Celtics ‘close’ on Jeff Green, who reportedly wants $9 million per
Jeff Green would have earned $9 million for the 2011-12 season had doctors not spotted a heart condition that required season-ending surgery and caused the Boston Celtics to void his contract. According to the Boston Herald, Green is looking for a contract this summer with similar pay.
One league source said agent David Falk’s starting point for next season is $9 million — the figure Green agreed to for the first year of a four-year deal with the Celtics last December, before the contract was voided by his physical. But Falk has been getting a lot of face time with Celtics management. He represents Jared Sullinger, and will be on hand for the rookie’s press conference today. He also represents Austin Rivers, and was at the family table Thursday night at draft headquarters.
Though Green’s heart condition isn’t expected to hurt him from this point forward, I’m hesitant to give him the same pay he was supposed to earn last season. Why?
1. He didn’t really deserve it last year. The Celtics overpaid him for one season so they could maintain cap flexibility in the summer of 2012 (which, ironically enough, is now being used to pursue Green).
2. Even if he doesn’t have any ill effects of the heart condition, Green hasn’t played a basketball game in more than a full year. Rust accumulation, no good.
3. If the Celtics spend too much money to keep their own free agents, they’ll lose the full mid-level exception and get a mini mid-level exception instead. That could be the difference between adding Jason Terry and adding someone like Chris Wilcox, who was Boston’s mini mid-level pickup last season.
But the Celtics are reportedly “close” to a deal with Green. (NBA.com)
Meanwhile, the Celtics believe they’re “close,” as one source put it, to reaching agreement on a new deal with Green, who missed all of last season after undergoing open-heart surgery in December to repair an aortic aneurysm. The team had initially reached agreement with Green on a one-year deal before the season began, but once his condition was detected during a preseason physical the team rescinded the contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
However, Green has passed a series of markers by physicians in the last few months and is expected back on the court next season.
If the C’s can somehow manage to build a bench of Jason Terry, Ray Allen, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger and Greg Stiemsma, I might get arrested for public intoxication even while entirely sober. That’d be an insane upgrade talent-wise from this year’s bench.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | July 2, 2012
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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Our bench will be better yes and personally I think Jeff Green will be the key to it. Instead of Jason terry I’d go for OJ Mayo or Jamal Crawford. And don’t forget Jajuan Johnson, Jay! If he has an Abery Bradley-esque year, we’ll be way better next year.
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Give me Terry any day from that list.
I love Jet, he embraces that bench role unlike any other, and brings an energy to the game that so few players truly can. He’s a rare breed of player that can instantly change a game the minute he steps on the court.
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9 million?? Hell NO! If we do sign him to this outrageous deal it would mean that we don’t plan to bring back Bass in my opinion… Do you think bass will be ok to take a 6 per when Green got 9 and he is coming from a heart surgery AND he was pretty average last season that he did play.
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What the hell has Green done to get 9 mil. He sucked even before his health problems. Let his ass go and sign someone decent.
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WOW, that would be GREAT, I see the CELTICS….. back in the hunt (SMILE)
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Use the money for someone else.
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I wish Doc would play our big men instead of shopping for others. We already have JJJ, KG, and two promising rookies. Throw Wilcox and maybe the Steamer in and give them some playing time. Get Jet and sacrifice Bass with a sign and trade for Batum.
Starting five: RR, AB, PP, *rookie*/JJJ,KG.
Bench: Jet, RA, Batum, *rookie*/JJJ, Wilcox/Steamer
too bad Doc would never start/give playing time to rookies…
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there’s just one big flaw in my reasoning: batum can’t defend on LBJ, Green can at least try.
In the meantime, the T-wolves are reportedly offering a four-year $50 million dollars contract to batum
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The last part is the flaw in your reasoning. Batum can defend Lebron but he won’t be in Portland next season and if he will the numbers don’t add up to do a S&T with them for bass…
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let’s leave the debater wether or not Batum can defend on LBJ aside. I’m not saying the Cs should, but I think they could sign Bass for 9 million/year for 3 years and trade him to Portland in exchange for Batum, who’s a restricted free agent.
So the numbers should be there, but even so it seems too much money. 7.5 million for Green sounds reasonable
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Hopefully Jeff Green takes an offer of around $7.5 million. I hope that we can re-sign KG, Ray Ray, Jeff Green and the Stemaer along with signing JET and Camby.
Starting 5: Rondo, Bradley, Pierce, Garnett, Camby.
Bench: JET, Ray, Green, Sully, Steamer, Melo, Moore
I SEE A RING WITH THAT!
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Jeff Green 2 yrs 6 – 8 mil. total no more than that. If he can actually play and play well give him a bump nest year
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