The 2007-08 Boston Celtics were appropriately tagged "The Big Three." However, shortly after the NBA free agent period began on July 1, even a casual reader of ESPN.com would be left to believe that the team would be more appropriately labeled as "The Big Four."
No, not Rajon Rondo, the lightning quick point guard who played premier on ball defense and abused Derek Fisher with his quickness in the NBA finals. And no, not Kendrick Perkins, often called the best interior defender in the league by NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett.
The topic of rumors and discussion was none other than James Posey—known to many fans throughout the regular season for his engulfing "man hugs" delivered to the Celtics starters prior to each game.
This is not to mitigate the accomplishments of Posey or the Celtics—they accomplished perhaps the most remarkable single season turnaround in history, regardless of sport.
Rather, the point of mentioning the attention given to Posey is to demonstrate the skewed market that has come to be known as the NBA's free agency.
After deliberation and offers from reportedly half a dozen teams, James Posey signed with the New Orleans Hornets, a team ripe with talent and desperate for the playoff experience that Posey can offer.
However, this team also offered Posey exactly what he wanted: an extra lucrative, long-term deal by way of four years and $25 million. Not bad for a guy who averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game during this past regular season.
Posey's rise to become one of the most coveted free agents on the market was due in large part to his superb performance throughout the playoffs, highlighted by smooth three-pointers and versatile defense against stars ranging from Joe Johnson and LeBron James to Rasheed Wallace and Kobe Bryant.
It probably wasn't hurt by Jeff Van Gundy's (commentator for ABC in the finals) continuous praise of Posey, often citing him as the type of player that he would love to have or coach. In a series marked by Paul Pierce's grit and Kobe's acrobatics, Van Gundy made more than enough time to drool over Posey's intangibles.
When the free agent market opened on July 1, the Celtics faced indeed a difficult task: to resign a player who they knew would draw interest from other clubs, or, to reassess areas of need moving forward to defend their championship and reallocate their newly inherited salary cap flexibility (cap set at $58.68 million for 2008-09 season).
Posey insisted that he wanted a long-term deal worth near or most of the mid-level exception (set at $5.585 million for 2008-09 season). The Celtics, led by Danny Ainge, were ready to make a commitment.
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They, however, envisioned a shorter deal that still left Posey with a huge raise from a year prior.
Each year there seems to be a player who makes his name during the playoffs and commands large dollars when he hits the free agent market. A year ago, Daniel "Boobie" Gibson drew national attention with an eye-opening three-point clinic which helped the LeBron-led Cavaliers to the Finals.
Gibson recently re-signed with the Cavs, and sources have said that the contract is worth somewhere in the $21-$27.5 million range. Again, not bad for a guy who averaged a shade over 10 points per game and actually lacks a true position.
Posey undoubtedly fills a need for the Hornets that may put them over the top in the ever-difficult NBA Western Conference, but also represents a major contract on the books for four years.
Chris Paul's extension coupled with the large contracts of David West, Peja Stojakovic, and Tyson Chandler, means the Hornets have committed a great deal of their spending to a third of the players on their team. Throw in Posey's contract and the Hornets will likely remain quiet on the free agent market going forward.
From the Celtics' standpoint they lose a guy who provided a winning attitude and the versatility that all GMs covet. Posey was a tough defender who could guard the No. 3 and the No. 4, and occasionally the No. 2 position against larger shooting guards.
He made countless big threes in the playoffs and played with a grit that was reflective of teammate Kevin Garnett. Yet the commodity of a tough defender and solid three-point shooter is not limited to Posey.
Posey's limitations are overshadowed by what he brings to the table, but should be brought into the conversation as well. Posey is a limited offensive player beyond his three-point shot and is 31 years old.
Posey is set to make over $6 million at the age of 35, a risky endeavor for any team to take on. And ultimately, he and the Celtics could not make ends meet with a contract to retain a key contributor to their franchise's 17th championship.
The Celtics reportedly offered Posey a three-year deal worth a total of $12-15 million. This represents the shorter-term contract that they desired and also marks a raise for Posey. Ultimately the long-term security lured Posey away from Boston to the Hornets.
Celtics fans who are left upset by Posey's departure should take solace in the fact that this is not as crushing a blow as local sportscasters might have made it seem.
Anytime a team loses a player of note, or of any caliber for that matter, they must believe that their team is still formidable. They must invest their extra money in a player that either replaces the recently departed player or addresses another need.
For years the New England Patriots have followed this philosophy, often letting talent go, only to have that player replaced the following year and forgotten by most fans.
Lawyer Milloy's abrupt departure was quickly appeased by the Patriots' thrashing of the entire league that year on their way to a 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Carolina Panthers.
