http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/view.bg?articleid=35529 Center of attention: Mihm may draw offers from Lakers, Hawks By Steve Bulpett Wednesday, July 14, 2004 LAS VEGAS - The hours leading up to the NBA's free agent signing period were fairly strange for the Celtics. While Pistons sources continued to state their expectation that they would be signing Antonio McDyess today, the forward's agent kept telling the Celts they were still in the running. But with Danny Ainge well able to read the writing on the wall - especially when it is spray-painted in bold letters - Green attention was largely turned elsewhere yesterday. While the club will look to see what free agents may slip through the cracks, there may soon be some business on the Chris Mihm front. According to league sources, the Lakers and Atlanta both have significant interest in the Celts' restricted free agent. It is expected he will fetch a bid for the mid-level exception beginning at around $5 million (the figure has yet to be set by the league). If either club, or, for that matter, anyone else, signs the 7-footer to an offer sheet, the C's would have 15 days to match. It would also be possible the Celts would seek to execute a sign-and-trade agreement with a Mihm suitor, a scenario that would come more into play with a larger offer from another club. Another option for Mihm would be to accept the Celtics' qualifying offer (one year at approximately $3.9 million) and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. ``We'll see what happens, but all I can tell you is that Chris is still in our plans,'' said Ainge. ``We have the right of first refusal on Chris, and we plan on matching any offer he gets. ``I just think right now Chris is waiting to see what interest there is in him after some of these other big guys get signed. I think he wants to see what his market value is.'' Asked if there were a situation under which the Celtics would not match an offer sheet to Mihm, Ainge said, ``I do not see that, no.'' But if, say, the Lakers were to take a bid for Mihm out four or more years, the Celtics would have to consider the sign-and-trade avenue more closely. ``I'm open to anything that makes us better,'' said Ainge. ``But right now I'm just thinking about getting Chris back with us. I think his best years are ahead of him. I think he has a bright future. I figured there would be good interest in him this summer.'' There was strong interest in Mihm by other clubs around last February's trade deadline - interestingly the most in any Celtic big man. And despite the fact he didn't asserted himself as much as Jim O'Brien [news] or John Carroll would have liked, others in the league are still intrigued to a degree by the upside of a player with his skill level and size.
See, Now Danny Ainge understands how to run a team.....as for that joke of a GM in Clevland...well... DD
Deuce - Mihm is a Qualifying Offer FA and the bidding starts at $3.9m. Considering the Celtics offered Mark Blount a huge raise (from $1m to full MLE) to re-sign and that LaFrentz and Blount are the likely starters, the real question becomes...is Mihm as a backup C/PF worth a MLE deal for 4 to 6 years and is that too rich for the Celtics considering Blount and LaFrentz are ~ 35 mpg players? IMHO, Mihm could be had for a 6 year MLE type deal but I question that he's worth it. There are still cheaper options...Keon Clark, for example.
I would give him the full MLE for 6 years. He is a young center, and will always have value in the league. Plus, I think people worry to much about the contracts people get..... All I care about is whether he makes the Rockets stronger. And, I think he would. DD
I believe the new MLE was just set at $4.9m. A 6 year full MLE deal is therefore worth $36,750,000. It's a close call on Mihm. I'd still persue a cheaper, shorter-termed player.
Leaving Ainge out of it (for now). On to C'burg: I, for one, naive and honorable and so suburban, believe Boozer is a worse 'enemy of the state' than Malone was in Utah. I blame Boozer 100% and Pax 15%. After all, Pax did have the blessing of Gund, the owner, in addition to the word of a soulless fool.
Didn't I mention this last week? Anyway, Watching the summer leagues lately and notice that the Celtics have 6 centers/forwards on roster. Michael Stewart Kendrick Perkins Chris Mihm (FA) Raef LaFrentz Al Jefferson Mark Blount (FA) Ernest Brown Al Jefferson is nice!! and Kendrick Perkins has really improved. They just signed Mark Blount to an extension and if we offer Chris Mihm a 4years 13-14mil contract...I doubt if Boston will match. He would be a nice addition for back-up 5.......plays decent defense.
I agree. If he had shown the ability to play significant mins at the 4 spot, offensively and defensively, then I would be inclined to talk MLE. Just not ready to pay another backup center $6 mil per season.
Agreed, I think there is a good chance he can be had with the MLE, but like you I question that he is worth it. I think down the road it would be looked at as a bad contract.
MIhm obviously is not in the Celt's future, despite what their GM Danny Ainge says. Even though Mihm is not long for the Celt's team, Ainge will get some value for him when he leaves. Thus, I see Ainge matching reasonable offers for Mihm (and Mihm not getting any unreasonable offers). Thus, to land Mihm another team must get him through a trade. A SnT with the Rox for part of the TE, picks, or players would be the way Mihm gets to Houston.
He was at UT, at least he was efficient at it. Not sure what happened in the pros maybe he was not asked to pass. DD
Judging from what I've seen of his game, Mihm's not worth entering a bidding frenzy. Unless we're trying to put a bigger dent in another team's cap
I'm not opposed to obtaining Mihm, but Swift is still out there! If you had your choice which would you choose? Mihm? Swift can do the same the things as Mihm while we would be possibly aquiring the future starting PF. No doubt he is every bit the rebounder Mihm would be while providing the same defense. Plus the guy can play both positions. Not to mention the potential for Swift is just much greater. Chris Mihm will never be a starter, at least never for this team. IMO I think he would be a great fit as our backup. But as long as there is a chance we could get Swift, as long as he is on the market and the two could be had for possibly the same amount, Im gonna wait!
I was interested in Mihm last season, but it sounds like picking up fouls really is a problem with him. He's been in the league for awhile; that's something which he should have learned to deal with a little better by now. If the coaching staff think they can overcome that without too much time and trouble, then fine. Otherwise, I agree that he's not worth the MLE for six years. The Cato contract may not seem too bad now, but there's no question in my mind that it was still a mistake. You shouldn't give out the MLE for potentially solid role-players that will kill your cap if they don't pan out.
No one will argue Mihm vs Swift with you because it's fairly common knowledge that Swift is also a Restricted FA. Swift's QO exceeds the Rockets MLE. Mihm is reality...Swift is a pipe dream.
