Anybody that was following the free agency period when the announcement came that he rejected a 5 year, $25 million contract, as well as a 5 year, $32.5 million contract. A few days later, he signed a 3 year contract, the weekend before his qualifying offer expired (and essentially the deadline for signing for him).
For a guy that really wanted to be in Boston, and a GM that really wanted Joe to play in Boston, it sure did take a heck of a long time to come to an agreement on a contract.
And Kor, the cap was $39 million this season, not 34.5 million.