For those Boston Celtics fans who possibly own a Mickael Pietrus jersey, it soon could be considered a throwback very soon. That's because the free agent swingman and his agent Bill McCandless made it clear to Boston's WEEI Thursday, that the 30-year-old will not play for the veteran minimum -- a $1.23 million salary which more than likely will be the cap-strapped Celtics offer.
"MP will not play for the veteran’s minimum. Period," said McCandless. "It’s not happening. That’s the beginning, middle and end of that. … He is not a veteran’s minimum player. There’s no chance he’ll ever sign for that."
According to McCandless, Pietrus has bigger contract offers from a team overseas and knows other NBA teams will pay his client more than the veteran minimum.
"I’ve had the veteran minimum thrown at me like hubcaps," added McCandless. "In this collective bargaining agreement, a component of any player’s wishes and desires is the money teams are willing to pay. They’re pro athletes. My mother might cry in her beer when Johnny Damon runs away to the Yankees, but you and I understand it’s a business."
Last season, Pietrus was acquired by the Cs in December after the Phoenix Suns waived him. In 42 games with Boston, Pietrus averaged just 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.
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