Smart Move: Keep or Say Goodbye to Marcus?

Eddie Jurak

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Jay King made this point in a column today:

https://theathletic.com/2663773/2021/06/21/on-trading-tristan-thompson-marcus-smart-on-point-and-coaching-the-jays-12-celtics-thoughts/

The Celtics could start Smart there [at PG]. This shouldn’t be the only determining factor in whether they do, but the team has historically been better with Smart at point guard – and in some years much better, according to efficiency numbers from Cleaning the Glass. It should come as no surprise that the Celtics defense has often been elite with Smart at that position. When in that role, he gives them bruising perimeter size and allows them to lean all the way into a defensive-minded identity. In a single season, Smart has never played more than 27 percent of his minutes at point guard, according to Cleaning the Glass, but that’s partly because the Celtics have had such good options at that position.
 

lovegtm

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I think it's highly likely that Smart is staying now that Horford is coming back.
Don't think Horford changes much. If they see a chance to acquire the 3rd piece, and Smart is seen as an asset by the acquirer or a 3rd team involved, he'll be moving in the deal. Most of the guys they could acquire fit better with Horford/TL/fungibig than they do with Smart.
 

Saints Rest

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I think it's highly likely that Smart is staying now that Horford is coming back.
I agree. Horford might be the only player that fits the bill for helping bring Marcus back to the Marcus that many of us love. Al can be the other smart vet on D, allowing Marcus to run the front court while Al runs the back line and the Jays rule the wings/weakside. Plus Al is the veteran voice who can trump Marcus in the locker room.
 

k-factory

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I agree. Horford might be the only player that fits the bill for helping bring Marcus back to the Marcus that many of us love. Al can be the other smart vet on D, allowing Marcus to run the front court while Al runs the back line and the Jays rule the wings/weakside. Plus Al is the veteran voice who can trump Marcus in the locker room.
I think the issue is trumping TT not Marcus. Al and Marcus are cut from the same cloth and return the team to a defensive mindset which was glaringly absent in the culture this season. Granted some of that is on Marcus for being out of shape and frankly often erratic but the loose undisciplined brand of basketball was rife through the entire team.
Given the circumstances this seems like a really positive deal with Stevens betting on a return to the culture he wants and had built previously.
 

benhogan

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I think the issue is trumping TT not Marcus. Al and Marcus are cut from the same cloth and return the team to a defensive mindset which was glaringly absent in the culture this season. Granted some of that is on Marcus for being out of shape and frankly often erratic but the loose undisciplined brand of basketball was rife through the entire team.
Given the circumstances this seems like a really positive deal with Stevens betting on a return to the culture he wants and had built previously.
This sounds correct.

While TT was a respected vet, who has "been there", his declaration that the regular season/seed is BS doesn't really jive with how Brad approaches the season. TT busted his azz every game so you have to give him his props, but that attitude born from playing with the Lebronettes isn't very conducive to creating good habits. Combine his salary, how incapable he was at slowing down Embiid one bit or playing perimeter defense, clogging the lane on offense and his inefficient shooting makes him expendable. His production can easily be replaced.

I'd expect all kinds of Celtic happy talk in regards to Tristan, they don't want to dampen his value on the trade market. Trying to convince another team to take him won't be easy.
 

Devizier

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It's easy to imagine Thomson being traded, but for what is a different question.

I could see DJ Augustin? He makes slightly less and could take over for Teague as the veteran 3rd-string PG.
 

Jimbodandy

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This sounds correct.

While TT was a respected vet, who has "been there", his declaration that the regular season/seed is BS doesn't really jive with how Brad approaches the season. TT busted his azz every game so you have to give him his props, but that attitude born from playing with the Lebronettes isn't very conducive to creating good habits. Combine his salary, how incapable he was at slowing down Embiid one bit or playing perimeter defense, clogging the lane on offense and his inefficient shooting makes him expendable. His production can easily be replaced.

I'd expect all kinds of Celtic happy talk in regards to Tristan, they don't want to dampen his value on the trade market. Trying to convince another team to take him won't be easy.
Finding someone to take TT at 9MM x 1 will not be a challenge. It's hardly a bad contract. Even if he's overpaid by a lot, we're not talking big money here.

