The Hornets are targeting
Boston Celtics free agent James
Posey to solve their needs at
shooting guard, but whether
Hornets General Manager Jeff
Bower can pull off a deal is un´
certain.
Free agents can begin signing
contracts Wednesday, and Posey
is one of the most sought after
on the market. Posey, who can
play shooting guard and small
forward, appears to be one of
the Hornets' No.¤1 targets.
However, it likely would take a
full mid-level exception offer of
$5.8¤million for him to consider
coming to New Orleans.
Since July 1, the first day
teams could begin contacting
free agents, Bower has been in
discussions with Posey's agent,
Mark Bartelstein. Posey, 6 feet
8, was the Celtics' top reserve
and played a key role against
the Los Angeles Lakers in the
NBA Finals.
"Jeff and I have had a lot of
conversations," Bartelstein said.
"We're talking."
Bartelstein issued the same
update on Hornets free-agent
guard Jannero Pargo, whom the
team is seeking to re-sign.
Pargo has drawn interest from
several teams, including Denver
and New Jersey.
Besides All-Star point guard
Chris Paul agreeing to a three-
year extension that includes a
player option for the fourth year
that would push the value to
$68¤million, the Hornets have no
other commitments.
Under league rules, Bower
cannot comment about free
agency until Wednesday. Posey
has received interest from the
Celtics, Lakers, Detroit Pistons
and several other teams.
Posey averaged 8.7 points in
the Finals. In 2006, he was a re´
serve for Miami, which won the
NBA championship.
Not only can Posey play mul´
tiple positions and score from
the perimeter, he's a tough de´
fender.
The Hornets also have ex´
pressed interest in Pistons free
agent Jarvis Hayes.
Last month, the Hornets
traded the draft rights of Kan´
sas forward Darrell Arthur,
whom they selected with the
27th overall pick, to the Port´
land Trail Blazers in exchange
for nearly $3¤million in cash to
be used toward free agency.
After the deal was completed,
Coach Byron Scott said the
Hornets are a team of now and
they planned to sign a veteran
in free agency who could step in
right away.
