Hornets fork over a crapload, get Posey

The New Orleans Hornets wanted G-F James Posey — a lot, apparently. The Hornets signed Posey to a 4-year deal worth about $25 million. The Celtics lost their best wing defender and the Hornets got some perimeter defense to go with all that offense and Tyson Chandler’s first class interior defense.
I think the Hornets really overpaid for Posey, but I guess that’s what you do in free agency. Posey is already 31 and has a history of injuries, so a 4-year deal is a lengthy one to give him. I guess Posey is the new Robert Horry, a role player who wins rings [he got one with Miami before winning it all with Boston] and gets bigger-than-usual contracts because of it. Teams think he is the missing piece — the glue guy — that will put them over the top. Frankly, though, I’ll be surprised if New Orleans gets more than two useful seasons out of Posey — and they might not even get that if he is revisited by the injury bug. I like Posey’s defense and defensive versatility and he can really shot 3-pointers, but I think New Orleans could have gotten stuff like that for less.
Still, the Hornets think San Antonio is in decline and they’re going for a title now. They see the Lakers out there as their big obstacle and anything and anyone who helps them get past Kobe Bryant [likely the guy Posey was signed to stop] is worth the money to them.