I hope that Brad is evaluating all of the pieces and moving guys in the beat deals possible. If TT has really worn out his welcome, maybe that bumps him up the list. We'll see soon enough. He didn't wait long to move Kemba.
 

Devizier

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Finding someone to take TT at 9MM x 1 will not be a challenge. It's hardly a bad contract.
Thats kind of the problem. He has no long term value, and doesn’t earn enough to absorb a bad contract elsewhere. His biggest value is in a package with Smart, but even then it will be hard to find a match.
 

Jimbodandy

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Thats kind of the problem. He has no long term value, and doesn’t earn enough to absorb a bad contract elsewhere. His biggest value is in a package with Smart, but even then it will be hard to find a match.
I hear you. But maybe Brad isn't all in on TL and gets a nice offer on him. Now TT plays.

I know that few are high on TT, but you still need tall guys. Dumping him is great, all things being equal, but I'm not 100% sure that TL can make it to the end of a season yet.

Edit: fwiw, I'm not saying that I'd prefer TT to TL or that Brad will either. I just think that he's going to evaluate the whole roster (outside of the Jays) and see what's out there for everyone. All of these guys have their pluses and minuses.
 
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lovegtm

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Thats kind of the problem. He has no long term value, and doesn’t earn enough to absorb a bad contract elsewhere. His biggest value is in a package with Smart, but even then it will be hard to find a match.
They'll likely hold him to package with Smart if someone like Beal comes available.

Failing that, you can flip him for someone else's fungible player at a similar salary who is maybe more useful, some sort of microwave guard probably.
 

BaseballJones

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So as of now, without any other changes being made, what's the rotation look like?

Starters
PG - Smart
W - Brown
W - Tatum
W - Langford?
C - RWIII

Key Reserves
G - Pritchard
W - Nesmith
W - Fournier? - Would he or Langford start?
C - Thompson
F - Horford - or does Horford start and RWIII come off the bench?

Then the rest of the bench guys...

Is that what we're looking at right now?
 

Devizier

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They'll likely hold him to package with Smart if someone like Beal comes available.

Failing that, you can flip him for someone else's fungible player at a similar salary who is maybe more useful, some sort of microwave guard probably.
That’s my thinking with Augustin. Going for someone like Wright would require more assets IMHO although if it’s a second rounder, that would be fine.
 

benhogan

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It's easy to imagine Thomson being traded, but for what is a different question.

I could see DJ Augustin? He makes slightly less and could take over for Teague as the veteran 3rd-string PG.
sure DJ would be better than having TT on the roster. Experienced wing/ballhandler/shooter.

3rd string 5s should be minimum cost players.We are now seeing similar/better 5s than TT being had for free (at min salary) post-trade deadline: Drummond, Diang, Blake. Even Theis (@$5MM and better) was dumped for salary purposes. Fungible, depth 5s are cheap and getting cheaper

TT + Smart + young assets/picks for Beal is the post-Olympic, demands to go to Boston dream scenario.

Otherwise, TT + assets or bad contract or pick(s) for any of these players:
Larry Nance Jr, Kyle Andersen, Delon Wright, Monte Morris, Jalen Brunson, Satoransky, Sterling Brown, C. Wood, Derrick White

If Brad added any of the players listed above they could be moved + assets for Beal midseason, so you don't lose TT's salary slot.
 

DJnVa

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It's easy to imagine Thomson being traded, but for what is a different question.

I could see DJ Augustin? He makes slightly less and could take over for Teague as the veteran 3rd-string PG.
Karalis mentioned maybe someone like Juancho Hernangomez, who had a down year, but (in theory) can at least hit a three once in a while.
 

benhogan

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Finding someone to take TT at 9MM x 1 will not be a challenge. It's hardly a bad contract. Even if he's overpaid by a lot, we're not talking big money here.

I hope that Brad is evaluating all of the pieces and moving guys in the beat deals possible. If TT has really worn out his welcome, maybe that bumps him up the list. We'll see soon enough. He didn't wait long to move Kemba.
Hope your right. If they can find a place that would start him, $9MM isn't terrible

Cobbling a list of potential targets may be a fun exercise. Sacramento was the initial team I came up with.
 

Jimbodandy

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Hope your right. If they can find a place that would start him, $9MM isn't terrible

Cobbling a list of potential targets may be a fun exercise. Sacramento was the initial team I came up with.
For the most part, I love your list. Kind of an Augustin fan, and that would allow us to sell high on PP if some other team loves him.

