I do think Boston needs to confirm with Rasheed that he wants to retire. If he does, and doesn't plan on collecting any money, then he/his agent can probably be persuaded to take a buyout of roughly $1-2 million. That's how he becomes valuable. If we trade him for another guy making $7 million, the team that trades for him buys him out and saves $5-6 million instantly, $10-12 million if the team is or plans to be above the luxury tax threshold. More, if we take on a guy on a multi-year deal. As much as we're talking about the Celtics paying the team Rasheed's buyout money, a lot of teams looking to dispose of multi-year players would be willing to pay the Celtics the $3 million since they'd still save at least a few mil.
I think the best targets are:
Anderson Varejao (4 years, $32+ million, starting at a big over $7 million - I can't get on shamsports so I'm relying on hoopshype's less up to date numbers) - overpaid for a bad team, which is what Cleveland will be without Lebron, but he is NOT overpaid if he's on a good team because he brings a lot to the table for a winner - he's my number one choice. (Also, hoopshype has a fifth year listed as a $9.8 million team option; I think this is actually an unguaranteed year similar to what Dallas has with Dampier; though it's five years down the road, it could be a valuable trade chip depending on changes made under the new CBA to be created next summer.)
Jeff Foster (1 year, about $6.6 million) - decent defender, older so not part of Indiana's future. However, they only have Hibbert as another center, so they may just hold onto him for the year or at least until the middle of the season.
Emeka Okafor (4 years, about $52 million, starting at about $11.5 million) - lot of money owed over a bunch of years for a guy who has proven to be an adequate, but not particularly great, center. This would most likely be structured as a Sheed and Perk for Okafor deal. The Celtics have their center for the next few years - but do you want to be overpaying him that much? Probably a better rebounder than Perk but not as good defensively. Has better offensive game, but not that good. More athletic, not as strong. Question is, do we resign Perk for substantially less than Okafor's getting over the next three? Or is Perk gonna be looking at/looking for something along the lines of 5 years, $50 million when he hits free agency? New Orleans would probably do it to take the savings of roughly $5 million this year after buying out Sheed, and they still have a young center in place who they can resign for less money than they'd be paying Okafor. What kind of sweeteners can we get from New Orleans? For the savings, might New Orleans be willing to throw in the rights to Craig Brackins or a future first? I think this might be one worth exploring.
Samuel Dalembert (1 year, $12.2 million) - again, you've got to find some other pieces Sacramento is interested in to make the salaries work. But he could fill in with Perk out, and be a valuable potential midseason trade chip depending on how Perk returns.
Nazr Mohammed (1 year, about $6.9 million) - Charlotte probably would prefer to hold onto him instead of Chandler, but he'd be a good target.
Tyson Chandler (1 year, $12.75 million) - we'd have to include extra salary, so this one may not be as feasible or palatable. Plus, his injury history makes it very possible the Celtics do nothing but waste money bringing him in. Charlotte possibly willing to deal him and stick with Mohammed at center.
DeSagana Diop (3 years, almost $21 million, starting at $6.5 million) - crazy overpaid and two more years owed. Charlotte would jump on the chance to send him to us. He probably can't even fill the role we need. I'd avoid him.
Andris Biedrins (4 years, $36 million, $9 million this year) - we'd have to add other parts to make this work (perhaps the nonguaranteed deals of Gaffney and Lafayette would be enough). Biedrins is offensively limited and has had injury problems. I'm not sold on this guy. It's a risk-reward move though. He might be badly overpaid for several more years. Or he might actually be a pretty good value contract for an athletic young center with good defense and rebounding.
Dan Gadzuric (1 year, about $7.25 million) - career backup who couldn't really even fill that role. Local kid, maybe he'd bring more to the Celtics, but I really don't like the idea of overpaying him that much. That said, he could spell minutes and if we pick up another center elsewhere and Perkins comes back okay, his expiring contract could have value later in the season.
Joel Przybilla (1 year, $7.4 million) - on the last year of his deal, Portland already has Camby and Oden. But Przybilla will probably be out to start the season. When he first injured his knee in late December and had surgery, there was a 6-8 month expected recovery time. Then he reinjured the knee in March and had to have a second surgery. So he may be out until December. Pointless when our primary need is somebody to step in immediately in Perk's absence.
Topic: Ainge Trying to Trade Sheed's Contract as We Type (Read 20093 times)