Celtics notebook

Posey is unsure about Brown's intentions

They're adversaries now, but that didn't stop James Posey (left) and Doc Rivers from sharing a little auld lang syne. Rivers congratulated Posey for receiving his 2008 championship ring. (David Kamerman/Globe Staff)

By Marc J. Spears

Globe Staff / December 13, 2008

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After spending time with his former teammate in New Orleans at practice and over meals, Hornets swingman James Posey wouldn't be surprised if P.J. Brown returns to the court or stays retired.

Brown and Posey played key roles when the Celtics won the NBA championship last season, the lone season in Boston for both.

Posey was given his title ring prior to last night's game, and the Celtics have mailed Brown his.

Brown is a free agent living in Slidell, La., with his wife and children.

While Brown is expected to keep his sneakers unlaced, Posey said in a recent phone interview that he wouldn't be surprised to see him return at midseason as he did with Boston.

"I have seen P.J. a couple times out at dinner," Posey said. "One time he came to practice out at training camp. He's doing good. I don't know [if he'll play again]. It depends on how he feels. I'm sure he can help teams out there to compete to win. He has that leeway if he wants to come back or not.

"As far as teams wanting him to play, I'm sure whatever situation he goes to, he'll make that team that much better. Even from the point of his coming to Boston, you saw how everyone's play picked up, from [Kendrick Perkins], [Glen Davis], and Leon Powe.

"His presence brought up everyone's level of play."

After showing interest in free agent forward Antonio McDyess before he re-signed with Detroit Monday, the Celtics could be interested in adding a veteran big man with length such as Brown. If Brown decides to return, the expected front-runners for his services would include Boston and the Hornets.

So, would the Hornets or Celtics have a better chance of landing Brown?

"Hey, I'd rather not talk about that," Posey said with a laugh.

Garnett sympathizes

Kevin Garnett saw two coaches to whom he was close get fired recently - Toronto's Sam Mitchell, a former Timberwolves teammate, and Wolves coach Randy Wittman.

Garnett expressed support for both Thursday and was surprised Kevin McHale left the front office to take over for Garnett's former coach, Wittman.

"I talked to [Mitchell]," Garnett said. "It's unfortunate. I hate that it happened. He has a family, kids. Any time someone loses their job, just like Witt, I feel bad in that situation. It's a sad situation. Every time that I hollered at [Raptors forward] Chris Bosh, not that I hollered at him a lot, when I saw him, I asked about [Mitchell]. They seemed to have a nice relationship.

"It's unfortunate. Sam will be back in this league one day. But Witt's situation was kind of weird.

"I know Kevin once told me that if he had to make a decision between coaching and his family, he'd choose his family. I had to respect that when I was in Minnesota. So to see him coaching again, it's kind of weird. Plus, I've been in that situation and I know it's all smoke and mirrors at the end of the day, too.

"Sam's [situation] was unfortunate, though. He's a thinker. The right situation will be the right situation. There are a lot of good coaches [available] out there - Eddie Jordan, Flip [ Saunders], Sam - so I'm pretty sure [Mitchell] is going to weigh his offers and make a decision based on what he wants."

Rocky return

The Celtics had a bumpy flight from Washington Thursday night following their win over the Wizards, according to Rajon Rondo. The team touched down during a rainstorm in Boston at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

"It was real rocky," said Rondo. "A lot of guys were nervous, screaming and yelling. [Garnett] was screaming . . . KG is [always yelling], but he was screaming this time."

Rondo said the bumps weren't bad enough for him to stop playing cards.

"I was trying to be calm," he said. "I was a little nervous, but I was trying to be calm and continue to play cards. The landing was a little shaky, too, but as long as we hit the ground at a certain speed . . . It wasn't the worst flight ever, but it was shaky."

Coach Doc Rivers downplayed the drama.

"It was fine," said Rivers. "It's not like we had any control over it. Put it like this, I continued to watch film. It was pretty bumpy, but there's nothing you can do about it."