This is like the first year of a new presidential administration. Brad needs to take his mandate and rework the roster.

Brunson or Wright I like too. Wood would be expensive.
 

Eddie Jurak

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So as of now, without any other changes being made, what's the rotation look like?

Starters
PG - Smart
W - Brown
W - Tatum
W - Langford?
C - RWIII

Key Reserves
G - Pritchard
W - Nesmith
W - Fournier? - Would he or Langford start?
C - Thompson
F - Horford - or does Horford start and RWIII come off the bench?

Then the rest of the bench guys...

Is that what we're looking at right now?
I don't think Horford is a realistic option at the #4 or that the double big stuff will play any better this year than last.

If they sign Fournier that probably gives a starting 5 of Smart, Fournier, Brown, Tatum, Williams/Horford.

The bench could be Pritchard, Langford, Nesmith, and whichever of Williams and Horford doesn't start.

The problem is that the can't really count on Rob and Horford to hold down C for a full season, even though they could if healthy.
 

BaseballJones

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I don't think Horford is a realistic option at the #4 or that the double big stuff will play any better this year than last.

If they sign Fournier that probably gives a starting 5 of Smart, Fournier, Brown, Tatum, Williams/Horford.

The bench could be Pritchard, Langford, Nesmith, and whichever of Williams and Horford doesn't start.

The problem is that the can't really count on Rob and Horford to hold down C for a full season, even though they could if healthy.
I think Fournier is better off the bench as instant offense. But I don't know if Smart, Langford, Brown, Tatum, and RWIII is enough offense.
 

lexrageorge

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Hope your right. If they can find a place that would start him, $9MM isn't terrible

Cobbling a list of potential targets may be a fun exercise. Sacramento was the initial team I came up with.
The thing is, there is little difference to most teams whether TT makes $9M or $4M. It only matters to teams that are either hard-capped or trying to stay below a tax threshold.
 

Lazy vs Crazy

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Been thinking on this, and it feels like a sign & trade for Kyle Lowry might be in the cards. Bundle Marcus and Nesmith for him. Kinda hate paying a PG that old $17 million or whatever but he's be a huge upgrade for at least one season.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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I know that few are high on TT, but you still need tall guys. Dumping him is great, all things being equal, but I'm not 100% sure that TL can make it to the end of a season yet.
Scal was on Forsberg podcast and he thinks that TT will open the year with the Cs. After all, as Scal points out, how many people would be comfortable going into the season with TL, Al, and one or both of Moses Brown/Murder Kornet?

The problem with the C position is TL. Trying to plan around the 30 games he might miss is not easy.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Scal was on Forsberg podcast and he thinks that TT will open the year with the Cs. After all, as Scal points out, how many people would be comfortable going into the season with TL, Al, and one or both of Moses Brown/Murder Kornet?
It may well be true, but it is also a recipe for trouble. (See, start of 2020-21 season).
 

benhogan

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Scal was on Forsberg podcast and he thinks that TT will open the year with the Cs. After all, as Scal points out, how many people would be comfortable going into the season with TL, Al, and one or both of Moses Brown/Murder Kornet?

The problem with the C position is TL. Trying to plan around the 30 games he might miss is not easy.
a few weeks ago, Scal had Kemba staying here & Kara Lawson as the odds-on favorite to be the C's next HC.
Scal doesn't want to rock the boat and can be expected to say PC things in the offseason. Also TT happy talk should be the MO for all Celtic employees until dealt.

I'll just stay with the basic premise, replacing TT's production can be done by a low-cost 5. There are a plethora of them available (and why dealing TT may be trickier than believed). If Moses fills out just a little more he could provide TT-esque production.

TT's $9MM needs to be spent on a wing or ballhandler
 

TripleOT

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I happened to see KG’s Area 21 championship team reunion show again, on youtube the other day, with PP, Rondo, Baby, and Perk, and one thing that a number of them attributed to that team’s success was the number of physically tough, strong minded guys they had up and down that roster.

Using todays terminology, the 2021 Celtics lacked enough dogs, with Smart and Thompson being two of them. We spend a lot of time parsing stats, but as those Celtics on Area 21 mentioned over and over again, successful NBA basketball is about having the proper culture.