Deion Branch's demand for a huge contract has left him in Seattle where he has averaged 51 catches a year (seven games missed) and has since been replaced with players like Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney.
The Patriots' addition of an extra first round pick allowed them the leverage to trade their own first rounder to San Francisco, in what turned out to be the No. 7 selection in this year's draft, plus a fourth rounder a year ago.
The bottom line is that losing a player can be crippling only if the organization is of the mind that he is irreplaceable.
James Posey was a key loss, no doubt, but the Celtics have options to replace him. The team was criticized for its lack of a solid ball-handling backup point guard (sorry, Sam Cassell) and limited depth at the two-guard position.
These would seem to be ideal options to explore with the extra money from Posey's departure. (Note: The Celtics just re-signed both Eddie House and Tony Allen to two-year deals).
A year from now, some NBA player will be sitting in the exact same position that Posey was in just recently. Whether it be for an offensive explosion or lockdown defense, a free agent will be paid premium dollars for his work.
I do not blame Posey and will not blame a player for accepting the most lucrative contract on the table. It's tough to say no to an extra $10-12 million.
I do however find it interesting that NBA GMs so freely spend the limited amount of cap space on a single player, not opting to divide the cash among a few areas of need.
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about 1 month ago
The article's veracity stinks to high heaven -----except, in the eyes of "Matt" or "TJ" or "Gray Ghost" maybe??
Since they are experts in posts that reek a "peculiar" stench which whimsically discounts achievements of Black players. Wake up, Cardinal!
James Posey is woke! As proven, when he etched in stone ----during '06 & '08---- that D-E-F-E-N-S-E (and great 3-pt. shooting) wins Championships, literally!
**********So, if James Posey can keep showing up like he has, when the Larry A. O'-trophy is on the line? Then the Celtics ---or whoever else--- are getting a bargain at $6-Million/per.*********
Afterall, would you rather have Posey's great Defense/clutch 3-pointers, helping your org and city "enjoy a late-June parade" or...
rather have dead-weight Caucasoids like, Steve Nash, who's Division II-A defense is the sole reason The Suns watch the NBA Finals from their living rooms? Or, how about, Dirk Nowitzki who can't stop any player his size nor 4-5 inches shorter, plus...forgets ---during NBA-FINAL'S CRUNCH TIME--- that he's a great player! Or, Andre Kirilenko, or Pau Gasol, or Wally Sczerbiak, or a host of other dead-weight Caucasoid players who only show up large, prior to, the playoffs and...on salary cap lists!!
I don't know about you, but I'd take Posey and the Larry A. O-trophy *at $6-Million/per* everytime pal!
from about 1 month ago
yungCaucasoid--
Thanks for commenting on the article. I think that your comments hint a bit more at causation and not correlation. Bring back James Posey does not guarantee anything for the Celtics this year--heck the Hawks took them to 7 games.
Looking further at the two teams that you mentioned, the '06 Heat and '08 Celtics, one might notice a common thread. Both made major trades in the offseason that vaulted them to the forefront of the eastern conference. If you are suggesting that James Posey's presence on these two teams was the reason that they won the championship, I think you might be met with some disagreement.
Finally, I never suggested that the Celtics invest their money in one of the players that have showed less success in the playoffs then the regular season. I recommended that they do attempt to invest in players who fits an area of need, which they still have the flexibility to do.
about 1 month ago
Additionally, my article has no reference or regard to race. This article suggests no favortism of white players at any point. To suggest that I am discounting Posey's accomplishments based on his race is both offensive and misguided.
about 1 month ago
Posey is the type of guy everyone wants on their team. He plays tough defense with a good NBA size body, 6-8 220. He isn't selfish with the basketball and knows when to take his shot.
He isn't the type of player that you would put on a bad team to make them better, he's the type that you put on a good team to get them over the hump.
about 1 month ago
Nice analysis Cardinal.
I find it interesting too -- especially the long-term deal. The Celtics were probably right not to re-sign him to a long contract and look for help elsewhere. At some point his production is going to decline along with the production of the "Big Three" and the Celtics will be looking to move on with new talent. He would have been a burden.
However, there is something to be said for loyalty too -- it would be nice to see more team's reward players for what they've done (lately, even) instead of looking for the next big piece...
But it is a business after all...
about 1 month ago
very nice article -- at the least Posey seems to bring good luck to his teams. He can't be that good though or some of these teams would keep him around instead of letting him go.
about 1 month ago
Cardinal,
I think Jeff Van Gundy accurately summing up Posey's playoff defense, as you also do in your article, shows that you're now contradicting or interchanging correlation for causation ---to fit your opinion's shortcomings--- and inaccuracies.
