Another Piece of the Puzzle?: Celtics Sign James Posey

Oh man—is Danny Ainge good or what?

Or is he lucky?

Or both?

Ainge just signed 30-year-old, 6'8" SF James Mikley Mantell Posey (no joke) to a two-year deal worth $7 million, with a player option on the second year.

The Celtic Train is about to leave the station—and it has another good player on board.

As I hoped would be the case, Reggie Miller’s decision not to come back was good news for the Celtics. I’m amazed at what Ainge has done this offseason, but I have to believe that Boston wouldn't have landed Posey if Reggie had opted to sign.

As it stands, two different sayings stick in my mind:

1) It’s better to be lucky than good.

2) The harder and smarter I work, the luckier I get.

Whether it's luck or intelligence, it's certainly good karma for the Celtics. In fact, the Posey signing accomplishes a laundry list of positive things in Boston:

1) It takes a good player away from the Miami Heat.

2) It gives Tony Allen the time he needs to rehab thoroughly. Tony recently said he was only at 65 percent. Worrisome news.

3) It gives us a truly solid sixth man.

4) It means we don’t have to sign Ruben Patterson.

5) It means Paul Pierce can get the rest he needs each game.

6) It gives us a strong defensive answer for scoring SGs and SFs.

7) It brings playoff experience to a veteran team trying to make an immediate run at the NBA title.

8 ) It means we don’t have to depend on Brandon Wallace, who can learn the NBA ropes at his own pace or in the NBDL...or get cut in a numbers game if Danny pursues both another big and a veteran PG.

9) It allows Brian Scalabrine to become a PF/C. Scalabrine may become expendable down the road in the Celtics' "quest for fire" in the post.

10) It relieves the need for Ryan Gomes to come back. Posey is a better defender—and perhaps a better scorer at the moment.

11) It gives the Celtics a player whose ability to defend and hit the open three will be a  perfect fit in Boston.

If Danny is lucky, he sure knows how to use his good fortune. All told, this is a smart signing—especially given the goal and makeup of the team.

Posey is a legit starter on many teams, and a solid bench player on any team. His arrival means our 15th (player) is really our 6th (man).

Of course, there are a couple of things to worry about. Last year, Pat Riley suspended Posey (and Antoine Walker) for being out of shape. Posey has also had some injury issues along the way—but few players are completely injury-free by time they reach 30.

To refresh your memory, James played on that miracle Memphis Grizzlies team in '03-'04—the one that went from 28-54 to 50-32 in Hubie Brown’s first and only full season at the helm. James was still there when Mike Fratello led the Griz to 45 wins in '04-'05, then moved on to Miami and was an important part of the Heat's title run in 2006.

Posey is a legitimate three-point threat at 34.1 percent for his career. He has been even better in his last two playoff appearances—.467 in Memphis; .422 in Miami.

That sort of clutch play will be key for the Celtics' playoff aspirations.

My biggest question is whether the Posey deal can trigger a Dikembe Mutombo signing. That would be just perfect.

There's a reason Mutombo hasn’t signed in Houston yet. What is it? Boston would be a great place for the big man to play. He doesn’t want a lot of money anymore. If I were Wyc, I’d offer $2 mil for the year and eat $2 mil in tax. Dikembe is worth it. He'd solidify the backup minutes for Kendrick Perkins. Jeez—he's even a better player than Perkins in many ways.

You heard it here first: Boston is getting ready to rock the basketball world.

(Whispering...)

“If you trade for him, they will come.”