If the Celtics aren’t planning to blow it up, having dogs like Smart and TT (or other players with their physicality and mindset) will be necessary.

While incredibly skilled, JT, JB, TL, Romeo, Nesmith, and PP aren’t they players I’d want with me in a foxhole or dark alley. I’m not suggesting they turn the roster info Bad Boys II, but the toughness level needs to improve, both physical and mental.

If the Celtics can’t bring in a Lonzo level PG, I’d like to see Smart as the starting PG. Bring in a vetmin backup, and see if he can beat PP for second unit PG. Draft a tall project PG, like David Duke at 45, or groom Romeo to play there.

Coach up Smart into more of an Andre Miller style PG, posting him up a bit, and cut down on the volume of threes. Smart will be in a contract year, so the new coach is going to need have enough gravitas to stand up to Smart when required

PG: Smart, PP, vetmin, 45th pick

Wings, JT, JB, Nesmith, Fournier (or vet replacement S+T/TE) Romeo, vetmin

Bigs: TL, AL, TT, Moses, Grant
 

Auger34

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I happened to see KG’s Area 21 championship team reunion show again, on youtube the other day, with PP, Rondo, Baby, and Perk, and one thing that a number of them attributed to that team’s success was the number of physically tough, strong minded guys they had up and down that roster.

Using todays terminology, the 2021 Celtics lacked enough dogs, with Smart and Thompson being two of them. We spend a lot of time parsing stats, but as those Celtics on Area 21 mentioned over and over again, successful NBA basketball is about having the proper culture.

If the Celtics aren’t planning to blow it up, having dogs like Smart and TT (or other players with their physicality and mindset) will be necessary.

While incredibly skilled, JT, JB, TL, Romeo, Nesmith, and PP aren’t they players I’d want with me in a foxhole or dark alley. I’m not suggesting they turn the roster info Bad Boys II, but the toughness level needs to improve, both physical and mental.

If the Celtics can’t bring in a Lonzo level PG, I’d like to see Smart as the starting PG. Bring in a vetmin backup, and see if he can beat PP for second unit PG. Draft a tall project PG, like David Duke at 45, or groom Romeo to play there.

Coach up Smart into more of an Andre Miller style PG, posting him up a bit, and cut down on the volume of threes. Smart will be in a contract year, so the new coach is going to need have enough gravitas to stand up to Smart when required

PG: Smart, PP, vetmin, 45th pick

Wings, JT, JB, Nesmith, Fournier (or vet replacement S+T/TE) Romeo, vetmin

Bigs: TL, AL, TT, Moses, Grant
Is TT a dog? I know he wants to say that about himself but most of the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

The whole “regular season doesn’t matter” mantra works when you have a veteran team or if youre LeBron where you’re “conserving it” games are still 25-8 and 8.

It’s much much less effective when half of your team is youngsters and you’re a mediocre starting center
 

Auger34

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sure DJ would be better than having TT on the roster. Experienced wing/ballhandler/shooter.

3rd string 5s should be minimum cost players.We are now seeing similar/better 5s than TT being had for free (at min salary) post-trade deadline: Drummond, Diang, Blake. Even Theis (@$5MM and better) was dumped for salary purposes. Fungible, depth 5s are cheap and getting cheaper

TT + Smart + young assets/picks for Beal is the post-Olympic, demands to go to Boston dream scenario.

Otherwise, TT + assets or bad contract or pick(s) for any of these players:
Larry Nance Jr, Kyle Andersen, Delon Wright, Monte Morris, Jalen Brunson, Satoransky, Sterling Brown, C. Wood, Derrick White

If Brad added any of the players listed above they could be moved + assets for Beal midseason, so you don't lose TT's salary slot.
That’s a pretty wild spread in value and talent in those players you listed.
Wood, Andersen, Nance and White would require some pretty damn good assets along with TT. Brunson and Morris would require something bettter than a 2nd.
Satoransky, Brown and Wright I think could be had for just TR and a heavily protected 2nd
 

benhogan

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That’s a pretty wild spread in value and talent in those players you listed.
Wood, Andersen, Nance and White would require some pretty damn good assets along with TT. Brunson and Morris would require something bettter than a 2nd.
Satoransky, Brown and Wright I think could be had for just TR and a heavily protected 2nd
yea figured I'd throw in a menu of complementary/non-max players to target

TT just gets you started for most
 

Cellar-Door

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Is TT a dog? I know he wants to say that about himself but most of the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

The whole “regular season doesn’t matter” mantra works when you have a veteran team or if youre LeBron where you’re “conserving it” games are still 25-8 and 8.

