Leon Powe Interview

by Jeff Clark on Aug 15, 2009 9:32 PM EDT in News/Links Comment 54 comments

Hoops Daily writer Joshua Motenko (the same guy who originally tipped us off that the Cavs were going to offer Leon a contract) has an interview with Leon. Here's his take on the series of events.

What happened with Boston? Why did you decide to sign with the Cavs?

There was no offer from Boston. I waited a while, about a month or two, because I love Boston, I love the fans, I wanted to be there, but nothing happened. Then Cleveland made their offer, and I had nowhere else to go, so I gave them my word that I’d go there. You know, I’m the kind of person… I never go back on my word.

After the Cavs made their offer, did you start getting other offers?

I got offers from Portland, Dallas, the Lakers said if they didn’t bring Odom back that there was definitely interest, Memphis, and then Boston made an offer, but I had already told Cleveland I was coming.

Read the rest here.

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I know we've talked a lot about Leon

and a lot of people are ready to move on – in which case I welcome you to not respond to this interview

however, I thought it was interesting to hear his take on the series of events

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 15, 2009 9:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm Confident . . .

Jeff that you’re trying to send Master Po over the edge. I don’t think he can take much more of this. :)

by amenhotep04 on Aug 15, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't often laugh out loud

but that time I really did LOL

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 15, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

anger must be controlled

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Aug 16, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sweet eyebrows

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 17, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would believe Leon’s account the most. It’s been said before, and yeah we have to move on, but it still just boggles my mind that the celtics didn’t even extend Leon the qualifying offer.

by cons on Aug 15, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So “there was no offer from Boston” and “then Boston made an offer”… so which is it Powe?

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 15, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he means

there was no offer from Boston …until after he had committed to Cleveland

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 15, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I figured, though I don’t buy the “I had already committed to Cleveland” bit.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 15, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, I didn’t buy the part about Boston extending an offer after the words were out. It’s just spin control by DA. He screwed up.

by 33-32-00 on Aug 16, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You don’t have to believe DA… Powe and his agent have made mention of it. And DA didn’t screw up anything. If they wanted to keep Powe “that badly” they would’ve upped Clevelands offer.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 16, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I meant I don’t believe the offer from DA is sincere. it was more a spin control job. I wish they had never made that offer. I rather they just came out and admitted they didn’t want Powe

by 33-32-00 on Aug 16, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, so he made a fake offer. Yeah, that makes a ton of sense. The “they didn’t want Powe” argument is crap.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 17, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah so he promised the Cavs and didn’t tell Boston and when they said they’d match he said it was too late. Sounds like he really wanted to be here. The Celtics say they made him the same offer already but he wanted the second year as a player option. Sounds like neither side was trying all that hard to get together. I don’t see how loyal Powe is by promising one of our biggest rivals that he’d sign with them without telling us at all. sounds like he had more “loyalty” to the Cavs. Sounds like Leon wants to say how loyal he is to the fans and Boston and all and then go and sign with a rival. I bet he’s sorry he didn’t wait to sign with the Lakers. Bye Bye Powe!

by liamail on Aug 15, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Celtics didn't give him an offer until Cleveland had interest

And you wanna talk about “loyalty”? Are you serious?

My stance still stands (has in, it’s still a legitimate theory) that the Celtics wanted to wait till mid-season to offer Powe a deal, assuming he’d be healthy by then. I’m fine with that.

But, if that’s the case, how is Powe the bad guy for wanting to go to a team that wanted to pick him up RIGHT NOW, before the season started? Powe said there was no offer from the Celtics, and I won’t assume this, but that could very well mean DA didn’t talk to him about the possibility of re-joining the Celtics mid-season. Get off Powe’s back. He owes us no more than he’s already given us, ESPECIALLY if the Celtics didn’t offer him a deal until they realized the Cavs and other teams wanted him too. Again, you talk about loyalty, tell me where Powe owed the Celtics loyalty and I’ll tell you where the Celtics did, too.

by Tai on Aug 16, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well put, tai

by dslack on Aug 16, 2009 5:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a minor point, but this was an issue of loyalty.

Many will hate hearing this, but it was Powe, not the Celtics, who was disloyal here. The extent of his disloyalty was this: he injured the reputation of the Celtic organization by putting out bogus excuses to justify why he decided to sign with Cleveland, and not Boston. He didn’t need to do this, and he shouldn’t have. And what’s more, I think it pains him, as an honorable guy, because he knows he shouldn’t have.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And there I was, thinking that getting past the whole James Posey thing was a drag.

by no kidding on Aug 15, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Easy Pardna...