IOW, this is gospel truth:
"...Posey's rise ...was due in large part to his superb performance throughout the playoffs, highlighted by smooth three-pointers and versatile defense against stars ranging from Joe Johnson and LeBron James to Rasheed Wallace and Kobe Bryant..."
And if that doesn't correlate to "causation" then, there's no such thing!!
And on that note; it sure is good that The Celtics front-office is much more smarter, than the folk commenting on this article.
about 1 month ago
Additionally, your article doesn't have to make any reference to race, to be a racist article. All it has to do, is be inline with the peculiar posting culture here;
Use wildly-whimsical reasoning to discount Black player's accomplishments, or to scrutinize them, while your posting and article archives simultaneously reek the stench of you consistently giving 'a pass' to *dead-weight Caucasoid players* for their minimal contributions.
I think you know if your contributions here on this site, fit those specs.
from about 1 month ago
Dude, your beyond racist.
You post this kind of crap on every article, as if you have nothing else better to do.
Get help, FAST.
about 1 month ago
yungCauc is totally off the mark...Cardinal admits that Posey is a great role player and has plenty of intangible assets...that doesn't make him worth 6 million a year whether he is white,black, or any other color. Get real and stop trying to make something out of nothing
about 1 month ago
My reference to correlation and causation more specifically refers to your comment "I don't know about you, but I'd take Posey and the Larry A. O-trophy *at $6-Million/per* everytime pal"
That statement suggests that retaining Posey would in turn lead to Celtics championships for however many years they locked him up. Indeed, Posey did play on two championship teams, but once again, their championship did not directly result from Posey's presence on the team (causation aspect). It did however, coincide with Posey's presence (correlation aspect).
Please read my article concerning Brett Favre. I think that pretty much speaks for itself that I do not give players a pass, regardless of their race.
about 1 month ago
"...Posey's rise ...was due in large part to his superb performance throughout the playoffs, highlighted by smooth three-pointers and versatile defense against stars ranging from Joe Johnson and LeBron James to Rasheed Wallace and Kobe Bryant..."
...'nuff said, in terms of, veracious causation! Sorry, Cardinal, too late for backpedaling now
about 1 month ago
Buckeyes Fan,
Like I said, its good ---I mean GREAT!--- that Boston Celtics Mgmt. & their $25-Million, does certainly *reason much much better* than folk like you, and he who wrote this article pal.
about 1 month ago
T.J.
I AM HELP!
So, use me ---QUICKLY!--- as a utility to help you move away from your "peculiar" posting culture you poison this website with.
from about 1 month ago
What's peculiar is you posting the same thing on every article you read. Do you have any original thoughts of your own, or are you just going to cut & paste the same "peculiar" simpleton argument every time?
about 1 month ago
Very good article. Unfortunately, good business sense has been known to cost teams championships.
Such as the Knicks not offering Dominque Wilkins a 2nd year to add much needed offense to beat the Jordan's Bulls, or the Jazz not giving Ron Seikley also that 2nd year to give them a much needed center to compliment Karl Malone to also compete against Jordan's Bulls. Right business decision but may have cost both teams a trophy.
Celtics will miss Posey and he was a key member of their team. From a business sense the 4 year $25mm contract made good sense to turn town, especially for a 31 year old.
But, from a team sense that has a 3-4 year window due to the age of Pierce, KG and Ray Allen it might have been worth coughing up the premium dollars for a shot at another trophy.
Posey was vital in the clutch defending the #1 offensive option. Ray Allen got light up repeatedly by Joe Johnson and Kobe Bryant. It wasn't until Posey was matched up did Kobe and Johnson slow down.
Hopefully, Tony Allen, JR Giddens, or Gabe Pruitt can help fill Posey's void at least against shooting guards since they aren't as tall or long to cover forwards.
Good business sense in the short term can be the one decision that keeps a team from winning a championship. Fortunately, they did get #17 at least. But, will not overpaying Posey prevent them from #18 & #19.
from about 1 month ago
I understand what your saying John, but I just think we may be jumping way ahead of ourselves with these predictions. I mean, we really don't have to much to base them off of. I mean, sure you can bring up stats and say how Posey has came through for Boston, but the fact remains, we have never seen this current Celtic team play without Posey, so we are still without a suitable amount of info to assume anything.
Ofcourse, loosing Posey is a blow, but as you have said, (hopefully) Tony Allen, JR Giddens, or Gabe Pruitt can step up. I mean, the young guys like T.A. and Powe have played an entire year with veterans and lock-down defenders like Garnett and Posey. Hopefully they've learned much from the many vets they've played with, and it's only right to suggest that they will come back much better next year. Sports are more than just stats. There is heart involved here and to say that their defense (or offense for that matter) will be less impressive because of the loss of one player (however good he may be) is a little too presumptuous a little to early in my opinion.
