Feels like its shaping up to be a buyers market. Lots of teams selling; NY, Chi, LA, Sac, Mem, Phi ...but the only real team mentioned as a partner everytime seems to be us.
If i'm a big market team like Chicago, New York or LA, and feel like a title is unlikely this year, I give considerable thought into trading one of my star vets for a top draft pick... and free up cap space to be a major player this Summer. Problem is, with the cap raising almost every team will have cap space this summer. And perhaps teams like Boston could avoid taking on big money for the same reason... they can be a player in free agency this summer. I think Ainge wants to have cap space for two max contracts... just in case. You aren't winning a title with Danilo Gallinari as your best player. At least give yourself a shot at signing Durant and Al Horford even if it's crazy unlikely.
Can we really be a player in free agency this summer though? Have we ever even been in consideration for any top free agent ever? I know the argument is we never had cap space to go for one, but we are not a top FA destination with the cold weather, taxes, general Boston environment, etc. We would have to sell the heck out of CBS being the main attraction here, and can we really risk the future of this team to take that chance? I'm not saying its not a good option, I'm just not convinced. For example, what is the realistic chance that Durant signs with us this summer? 10% at best?
On the other hand, if Ainge wants to add Galinari and a center like Whiteside, he can easily get it done without losing any key pieces to the current team, and that lineup could be a contender.
I think the interesting question that will come up at some point before the trade deadline is, should the Celtics trade for Carmelo Anthony? He will be on the block, and we are the team in the best position to deal for him.
I see no reason to believe we can't be a player in free agency. Celtics are a prestige franchise. Nationally they have one of the 5 largest fanbases. It's not a small market. They have an elite coach, an elite front office, should make the playoffs and could even threaten to win close to 50 games this year without a single star. Every top-level free agent should be taking our calls.
We were never a player in free agency in the past, because the team literally never had cap space. This last offseason was our first year with cap space. We didn't have many options to add a star so Ainge set us up to maintain our flexibility this summer. Also, I doubt free agents around the league really took Boston all that seriously. We had a flukey late season run and then were curb stomped by the Cavs. But we're showing enough this year that should suggest that we're a competent team or role players that just needs a couple stars to make us legitimate.
The problem with Gallo is that taking on his money might ruin your chance at luring two free agents this summer.
Holy hell, an extremely positive post from LarBrd33! About the Celtics, nonetheless! I'm so proud of you!
every year with this. we aren't getting any FAs to sign here. primadonna ballers that have had their butts kissed and surrounded by yes men in their family/entourage since AAU ball do not give a single iota about prestige or history of a franchise. the only types of players that angle carries any gravitas with at all are established veterans that have been chewed up and spit out by the league and in having done so have earned a greater appreciation for the sport. Sure there are exceptions to the rule, once in a while you'll have a decent player that actually does give a hoot about those things but by and large, they are notions that fan bases care about FAR more than any serious athletes do.
We aren't getting a big time free agent to come to Beantown unless we already have an established superstar on our roster already. not to mention that having money is going to mean very little in the upcoming offseasons, as virtually every team will have the same green (save Toronto, believe they have Loonies or Toonies up there. doubt those are green.). All that said, I'm interested to see what Danny can cook up for a trade, though honestly with the core we have already I'm starting to lean more towards keeping the Brooklyn pick and getting another piece to develop and instead trading some of our young guys/rookie deals for established veteran depth. The only players I would be able to talk myself into dealing that pick for would be MAYBE Boogie (doubt it happens) and probably Drummond (won't happen).
Topic: ESPN Experts - On possible trades (Read 14210 times)