From the Boston Globe:

Celtics forward James Posey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said his client will opt out of the second and final year of his contract today. The move will make the versatile Posey an unrestricted free agent, but Bartelstein has also said his client wants to return to Boston. When asked about whether Posey, who averaged 7.4 points per game this season, will be re-signed, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said Saturday: “I’d hate to say whether or not we will be able to. We’ll see what happens.” Free agency begins tomorrow.

ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks the best available free agents and has Posey at No. 7 among this year’s crop of unrestricted free agents. Ford writes: “Posey helped himself with a strong performance against the Lakers in the Finals. He’s another player who should get a three- to four-year midlevel deal somewhere.”

Early offseason rumblings have the Lakers and Hornets among potential suitors for Posey’s services. New Orleans freed up some space when it traded its No. 27 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft to Portland in exchange for $3 million cash.

Make the right decision, Pose. Don’t go anywhere, big fella.

Soon to come: The organization’s decision on Tony Allen.

From Marc Spears of the Boston Globe:

The Celtics will hold a minicamp for 16-20 players at their Waltham training facility from Wednesday through Saturday. Celtics forward Glen Davis, guard Gabe Pruitt, and first-round draft pick J.R. Giddens are expected to participate, as are ex-NBA players center Jackie Butler, forward Lawrence Roberts, and guards David Noel, Omar Cook, and Mustapha Shakur. Forward Bill Walker, a second-round selection by Washington who was traded to Boston, will not participate. Ainge said Walker will likely undergo minor knee surgery this week.

We will likely see some sexier names hop on board for this camp in the coming days, as it is against league rule to have contact with free agents until July 1. The names above consist of former NBA payers looking for another shot.

Former Wisconsin big man Brian Butch is also expected to attend.

Marc Spears of the Boston Globe reports:

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge cited the NBA champions’ short offseason as a reason Rondo and Perkins won’t participate [in scrimmages against Team U.S.A.]. Perkins also has left shoulder concerns and might need surgery. “Perkins is not 100 percent, and he’s definitely not playing,” said Ainge.

In one of the most interesting NBA drafts of recent memory, the Celtics selected guard J.R. Giddens out of New Mexico University with the 30th overall pick. Giddens is a freak athlete who attacks the rim, is very long, very active, can defend the perimeter, and has good potential. Before Giddens transferred to NMU from Kansas, he was very highly touted but has fallen off in that regard due to reported “character flaws.” However, this past season, he took a big step forward from a maturity standpoint as well as on the floor.

Later in the draft, “Trader Dan” pulled off yet another draft day trade, exciting Celtics fans from all over by acquiring the rights to Kansas State’s Bill Walker (47th overall pick) from the Washington Wizards for cash considerations. Walker, once touted as a sure-fire top 10 draft pick, has battled through knee injuries that has hurt his draft stock significantly. His talent is undeniable, but teams were not willing to take that risk on him in the first round. However, acquiring his rights in the second round for cash is a no-brainer. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move that could pay tremendous dividends down the line.

It is interesting that Ainge decided to bring in two swingmen in this draft. Only time will tell what this truly means as far as Boston’s current free agents. This more than likely spells the end of the Tony Allen era in Boston, but the rest is up in the air. Regardless, both Giddens and Walker will have an opportunity to battle for a spot in the regular rotation next season. Heck, we may even see both, much like the Leon Powe-Glen Davis situation in 2007-2008.

Oh, and the Celtics also selected Turkish center Semih Erden with the 60th overall pick. He stands at 7′1” and averaged roughly seven points and four rebounds per game last season alongside fellow prospect Omar Asik. Erden will likely be stashed overseas for a long while, possibly for eternity.

Celtics Draft Grade: B

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Prospect Name: Nicolas Batum
Country: France
Position: SF/SG
Height: 6’8’’
Weight: 215 lbs.
Age: 19
2007-2008 Statistics: 8.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 45.3% FG, 29% 3FG

Key Strengths

• Size/Length
• Great Athlete
• Strong Finisher
• Good Slasher
• Defensive Potential
• High Upside

Key Weaknesses

• Heart Problems?
• Very Raw
• Outside Shooting
• Toughness Has Been Questioned
• Inconsistent
• Long-Term Project

Outlook: At this time last year, Nicolas Batum was widely thought of as a lottery pick. He has drawn comparisons to Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay, and even Grant Hill due to his tremendous upside, size, and freakish athleticism. However, teams may be reluctant to take him that high nowadays, as recent reports state that Batum could have a heart condition. When Batum was a child, his father died playing basketball with similar concerns. Rumors now suggest that Batum he could very well fall all the way down to the second round.

Regardless of where he is selected, Batum is not expected to come in and contribute right away. The 19-year old swingman is filled with loads of potential, but that potential is currently untapped. He’s not a long way to go, but should he fall as low as recent mock drafts have him, he could wind up being one of the steals of this draft down the line.

Fit With Celtics: If Batum is still on the board when the C’s are on the clock at 30, he’s certainly worth a look. He may even be a prospect that could be stashed overseas for a couple of seasons, while he harnesses his talent and realizes his potential. Down the line, he could once again be one of the real gems of this draft class. Should he pan out, a multitalented 6’8’’ freak athlete would be a solid replacement for Ray Allen, wouldn’t he?