We will have to just wait and see how it goes, but I'll reserve judgement until atleast the 1st game of next season.
from about 1 month ago
John--
Thanks for the comments. I wonder how much of turning Posey's contract down was due to the Celtics planning ahead to resign some of their key chips beyond the big 3? From a business and I would argue team standpoint Rondo is of equal or more value to this team, and he is due for an extension in the upcoming years. With a boatload committed to Pierce and KG through the 2010 season I would assume the Celtics are doing their best to make cap room for young players like Rondo, Perkins, and Powe to lock them up for years to come--making the Posey signing difficult to execute.
This is the difficult and yet exciting aspect of sports: business vs team. Posey became a fan favorite and a valuable asset, but the Celtics made the decision that at the price of $6 million+ he was too much to afford going forward.
about 1 month ago
T.J.
Looks like John, joined me, to throw your idiotic thought processes into it's proper trash receptacle.
Face it. James Posey was on the level of 'The Big 3' in importance of sheer *playoff-importance* toward winning that Championship.
In decending order of the playoffs "vitality" toward The trophy...I would call it;
1-Pierce
2-Posey
3-Garnett
4a-Eddie House
4b-Rondo
5a-Ray Ray
5b-PJ Brown
6-Perkins
No one, I repeat, no one played defense during the playoffs ---as importantly-intense--- as Posey. Stop trying to get around how the championship was won, because the Celtics STOPPED OR CONTAINED PLAYERS who were expected to destroy them. Period. Just like John pointed out as well.
Therefore, in terms of that importance and 'deductive reasoning' here; we haven't seen this team play without Garnett nor Ray-Ray either, so...your reasoning makes no sense, as usual
from about 1 month ago
Why did you not include any white players on that list? Did I just exploit your "peculiar post" for being exactly what ever post you've ever posted on this site?
Your Hero,
Steve Nash
from about 1 month ago
I've already said that Posey was very vital to their championship, I never disagreed with that. BUT, if it wasn't Posey that stepped up it could have easily been someone else.
To me, putting Posey ahead of Ray Allen I feel is kind of crazy, and putting Ray that low is ridiculous. Sure he had his share of set backs in the playoffs but he was the most consistent player in the finals, and he had a lot to do with us winning game 4, and the title in general.
The fact of the matter is, they played as a team, and everyone at some point in time throughout their season has stepped up and did what they had to do. You can't possibly disagree with that.
You missed the point of my initial comment anyway. My message was not to convey some "peculiar" posting style (as you always seem to think), but more so to simply say, we can only wait and see. These players are not robots. There is no way to effectively calculate how a season will play out. Every season is different, every game is different, and it all is in it's own entity. Im not saying the Celtics will repeat, I'm not saying they wont. I'm saying we can't effectively assume anything, but we can only wait, watch, and see.
Now if you can't agree with that then your obviously stuck in your "peculiar", idiotic ways of thinking.
about 1 month ago
i think in the long run the celtics will be better off at least they know the gap has to be
filled off the bench the starting five is already i think glen "big baby" davis is a posey type player
who get down on the floor after loose ball encourage his teamates i think on defence posey has the
edge on guarding faster players and even down low with longer arms but inside glen davis is amonster
and offensive rebounds he's a beast he jus has to learn how to keep out of foul trouble tony allen is also better than everyone thinks at maybe a 5 or 6 game streach he was actually carring the teams
intensity and clutch scoring they need a player like posey
who maybe can defend a david west or a paul, gasol
and contain kobe or lebron that's gonna be hard to find posey also created match-up problems because you have to focus on him insid and outside is there another play like that out there that's
not already in a teams rotation no so in order for the celtics to win another 60+ games season
i thik they have change the whole team stategy or add a big 5 cause rondo is gonna go down as
an offensive and defensive legend he;s resting right now all he has to do is hi the weights and stay healthy
about 1 month ago
Matt,
show one player who was vital toward the Celtics playoff run, toward that championship, and I will rank him fairly.
Oh, thats right!!
There were none!!
So, you keep on *reaching-------like Reed Richards!* and I will keep on laughing and exploiting...cool?
about 1 month ago
Is winning championship 18 worth the extra $2mm a year it would have cost to bring Posey back, assuming he is a vital piece to shut down the oppositions key offensive player?
Once a team's wins everyone wants to be paid a premium.
I think Posey is an important cog. Not worth $6mm/ year but a small extra price to pay if you he is the final piece needed.
Without Posey the Celtics need a backup to Pierce at SF. Bill Walker migth have the talent but probably very raw. They also need a veteran PG if Cassell is not brought back.
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