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Posey introduced by Hornets

Email|Link|Comments (9) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff July 23, 2008 05:21 PM

New Orleans head coach Byron Scott and James Posey (AP Photos)

The New Orleans Hornets introduced James Posey to the local media Wednesday. Decked out in a purple-striped shirt and matching Hornet-hued tie, Posey told reporters: "I just want to contribute as best I can. At the end of the day, this is what you work hard for."

Here's more from the Times-Picayune blog:

Swingman James Posey, the Hornets' primary free-agent acquisition, was introduced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, saying he was excited for the opportunity to join a team ready to turn the corner.

"I just want to contribute as best I can," Posey said, wearing one of his two championship rings. "At the end of the day, this is what you work hard for."

A nine-year veteran who played a critical role in the Boston Celtics' NBA championship this season, Posey signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Hornets.

Initially, Posey, 6 foot 8, 217 pounds, will provide bench strength for the Hornets, a role that could eventually grow into a starting position.

Posey averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds a game for the Celtics in the regular season last year and 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in the postseason. As the man he will primarily back up with New Orleans, David West, Posey attended Xavier University in Cincinnati. He is a native of Cleveland.

He has won NBA titles with the Celtics and Miami Heat.

"We're getting that much closer to bringing a ring here; it's getting realistic," said Hornets executive Chad Shinn.

Posey said he felt the Hornets are poised to make a title run.

"I saw some of the games against San Antonio (in the Western Conference semifinals), it's right there," Posey said of the Hornets playoff chances. "There's a great young core, guys who compete. And that's what you want, to play with guys who compete. At tne end of the day, it's all about winning.

"Whatever Coach (Byron Scott) asks of me, I'll do the best I can, do what it takes to win games."

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9 comments so far...

Good Luck Posey...Let's see you in the finals where the celtics will kick some hornet @!?

Posted by Dthemaniac July 23, 08 06:30 PM

Good for james.

Posted by Dylan Auger July 23, 08 08:53 PM

He went for the money. You can hear it in his quotes.

Posted by rae sable July 23, 08 09:40 PM

posey...you did right thing...but i think paul is playing too much overseas and hornets will not last thru playoffs...i like lakers celts again with celts repeating.

Posted by robert July 24, 08 01:57 AM

The Hornets will be scary good next year. I think Lakers and Hornets will finish 1 and 2 again, but maybe this time it'll be reversed. Charlotte's going to be a fun team to watch. It'll be another year of exciting basketball, I think, although I think the Suns will be worse next year but hopefully both Yao and McGrady can stay healthy and on the floor together.

Good luck, James Posey, but am hoping for a Celtics repeat.

Posted by dub July 24, 08 02:30 AM

You know Byron has that shit-eating grin because he feels he got one over on the C's. That's ok-we got the O'Brien trophy, that's all that matters!!!

Posted by jamey July 24, 08 03:03 PM

Charlotte just needs to get a hold of Robert Swift and they are going on all the way.

Posted by Jackie Ryan July 24, 08 03:33 PM

We needed James Posey more than the Celtics thought they needed him. However, the 2008/09 season will show that the Celtics made a mistake almost as big as the business management of the Red Sox. Theo will cause Manny to leave and the Red Sox will finish in 4th place next year. The Celtics will not win more than 50 games next year and will be lucky to get past the first round of the playoffs. Why:

The Celtics are old. The Hornets are young. Rondo will never be anywhere near as good as CP3; Rondo's not as smart as CP3.

West will be better than Garnett this next year. Peja and Ray are even, a wash. TC is way better than Perkins and the there's Pierce. After Chris Paul, Pierce is the best that I've put on this page. However, Posey will shut Pierce down, just like he will shut down Kobe when we play for the Western Title.

Oh, and on Manny (By the way, I've pulled for two baseball teams in my life: The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox.) Theo is dumb: Manny is an artist and artists are hard to manage. Theo shut your mouth and let your manager manage Manny. Theo put your ego on hold. We pay to see Manny and Big Papi, not you.

Posted by hornetspoets July 29, 08 01:51 PM

By the way, the Hornets are in New Orleans not Charlotte. One thing I've always admired about Boston:

Year in and Year out you have teh greatest fans in the world. Tony and Red are/were great but the greatest are the fans.

Good luck on Manny. Hope your GM grows up. He's the one that is supposed to be the adult. Tell him to watch the movie Bull Durham. Baseball is a kids' game. Business is and adults game. Don't mix up the two. A good GM manages the business so that a good product is delivered. I'm tired of seeing the GM in his sky box. Go fishing for stripers, Theo.

Posted by Hornetspoets July 29, 08 02:03 PM