Prospect Name: Kyle Weaver
College: Washington State
Position: SG
Height: 6’6’’
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 22
2007-2008 Statistics: 12.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 46.3% FG, 36.4% 3FG

Key Strengths

• Long & Athletic
• Outstanding Perimeter Defender (Can Defend PG/SG/SF)
• Excellent Slasher
• Good Finisher
• Ball Handling (Could Be Used As A Combo Guard)
• High Basketball IQ
• Intangibles

Key Weaknesses

• Inconsistent Perimeter Shooter
• Shaky Mid-Range Game
• Thin, Needs to Bulk Up
• Doesn’t Possess A High Upside

Outlook: Kyle Weaver is no superstar, but he may very well be one of the real sleepers in this draft. He needs to diversify his offensive arsenal outside of his penetration and he needs to get stronger, but he can certainly be a terrific role player in the NBA. His perimeter defense is a valuable asset to any team on any level. Mix that with his slashing ability, ball skills, and relentless aggression, you may have a diamond in the rough.

Fit With Celtics: Tony Allen’s future in Boston is up in the air, as the Celtics have the option of offering him the qualifying offer of roughly $2.7 million through 2008-2009. With that said, why not get a more polished version of “TA” in Kyle Weaver, for a much cheaper price? Allen’s advantages on Weaver are his strength, explosiveness, and NBA experience. Other than that, Weaver may very well be a better option already, and ball handling is the biggest reason why. Celtics fans cringe every time Allen handles the basketball, especially when he takes more than two or three dribbles. That problem is nonexistent with Weaver. In fact, it’s one of his strong points. In addition, he’s two inches taller and longer. To top it off, he’s also got four years of experience as the catalyst to one of the top defensive teams in the country. Weaver would be a terrific addition to the green, and would give them a lift on both ends of the floor.

Coming Soon: Nicolas Batum (France).

Prospect Name: Bill Walker
College: Kansas State
Position: SG/SF
Height: 6’5’’
Weight: 225 lbs.
Age: 20
2007-2008 Statistics: 16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 46.5% FG, 30.7% 3FG

Key Strengths

• Extremely Explosive (When Healthy)
• Great Finisher
• Very Strong
• Good Rebounder
• Aggressiveness
• Work Ethic
• High Upside

Key Weaknesses

• Has Experienced Three Knee Tears
• Game Built Off Of Athleticism/Explosiveness
• Inconsistent Perimeter Jumper
• Could Improve Ball Handling
• Struggles Defending Quickness On the Perimeter
• Can He Stay Healthy?

Outlook: Prior to Walker’s continual knee troubles, he was regarded as a high lottery pick with serious star potential. He made terrific strides to bounce back from each setback, and finished the 2007-2008 season strong. In the early stages of the workout process, his trainers raved at his weight loss and commitment to diversifying his game. Weeks later, he tweaked his knee (recently reported as a strain) working out for the Golden State Warriors, thus hurting his draft stock.

A healthy Bill Walker is a terrific prospect, but his career will rest on his health alone. Will his knees hold up, or will they hold him back from becoming the high-impact player we all know he can be?

Fit With Celtics: If Bill Walker is available and Danny Ainge builds up the courage to take the risk on him, reactions will be mixed. The optimists will say “he’s got a real future, what a steal!” while the pessimists and realists will be thinking “this may be a wasted draft pick.” Should he recover and pan out, Walker is undoubtedly a steal late in the first round. However, it would be a real shame to see a talent like this get wasted, and he’s got as much of a chance of busting out as he does of overcoming his issues. With Tony Allen’s upside getting virtually shredded to pieces in front of Boston’s eyes last January, you’d imagine that Danny and the gang might be hesitant to take the risk on Walker. Only time will tell.

Coming Soon: Kyle Weaver (Washington State).

Prospect Name: Jason Thompson
College: Rider
Position: C
Height: 6’11’’
Weight: 250 lbs.
Age: 21
2007-2008 Statistics: 20.4 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.7 BPG, 56% FG, 58.1% FT

Key Strengths

• Size/Length
• Agility
• Shooting Touch
• Mid-Range Jump Shot
• Good Finisher
• Rebounding
• Soft Hands
• Upside

Key Weaknesses

• Poor Defender
• Erratic Intensity Level
• Played Against Weak Competition In the MAAC Conference
• Tends to Fall In Love With the Mid-Range Jumper
• Physical & Mental Toughness Has Been Questioned
• Low Basketball IQ – Has A Lot to Learn

Outlook: Thompson is likely to be taken in the late first round or early second round. He has the potential to be an effective pro, but you may not see that right away. Expect him to warrant a limited role initially, but could impress later on. Best case, he could turn into a marginal starter. He should find a happy medium as a backup center for years to come.

Fit With Celtics: With his love of the mid-range jumper and questioned toughness level, Thompson has drawn comparisons to perhaps the most hated center in Celtics history – Mark Blount. Scary, isn’t it? Maybe a little, but Thompson can be a solid ballplayer if given the proper tutelage. He may be worth a flyer at 30.

Coming Soon: Bill Walker (Kansas State).

Prospect Name: Nathan Jawai
Country: Australia
Position: C
Height: 6’10’’
Weight: 282 lbs.
Age: 21
2007-2008 Statistics: 17.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 57.5% FG

Key Strengths

• Wide Body, Strong
• Long Arms
• Beautiful Touch Around the Basket, Soft Hands
• Rebounding
• Plays Instinctually In the Post
• Upside

Key Weaknesses

• Conditioning
• Sluggish
• Defense
• Inconsistent
• Long-Term Project

Outlook: Jawai is likely to be selected in late-first round or early second round, and will taken as a low-risk project for a team to play with. He’s got a good upside, but it may be a few years before we can really give a fair evaluation.

Fit With Celtics: Comparisons of a bigger, longer Glen Davis have been drawn to Jawai. If the Celtics want to try to hit a home run with this pick and stash him away overseas or in the D-League for a year or two, Jawai could be a good option. Then again, Danny Ainge has yet to draft a player from across the waters throughout his tenure in Boston.

Coming Soon: Jason Thompson (Rider).