WEEI: Unnamed team willing to offer Posey 4th year

[gc1530]

Just heard this on the Sports Flash...said it could mean Posey does not come back.  Hopefully they go into more detail in the next segment.  Anyone else hear this?  I looked at some websites to try and find an update but couldn't find anything.

[Bankshot]

They were reading from Bulpett's article in today's Herald. Personally, I don't believe there is a team that offered 4 years. That is why the team is unnamed. 

[wdleehi]

Darn it.  


Could be the cavs.  They could afford to with the 4th year since they have no long term contract.

[Roy Hobbs]

If that's the case, and Posey takes the money, goodbye James.  At some point, it becomes counterproductive to lock up your 31 year old bench player to a long-term deal.  Keep in mind, Posey had weight / conditioning issues in Miami after they won a championship.  Are we absolutely certain he's going to be the same player in four years that he is now? 

Three years yes.  Four years, I really don't know.  Probably not.

[gc1530]

They made it sound like it was some huge breaking news...but then again maybe I'm just anxious for a conclusion one way or the other

[rondohondo]

I don't see what the big deal is just give him the 4th  year of the contract, even if he has slowed down by then he will be a 7 mil dollar expiring contract which could easily be traded along with another piece or 2 to bring in a younger solid player in the future.

[Chris]

"unnamed teams" ussually indicate something being floated by an agent.  I wouldn't put too much stock into it yet.  It sounds like scare tactics to me.

[Cman]

Two possibilities:

(1) Either it is Posey's agent calling in to WEEI and spreading rumors, or
(2) The Cs added a 4th year to their offer, but the 4th year is the team's option 

[indeedproceed]

Even three years is a question mark, Roy...James Posey will go as far as his natural athleticism and enthusiasm to play will take him, where that is, is anyone's guess but I'd bet the house its not for another 4 years

Remember though, that we 'heard' (cough Bartlestien Cough) that the Lakers had offered him 5 years at the full MLE.

The rumor shouldn't say undisclosed team it should say "Bartlestein's known hand"

[sk7326]

Also, I think a 4th year might very well have ended up being what gets negotiated anyway ... this is a non-story

If the super offer for Posey that we all fear were there, he would have signed it already.

[Rondo2287]

"Three years yes.  Four years, I really don't know.  Probably not."

I guess, but so many players are year to year.  I mean look at a guy like Chris Kaman.  He was solid, signed a big deal and then struggled significantly the next then had another breakout year last year.  Obviously they are different people but thats why im very hesitant to automatically assume he will be the same player even three years down the line. 

[Roy Hobbs]

Also, I think a 4th year might very well have ended up being what gets negotiated anyway ... this is a non-story

If the super offer for Posey that we all fear were there, he would have signed it already.

Yep.  It's just like Bartelstein's other comments about the Celtics not being given an option to match.  Those are just scare tactics to say "if you don't act now, he could get away".  I think what it's going to take to resolve this is some tough negotiation of Danny's own.  He's going to have to make a "take it or leave it" offer, because if Posey is going to walk, we need to find some replacements before the market is completely dry.

[Chris]

Also, I think a 4th year might very well have ended up being what gets negotiated anyway ... this is a non-story

If the super offer for Posey that we all fear were there, he would have signed it already.

Yep.  It's just like Bartelstein's other comments about the Celtics not being given an option to match.  Those are just scare tactics to say "if you don't act now, he could get away".  I think what it's going to take to resolve this is some tough negotiation of Danny's own.  He's going to have to make a "take it or leave it" offer, because if Posey is going to walk, we need to find some replacements before the market is completely dry.

My guess is Danny already did.  Supposedly they started at 3 years, $12 million.  I wouldn't be surprised if he upped it to 3 years at the full MLE (or maybe slightly below, in order to use some on Walker), and he has broken off negotiations, leaving it on the table.

We are hearing way too many rumors, that clearly seem to be coming from the Posey camp.  It makes me think that Danny is holding the upper hand here, and Posey's agent is just bluffing to try to get Danny to blink...I think Danny is calling the bluff.

[Kuberski33]

Sounds to me like we're getting down to crunch time.  This is where the good agents earn their money -- and the good GM's separate themselves from the bad ones.

I can't see Cleveland offering a 4th year.  If they lose Lebron, then they're stuck with this guy for 2 years and who knows what his value will be in that last year -- just an expiring contract or an expiring contract who can help someone win a title.

Still I'm guessing someone will give it to him.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Darn it. 


Could be the cavs.  They could afford to with the 4th year since they have no long term contract.

Here's why i don't think it's the Cavs --- I truly believe its Boston (a) vs. New Orleans (f) for Posey.

It kind of boggles my mind that teams like Cleveland and Houston continue to be listed as destinations for Posey. The question not addresses by sportswriters -- or that i haven't seen -- is what is the effect of signing Posey on the teams supposedly interested in Posey. Here's my calculations (based on posted salary data at HH & SS):

A. Boston -- Signing posey to an MLE deal (along with resigning HOuse and some vet. min additions) puts us about $7.5M over the luxury tax level -- a $1M less than last year. We start next summer about $1M under the lux tax limit.


B. Cleveland --- this never gets written about --- signing Posey to an MLE deal puts them $17-20M over the luxury tax limit .... is there really any reason to think (a) they'd go that far over the lux tax limit (that's more than New York paid last year) and (b) they'd sign Posey for 4 years?


C. LA Fakers -- Signing Posey would mean paying $11M in luxury tax this year and assuming they sign Bynum for $9M (a bargain?) and Vujacic for $3M it puts them over for next summer already.


D. Houston -- Signing Big Games James takes them from being under the Lux Tax to over... a big jump for a team that has Shane Battier doing much of what Posey does.


E. Detroit --- I didn't calculate for them since (a) they have the room but (b) they're looking to reshape their roster in trades (McGrady?) so it's hard to imagine they'd sign Posey *before* doing that.


F. New Orleans --- IMO the only legitimate offer can come from N.O. Because Chris Paul's extension doesn't kick in till next year signing Posey leaves them well under the Lux Tax limit. However.... I think they'd be more reluctant than us to give a 4th year as it would cut into the pretty sizeable cap room they have when both Peja and Tyson Chandler come off the books in 2011.