"I called [Posey] and just talked to him and told him how much we wanted him back," Ainge said. "I told his agent and we had a conversation. So we're still having conversations. After James, yeah, I called a lot of guys just to say that we had interest. But I can't discuss names."
Maggette, however, confirmed yesterday he was one of those names.
"I was very surprised they called. They just came off a championship," said Maggette in a phone interview.
Posey averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds off the bench last season, his first with Boston. He opted out of the second year of his two-year contract Monday to become an unrestricted free agent.
When asked how soon he hopes to lock in Posey, Ainge said, "I really don't know. My life would be a lot easier if I knew the answer to that."
Neither Ainge nor Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, would confirm the Celtics made Posey an offer.
Bartelstein said "a lot of people are interested" in his client. An NBA source said the Wizards are "very interested" in Posey, and could make an offer once their situation with marquee free agent Gilbert Arenas is settled. Other NBA sources said Cleveland and possibly the Clippers and New Orleans also could be interested. Posey was not available for comment.
When asked if Posey would visit other teams, Bartelstein said, "Pose has been all over the league. He doesn't need to make any visits. Everyone in the league knows him."
Maggette averaged a team-best 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Clippers last season. The 6-foot-6-inch, 228-pounder played for Celtics coach Doc Rivers in Orlando during the 1999-2000 season.
"It's a great honor to even hear from them," Maggette said. "Hopefully, I can look at some of the options. That's a good option playing for those guys."
Maggette opted out of the final year of his contract that would have paid $7 million next season. While an NBA source said Maggette's management has asked the Clippers for a contract starting at $11 million next season, he said he could be willing to take a pay cut for Boston.
