O'Bryant was tugging at his shorts not even 15 minutes into the drill, struggling to muster enough strength to defend either.
I am still pulling for Chris Andersen to be signed as the back up center. The same article tells us that Danny is shopping for a big man, a point guard and a wing in this free agent crop.
Josh Smith, the Hawks' restricted free agent is in demand with the Sixers reportedly very interested as are the Golden State Warriors. The Sixers are reportedly offering a package around 66.7 million for 5 years. The Warriors could possibly offer more as with the loss of Baron Davis they have some cash to spend. The Hawks have the right to match any offer made for Smith. The Sixers are one of the few teams under the cap and with money to spend on free agents and should be able to lure someone decent there. It is reported that they are also speaking with Elton Brand.
I am not sure what to make of Chris Kaman playing for the German National team. He has never been to Germany, doesn't speak a word of the language and just recently got a passport to go there. Yet, he will be playing with Dirk Nowitski on the German National team. Isn't that like bringing in a ringer? I kind of think this cheapens the Olympics somewhat. You should at least have visited the country you play for.
An NBA source said the Celtics offered Magette the full midlevel exception, expected to be worth $5.8 million.
The Celtics have made offers to their own forward, James Posey, and Maggette, but it's doubtful they can accommodate both. While there is no news regarding Posey, Maggette said he could be coming to Boston in the near future to visit with the Celtics. Free agents can't sign until Wednesday.
"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."
And then on July 5, the Herald reported once again that the Celtics didn't make an offer to Maggette.
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.
It's like dueling newspapers. The Herald continues to say that the Celtics didn't make an offer to Maggette and the Globe reports that they have made him an offer and even publish quotes from him about the offers. Enough already!!
The offer to Posey is supposedly 12 million over 3 years. Reports are that he is also receiving interest and offers from the Lakers, Pistons, Sixers, Rockets, Cavs, Nets, and Hornets, most of which are willing to give him the long term contract he wants. Supposedly the offer to Maggette is for the MLE for 2 years. Danny is not willing to bog the team down with a big long term contract for Posey and if Posey isn't willing to settle for less, he will likely take one of the other offers from teams who are willing to tie up big money long term for him.
On the day that the Herald printed this:
The Celtics' offer reportedly has come up short of Posey's demands in both money and length. Though he doesn't discuss these matters, Danny Ainge reportedly was ready to cut his losses and avoid spending too much on a proven contributor to a championship, even before free agency began.
The idea of paying the full mid-level exception to Posey reportedly made the Celtics director of basketball operations squeamish.
The Globe adds this from the Heat's Dwayne Wade, Posey's former teammate.
"I don't think Boston is letting Posey go," Wade said recently. "I was looking at Posey the whole playoff series and thinking, 'Man, he was good for us.' It's indescribable what he does. He's one of those guys that won't get the national attention, but he will get the locker room respect. That's probably more important, when you get the locker room respect. I miss him and miss what he does on the court, for sure. I'll be surprised [if he leaves Boston]."
How can the Celtics not realize what this guy does for a team? I can see wanting to keep the payroll manageable, but they also need to see how important a player like Posey is to the team.
Maggette is willing to sign for less if it means playing for a contender. But, that doesn't mean that it is a foregone conclusion that he would take the Celtics' offer. He also has offers from the Spurs, Magic, Sixers, Jazz, and the Warriors and there have been reports that he is leaning toward the Spurs and also that he would like to return to Orlando where he began his career. But, there are also reports that he is seriously considering the Celtics. He is very comfortable with Doc as they are old friends and former teammate Sam Cassell also told him that if he wants a ring he needs to come to Boston. More to come, I am sure. It is the Globe's turn to talk about the offer that Danny made that the Herald insists he didn't.
Elsewhere, Chris Duhon is reportedly ready to sign a 2 year, 3.25 million a year, contract with New York, passing up on an offer from the Magic. The difference was a better chance to start in New York. The 2 year contract for Duhon still puts the Knicks in the running for the 2010 LeBron sweepstakes. This little tidbit on the Duhon signing comes from the NY Daily News;
Also, Duhon's lifestyle concerned team officials, who felt that the 25-year-old enjoyed the nightlife too much. When Duhon played at Duke, he would often sleep at the house of coach Mike Krzyzewski to prevent him from staying out late.
Manhattan is a long way from Durham, N.C., and privately the Knicks know they'll have to keep a close eye on their new point guard.
With their offer for Duhon rejected, the Magic are expected to turn their attention to Maggette and Keyon Dooling. With real management and a real coach and now some good players being signed in New York, they are going to be a much improved team this season.
The Celtics wrapped up their mini camp a day early as none of their rookies were involved. JR Giddens left when his agent advised against playing without a contract in place. Bill Walker attended the final two games to watch even though he had arthroscopic knee surgery on the first day of the camp. Gabe Pruitt and Big Baby benefited from the camp and the Herald reports that David Hawkins, a muscular swingman who played in Rome last season, caught Danny's attention during the camp. Patrick O'Bryant also worked out for the Celtics as did other big men Chris Andersen, and David Harrison. Here is the report on O'Bryant from the Globe:
Patrick O'Bryant:
The 7-foot center showed decent range and solid footwork taking feeds in the post. But when he hit the low post against Wisconsin's Brian Butch and Detroit Mercy's Ryvon Covile, who had each been practicing since 9 in the morning, O'Bryant was tugging at his shorts not even 15 minutes into the drill, struggling to muster enough strength to defend either.
I am still pulling for Chris Andersen to be signed as the back up center. The same article tells us that Danny is shopping for a big man, a point guard and a wing in this free agent crop.
Josh Smith, the Hawks' restricted free agent is in demand with the Sixers reportedly very interested as are the Golden State Warriors. The Sixers are reportedly offering a package around 66.7 million for 5 years. The Warriors could possibly offer more as with the loss of Baron Davis they have some cash to spend. The Hawks have the right to match any offer made for Smith. The Sixers are one of the few teams under the cap and with money to spend on free agents and should be able to lure someone decent there. It is reported that they are also speaking with Elton Brand.
I am not sure what to make of Chris Kaman playing for the German National team. He has never been to Germany, doesn't speak a word of the language and just recently got a passport to go there. Yet, he will be playing with Dirk Nowitski on the German National team. Isn't that like bringing in a ringer? I kind of think this cheapens the Olympics somewhat. You should at least have visited the country you play for.
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