Mickael Pietrus won't play for veteran's minimum, likely won't re-sign with Celtics

Mickael Pietrus won't accept a veteran's minimum and could be headed out of Boston. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Mickael Pietrus' days in Boston seem to be numbered. His agent, Bill McCandless, told WEEI Boston "there’s no chance he’ll ever sign" a veteran's minimum contract:

"MP will not play for the veteran’s minimum," said McCandless. “Period. It’s not happening. That’s the beginning, middle and end of that. [H]e is not a veteran’s minimum player. There’s no chance he’ll ever sign for that."

If Pietrus does return to the Celtics, he would likely have to accept a lesser role and a salary of $1.2 million next season, virtually identical to what he was paid last season. The team now has Paul Pierce, Jeff Green, Jason Jerry, Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee as swingmen.

For the Celtics last season, Pietrus averaged 6.9 points on 38-percent shooting in 42 games. He's seen more as a defensive player but injuries have limited him in this respect as well.

McCandless said the new collective bargaining agreement reached last summer during the lockout has driven players to focus more on financial incentives when re-negotiating a contract, and that ultimately Pietrus is just another professional in a business:

“I’ve had the veteran minimum thrown at me like hubcaps,” added McCandless. “In this collective bargaining agreement, a component of any player’s wishes and desires is the money teams are willing to pay. They’re pro athletes. My mother might cry in her beer when Johnny Damon runs away to the Yankees, but you and I understand it’s a business.”