It’s much much less effective when half of your team is youngsters and you’re a mediocre starting center
TT is respected around the league as a hard worker and tough defender who has spent his whole career doing all the dirty work to help stars win.

I also think people are totally off on "regular season doesn't matter" what he actually said was:

"Winning games in the regular season, to me, they matter. But I really think it’s a bunch of horseshit"

He was talking about seeding, and he's right. Winning in the regular season matters, but once you're in the playoffs it doesn't matter much.

People twisted it into some "oh no need to try in the regular season" because they dislike him, but it:
1. Isn't even close to what he said
2. Is obviously not consistent with him being on of the most consistent effort guys on the team. TT may not have a whole lot of skill, and his results were mediocre, but few if any guys worked like he did this year.
 

pjheff

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PG: Smart, PP, vetmin, 45th pick

Wings, JT, JB, Nesmith, Fournier (or vet replacement S+T/TE) Romeo, vetmin

Bigs: TL, AL, TT, Moses, Grant
In place of “vetmin,” I’m expecting a Thompson trade and it sounds like Stevens is expecting to use the MLE to add a wing and a ballhandler. Anyone care to speculate on potential targets?
 

JakeRae

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In place of “vetmin,” I’m expecting a Thompson trade and it sounds like Stevens is expecting to use the MLE to add a wing and a ballhandler. Anyone care to speculate on potential targets?
Alex Caruso is my first choice of players that feel like possibly realistic MLE targets.
 

Jakarta

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Nesmith might be a better fit with the starters than Langford, since he's a better bet to hit open threes.
Agree with this. Ideally I’d like to see the regular rotations have all of Nesmith’s minutes come with Tatum on the floor (to maximize his shooting) and Romeo to be on the floor whenever Tatum is not (to see if he is able to be a be an asset as a ball handler/slasher). Closing lineups can be adjusted based on who is playing well, which may often times be Fournier.
 

mcpickl

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Agree that the two-big lineup was an issue at the start of the season but also the lack of C depth was also an issue after TL went down.
The best fix for this would be to fill the spot they really needed last year as well.

They need a veteran big who can play as a center, and also with a center.

A Kelly Olynyk type.

Having one of TT/Horford, Rob Williams, Moses Brown as third string and an Olynyk type as a PF who can move to C when the injuries hit would give them enough depth at C while giving them versatility when they're healthy.
 

Cesar Crespo

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The best fix for this would be to fill the spot they really needed last year as well.

They need a veteran big who can play as a center, and also with a center.

A Kelly Olynyk type.

Having one of TT/Horford, Rob Williams, Moses Brown as third string and an Olynyk type as a PF who can move to C when the injuries hit would give them enough depth at C while giving them versatility when they're healthy.


Or move on from TL, which is probably the correct move if he's really going to miss 30 games a year.
 

TripleOT

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Or move on from TL, which is probably the correct move if he's really going to miss 30 games a year.
I will be very disappointed if they move on from TL. When healthy, he Is almost exactly the type of big needed in the league now. Try to extend him at reasonable money ASAP, with him locking in that money as a hedge against never getting healthy. His skill set and Jays fit make the gamble worth it.
 

pjheff

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Especially since it would be a taxpayer MLE in Boston's case.
A Mark Murphy tweet suggested that the C’s have a “modest goal of signing someone to the full mid-level extension.”

View: https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/1405985966020571139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1405985966020571139%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fsports%2Fboston-celtics%2F2021%2F06%2F18%2Fceltics-kemba-walker-trade-evan-fournier-free-agent-contract-rumors%2F


Is this case one of faulty/sloppy reporting, or is there a path to getting there (such as moving Thompson into someone’s space)?
 