Leon (aside)…“Geez, I should really check with Danny to see if it’s OK for me to sign with the Cavs…Maybe I should wait for the Clippers or the Wolves so they won’t be mad…I mean, Gee Willikers, look at all they’ve done for me this summer…Danny even got me an interview with Smilies Burgers in downtown Oakland so I could sorta get reacquainted with my once and future home…” “I mean, God Bless, ya, DA and SP, I’ll never once cut the cheese at Smilies that I don’t think fondly of you…”

by BoundingRounder on Aug 15, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But Leon shouldn’t be saying how he loves everyone and he’s so loyal and he so wanted to sign with us ( When he was offered the same contract from us previously). Whatever he got a contract with a bum knee and I’m so glad he loves the Celtics and the Fans and yadda yadda yadda….

by liamail on Aug 15, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"No he wasn't!"

You find me a source and a quote that states that he was offered that same contract “previously”…but, I’ll save you the trouble…It’s nowhere to be found…I’ve checked extensively…It’s just that the rhetoric from reporters and even Danny would lead you to believe it was previously, when, in fact, it wasn’t…I’m serious, you find the quotation marks from DA or Doc or whomever and I’ll give ya a TP…It’s not much, but it’s more than they offered Leon…Hah!

by BoundingRounder on Aug 15, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I stand corrected

But he was offered a deal before he signed with the Cavs . If he really wanted to stay in Boston he could have. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how the whole thing plays out.

by liamail on Aug 16, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

INTEGRITY that' the word INTEGRITY

Some of you jerks have been wollowing in swil so long that you don’t understand a man’s word means something.. that is to other men of character. If a man’s word cannot be honored how can you trust anything he say’s. iT’S HARD FOR A MIDGET TO MAKE THE FOOT STEPS OF A GIANT.

Danny tricked himself out of a very good basketball player.

by tyquinton on Aug 15, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So call me a jerk. But explain something. Why did Powe give his word to take the Cavs deal?

Did he feel so obligated to Cleveland? Why did he promise to take their offer? (Even though he actually wanted to stay in Boston.) And why would he give Cleveland a promise? That is, why didn’t he just go ahead and sign their contract then and there? Why was there a period of time in which he was able to receive other offers, including Boston’s? And since this was a matter of honor, surely he wouldn’t have listened if some team had offered many more millions. (Yeah, right.)

Look, I like Powe. But these rationalizations don’t hold up well.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because he had no deal before he was examined.

by liamail on Aug 16, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's your problem?

That Powe got an offer from Cleveland, and he didn’t tell them “Naw, I wanna wait on Boston.” I’m gonna keep saying it; the Celtics probably wanted to wait till mid-season to re-sign Powe, when he’d more likely be healed by then and ready to play.

If Powe decides to wait on the Celtics instead of take the deal put in his face by the Cavs, the Cavs probably don’t offer him that again, and he’s left without a team to start the season, at least until mid-season. It’s quite clear the Celtics didn’t want Powe on their roster at this time.

You asked why Powe didn’t just go ahead and sign the contract, when he probably had a verbal agreement with the Cavs the same way Daniels does with the Celtics. I don’t mean to offend, but are you going soft on this issue? This can’t be your gripe with Powe. That he took the deal from the only team that was offering at the time; there’s no guarantee the Celtics take him in Februrary or so, or anyone else for that matter. Your gripe is that he didn’t wait for us, right?

by Tai on Aug 16, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no gripe. Bye Powe.

by liamail on Aug 16, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve no gripe with him leaving either. I’m just not impressed with his rationalizations.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Powe and Daniels deals aren't comparative.

According to you guys, Cleveland made Powe an offer, which was contingent on his passing an examination (in his case, hardly a sure thing). Why would Powe then guarantee he’d take this non-guaranteed offer? Does that make sense to you? If you were Powe, would you take yourself off the market, when there wasn’t any need to, while you waited to see if Cleveland wanted to stand by offer. I wouldn’t have. And I expect Powe wouldn’t have either. Which is why I’m not surprised he continued to field offers from other teams.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you. If Powe wanted to be in Boston he would be. He wanted to be with the Cavs, More playing time, or what ever. He wanted to go.

by liamail on Aug 16, 2009 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right. (And he didn’t need to justify his reasons.)

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Denial is a sad thing.

If another team swept in and offered Daniels a more attractive contract and he accepted – even though he committed to us, we’d be ready to crucify him. End of story.

But bc we’re talking about a player who left Boston, its the exact opposite. “If Leon wanted to be in Boston…” Well, if Boston WANTED Leon he’d be here.

Boston had already moved on and then they heard Cleveland was interested so, they tried to get back in with an offer. Yea, he could’ve reneged on his commitment to the Cavs, but I think in this business its refreshing when a player actually keeps his word.

