Your Morning Dump… Where Matt Barnes wants to get paid

Every morning, we compile the links of
the day and dump them here…
highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as
satisfying as a good morning dump.

Aaron Goodwin, who also represents Barnes, said via text that the Celtics
are still in the hunt, but “quite a few” other teams are also standing
in line.

The problem, according to a league source, is that the Celtics, like
Miami, only have a veteran’s minimum slot of approximately $1.6 million
available. Though the Celtics and Heat – teams that are placing a
premium on winning over dollars with these luxury minimum opportunities –
were thought to be at the top of the former Magic swingman’s list. That
seems to have changed.

Barnes now realizes there are still teams out there with surplus cash
to offer.

“Wants $. He’s looking for more than minimum agent says,” the source
said via text.

Boston Herald

If Barnes is seeking bigger dollars, and Josh Howard (more than likely) already out of the Celtics price range, we better get familiar with guys like Rasual Butler and Antoine Wright.

I remain baffled by the lack of rumors surrounding Rasheed Wallace's "retiring" contract. Are the Celtics dangling this $6 million package in front of other teams? Maybe it doesn't have as much value.

On Page 2, Pat Riley's plan to lure Doc Rivers to Miami.

Nevertheless, the pressure on Spoelstra to win a championship in 2011
promises to be immense. To keep his job, he’ll probably have to win it
all, especially because Riley has his eye on Doc Rivers to someday coach
the Heat. Rivers has one year left on his Celtics contract, and has
been heavily affected by the distance between him and his family still
living Orlando.

Yahoo!  – Inside Look at Lebron's free agent coup

It hurts me to say this, but a move to Miami makes all the sense in the world for Doc Rivers.

As for Wojnarowski's story, it's a must read. I never knew Lebron had such a diva reputation.

The rest of the links:

Globe – Robinson back to the point | CSNNE – Robinson, Celts agree to deal | ESPN Boston – Roster reset | King of the Rock (Rondo) | WEEI – What Nate's return means to Celtics | Celtics Blog – How to solve the wing shortage | Chicago Sun Times – Bulls interested in T-Mac, Josh Howard? |

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