OurF'ingCity

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Is this case one of faulty/sloppy reporting, or is there a path to getting there (such as moving Thompson into someone’s space)?
If you assume the Cs re-sign Fournier for the same $17m per year he was getting last year, they will likely be right at the "apron" above which you only get the taxpayer exception, so they'd need to clear about $10m in salary to move below the apron enough to fit in an MLE player. So, yes, trading Thompson to a team with cap space for nothing would more or less accomplish that goal.

Ultimately you arrive at the same place either way - the Celtics can have at most one player making Thompson's ~$10m next season (barring a more dramatic trade). That will either be Thompson, or someone else. If someone else, they can acquire that player either by just trading Thompson for him, or by trading Thompson into someone else's space and signing the player to the "full" MLE. Really depends on what kind of player they want and what the trade/FA options are.
 

Cellar-Door

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A Mark Murphy tweet suggested that the C’s have a “modest goal of signing someone to the full mid-level extension.”

View: https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/1405985966020571139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1405985966020571139%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fsports%2Fboston-celtics%2F2021%2F06%2F18%2Fceltics-kemba-walker-trade-evan-fournier-free-agent-contract-rumors%2F


Is this case one of faulty/sloppy reporting, or is there a path to getting there (such as moving Thompson into someone’s space)?
It's possible, but tough and also wouldn't make much sense.
If the Celtics dropped Brown and Parker's non-guaranteed salaries, they'd be up to $18.3M under the hard cap. They'd then need to re-sign Fournier (I'd guess he gets at least that much per year), then clear enough cap space to fit a full MLE and fill out the roster with vet mins (I would guess they'd keep Brown instead of a vet min, but if we're talking bare bones)... so yeah they'd need to move TT and more for no salary return to clear the space and they'd be hardcapped.

Seems more likely they stay in the tax and try to use the remaining Hayward TPE on a MLE type player (can actually take on a bit more, over 11M left on that) for a 2nd .
 

JakeRae

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It's possible, but tough and also wouldn't make much sense.
If the Celtics dropped Brown and Parker's non-guaranteed salaries, they'd be up to $18.3M under the hard cap. They'd then need to re-sign Fournier (I'd guess he gets at least that much per year), then clear enough cap space to fit a full MLE and fill out the roster with vet mins (I would guess they'd keep Brown instead of a vet min, but if we're talking bare bones)... so yeah they'd need to move TT and more for no salary return to clear the space and they'd be hardcapped.

Seems more likely they stay in the tax and try to use the remaining Hayward TPE on a MLE type player (can actually take on a bit more, over 11M left on that) for a 2nd .
What MLE type player are we getting for a second that’s actually worth it? You’d basically need to be taking a player off another teams hands for cap relief on their end, and it cannot be a sign and trade since that too would hardcap us.

I’d guess the plan is something like trading Thompson into space, signing someone with the full MLE, and signing Fournier ideally at a slight discount to his current deal. There’s a lot of moving parts there so I’m not willing to bet they can execute all pieces of that plan successfully, but I think there is a real pathway.
 

Cellar-Door

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What MLE type player are we getting for a second that’s actually worth it? You’d basically need to be taking a player off another teams hands for cap relief on their end, and it cannot be a sign and trade since that too would hardcap us.

I’d guess the plan is something like trading Thompson into space, signing someone with the full MLE, and signing Fournier ideally at a slight discount to his current deal. There’s a lot of moving parts there so I’m not willing to bet they can execute all pieces of that plan successfully, but I think there is a real pathway.
Hood comes to mind, I think TOR is debating cutting his non-guaranteed deal, getting a 2nd would be better for them. Pacers might want to get off Lamb's last year. DJ Augustin might not even take a real 2nd. Might also be some bench players on teams way over the cap available to either cut tax or get low enough to sign a full TPE deal. Utah with Royce O'Neale maybe?
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,504
Ryan Bernardoni tweeted the following a couple of days ago:

"I think Smart is going to sign an extension.
His max allowed extension would end up in his being signed for five seasons at $91.4M total. Considering he's likely our starting PG, fits well with Jayson and Jaylen, and is an elite defender who isn't afraid to touch the ball in playoff games... that's totally fine.
All that being said, this would close off the path to max cap space. While I think that path is a non-starter anyway and so that doesn't concern me, others disagree and think it's worth at least keeping open as a possibility. "
I'm guessing that if Smart signs for $90M, this board will explode.

View: https://twitter.com/dangercart/status/1407780303767228421