Why should Leon show loyalty to the C’s when they couldn’t do the same for him? I’m a celts fan, but I’m realistic. This isn’t an organization full of perfect angels.

Don't Trade Rondo or Perk!

by RJ87 on Aug 16, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've already answered all these queries (see above). But I'd really like to kill off this issue, so I'll sum up again.

(Besides, I dislike being accused of being in denial in such a glib fashion.)

I’m not saying Powe should’ve broken a solemn commitment to Cleveland. I’m suggesting he never gave one. That is, I don’t believe he committed to take Cleveland’s non-guaranteed verbal offer, which would’ve been contingent upon a physical examination of a very problematic knee. I don’t see any logic in why Powe would’ve taken himself off the market for any spell of time while Cleveland deliberated on their position. In support of this, I point out that Powe continued to field offers from other teams, including from Boston.

As for loyalty, yes I believe a player and a team owe each other certain loyalties. In this particular case, Powe was completely free to pursue his own best interests, as were the Celtics. But neither Powe nor the Celtics were free to publicly misrepresent the negotiating position of the other party. And I believe Powe was guilty of this. I don’t consider it a major offense. But I do object to it.

Finally, I don’t buy the idea that Powe’s heart was set on staying in Boston. That’s just a PR sop tossed to the fans. Powe naturally had an agenda that had little to do with that of the Celtics’ (which is entirely fine and right). And now, for reasons of his own, he’s where he wants to be.

Good luck to him, he was a fine Celtic.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I believe the misrepresentation came from DA, not Powe.

Funny you have such an negative view on Powe. Not sure who has a hidden agenda !

by 33-32-00 on Aug 16, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DA’s story has been fairly consistent. Powe’s on the other hand hasn’t been for whatever reason.

DA didn’t give him the qualifying offer and didn’t offer him a contract, told him to go pursue other teams… if anything he would reevaluate Powe’s situation later because he wasn’t a priority. He didn’t give Powe false hope, he did the best by him telling him to go and look for better offers out there when DA wasn’t in a position to guarantee him that he could be a part of this team eventually.

It just so happens that this is exactly what happened, DA saw Powe’s price tag and evaluated that it was the right time to extend him an offer, a chance to stay with the team. Powe didn’t want it, he went with the Cavs. Nothing wrong with that. The scenario is quite clear.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 16, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for making the case.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A lot of guess work involved in the "case" against Powe.

I believe him and believe Ainge made a mistake, we’ll find how serious of mistake in our eventual playoff match up with Cleveland.

Here’s hoping Davis and Williams can cover up for Danny.

by The Walker Wiggle on Aug 17, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, he wanted to go because the Celtics did not want him to stay. Powe is too classy to beg.

by 33-32-00 on Aug 16, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you resort to emotional appeals, complaining that a professional athlete is being goaded into begging, you should know you’ve lost the argument.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classy responses from a classy guy

Boston fans will always <3 Powe no matter what, and Powe will never turn his bakc on the fans here.

by Scalablob990 on Aug 15, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what a shame

that we just offered him a contract too late. We’re gonna miss Powe come playoff time.

by trey on Aug 16, 2009 3:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't a matter of time or shame.

Boston didn’t offer too late. They simply didn’t offer enough to override Powe’s motivations for going to Cleveland.

No one should disrespect Powe for following his best interests. But there’s no need to accept the rationalizations he’s trying to use to cover his tracks. As an honorable guy, Powe should be above such petty nonsense. And the half-hearted way he’s come out with them indicates that he knows it as well.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Leon....but,........

Thanks Leon for doing a great job for the C’s the last 2 years…but, why are you trying to re-write history? The facts are that the Cavs made you an offer and the C’s matched it. You picked the Cavs. So why are you saying the C’s didn’t come through with an offer? They did and you and/or your agent knows it so quit trying to cry in your beer to the fans.

You’re signed with the team you wanted. We all knew the C’s would match any reasonable offer which they did. Didn’t they. You were pissed the C’s didn’t offer something upfront with a qualifying offer or a big contract. Come on now, did you really expect that based on your injury history. They made an equal offer, met the market’s going rate. And you want to bash the C’s?

by timpiker on Aug 16, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's Clarify for sec, shall we?

C’s didn’t “match” – they didn’t even extend Leon a qualifying offer. He was an unrestricted free agent.

If the C’s wanted him, they would’ve extended a qualifying offer. Or at least offered the minimum after deciding not to. Why did they need to wait for another team? This isn’t a restricted free agent issue like Glen Davis, where DA was letting the market determine his offer.

Based on all statements after Leon was let go, from him and DA, the Celtics had decided to move on. There was no inkling he’d be back, not even mid-season. So another team made him an offer based on a medical evaluation and he committed. It was only when the news got out that the C’s decided to try and make an offer. The C’s saw the Cavs – our biggest rivals in the East – show interest in a player they passed on. Its clear DA tried to backtrack to keep Powe away from the Cavs.

I know we’re all Celtics fans and they’re the mighty empire, but let’s not lose sight of the facts. I said as soon as Leon was released, we shouldn’t expect him to still be available in February. So don’t get mad guys…. what were you all saying when this first started?? Oh, “it’s just a business.”

Don't Trade Rondo or Perk!

by RJ87 on Aug 16, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great posts RJ87 - perfect

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Aug 16, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Or at least offered the minimum after deciding not to. Why did they need to wait for another team?”

Offering a 1 year minimum wasn’t in the interest of the Celtics’ at all. And if you remember some weeks back Powe was looking for a 1 year vet min. + a player option. He didn’t get it. Why wait for another team? Because the Celtics needed to pursue other interest firsts to improve the team. Resigning a heavily injured player is simply low priority. Did House feel disrespected before being made an offer late in the month of July? Did Tony, after not being made a qualifying offer and he was healthy?

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 16, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For any other player I'd probably be all over them

but am willing to cut Leon some slack for the way I perceive his character (which may be totally wrong but here goes)… he has a lot of pride and loyalty if the other side reciprocates the effort.

Leon put his everything into being a Celtic player on and off the court because that’s his nature. But when the team (particularly Ainge) did not trust his motivation for recovery from this injury up front it was like telling him to his face that you are a commodity that we can put a price on and right now you’re not worth the risk. To a guy like Leon, that hurts personally and even though every NBA player is brought up to echo “it’s a business” it hits you differently and harder when it happens to you.

Right now I’m guessing he could no longer put his all behind the Boston management and may regret it in later years if he finds out that the Cavs organization is also a business or doesn’t get another ring, etc.

Other players might be more distanced with such a business move but Leon and KG share a lot of emotions and motivations and don’t like to be treated as a commodity. KG was hoping to spend his entire career in MN but when it crosses a line where it feels you’re not valued then they want out instead of having to give their 110% effort to that organization (who they probably came to have a picture of some GM or owner’s face in their mind). And when all this happens publicly I can’t imagine how much pressure there is around this. This is where we’ll get to find out if Baby is able to put this in the past or feel under-appreciated.

Best of luck Leon and I wish you all the best. I hope you like the new home and have some great performances (and that Lebron screws it up when our teams meet).

by SotaPop on Aug 16, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's ok..

we have BBD, who can do everything imaginable on the court. In fact, at his current rate of improvement he’ll be better than KG ever was in 2 to 3 years. He’s a franchise player with way more motivation and maturity than Powe. Clearly we shouldn’t regret Powe leaving town.

by TomHamilton30 on Aug 16, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who said anything to suggest they're happy that Powe left town?

All the same, Powe left for his own reasons, and would only have stayed if the Celtics had recklessly overpaid him (in view of his uncertain health issues). It’s just that simple. There’re no villains in this story.

by no kidding on Aug 16, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry Leon

But the trains’ coming and you’re on the tracks

by jackscompletelackofsurprise on Aug 16, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good for Leon.

In this case Ainge’s, too coy and clever by far, negotiation tactics led to Boston paying Shelden Williams for one season what we could have paid a Leon for two.

And it’s sad to note how many fans here recognized the great opportunity to marry loyalty to the man and value for the team (that second year option at the minimum…).

by The Walker Wiggle on Aug 17, 2009 1:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Durant over Oden

I knew from the beginning Oden wasn’t as good as Durant I would have taken Durant over Oden any day of the week

by Bigpapi34 on Aug 17, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what about the bill walton loyality ?

bill walton was crippled in the 87 season and played very little in the playoffs greg kite was parish backup .the next season in 88 he had another foot surgery did red throw walton away no he did,nt he let him have the surgery and he did come back. but bill was never the same again and the celtics new that and in 89 they let him walk as a free agent my point is that the celtics should have signed leon let him heal until feb or march and see what he has for the playoffs just like red did for walton back in 1988 thats when the celtics loyality was for the player not like this little pr#ck we have running things now ….

by lohaus#54 on Aug 17, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bill Walton is a Hall of Famer. Bill Walton had just won the 6th Man of the Year award. Bill Walton was a former NBA MVP. Bill Walton was a former NBA Finals MVP. Should I continue to list his awards? Was the US in the middle of a recession at the time?

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 18, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs