Okay, I have come to the conclusion that the Celtics should use the TPE this season. Here are my reasons:
- At the deadline most teams will know whether they can let go of their playoff aspirations (think of: Pistons, Magic, Knicks, Bulls, Cavaliers in the East and Timberwolves, Kings, Thunder, Rockets, Pelicans in the West)
- Teams will be looking to clear capspace to prepare for the offseason and sign free agents
- Boston can trade Thompson to make sure we can almost fully add TPE-level contract on our payroll without tax consequences
- In the offseason GM's have 'false' hopes for their teams, which will make them reluctant to trade good role players even if they're overpaid
- Wait until the offseason and there will be lot of pressure from fans and press on Ainge to make good use of that TPE, other teams will recognize that and may ask for unproportionate assets
- Players that are on expiring contracts now will be free agents in the offseason and therefore unattainable (as a S+T is very unlikely, which would hardcap us) which makes the pond a lot smaller than it is now
Possible targets
Otto Porter Jr (tough to stay below the tax, but a very interesting option as the Bulls have P. Williams and Markkanen)
DeMar DeRozan (Spurs are doing surprisingly well, will they have interest to trade him and build for the future?)
Nikola Vucevic (great player on a bad team, candidate for a trade though I believe a wing is a bigger need)
Buddy Hield (a buy-low candidate with Fox/Haliburton emerging, defensively poor, could work out fantastic as offball threat)
Draymond Green (don't think the Warriors will give up on their core and is Draymond washed?: he scores less than 5PPG...)
Harrison Barnes (good offensive player, defense isn't great, possibly best option available, but will he contribute to winning?)
Victor Oladipo (the Rockets probably won't to pay him, rumours were that Ainge had interest in him during the Hayward talks)
Gary Harris (he has been pretty terrible the last two seasons, could the Celtics get him back on track?, he's only 26)
Zach LaVine (I highly doubt a 27-5-5 player can be obtained, even if we offered Marcus Smart)
Jerami Grant (he has been great and the Pistons will probably not want to listen to trade offers)
Julius Randle (not sure he can bring defensively what's needed, hard fit, but a good player who should be available, I like him)
Terry Rozier (a comeback would be really funny, but a backcourt Walker/Rozier is too small for my taste)
Aaron Gordon (often mentioned and still a player who should be on the trading block, can he blossom in a different environment?)
Evan Fournier (I believe Nick has advocated for Fournier and I can see the appeal, probably won't cost much as he's expiring)
Eric Gordon (his spark this season is probably not going to last, we'd do the Rockets a big favor taking him on, we shouldn't)
Davis Bertans (the only thing he can do is shoot, but how much does an elite shooter open the court for our star players?)
Jonas Valanciunas (underrated player, add him with Winslow and we may get two birds with one stone, worthy of some assets)
Rudy Gay (Gay + Mills is a possibility, but too old I think as we need longterm help)
Kelly Oubre (talk about a buy-low candidate! he's definitely better than what he's showing now, unlikeable character though)
Thaddeus Young (unfortunately he's already 32, otherwise I'd find him a perfect fit for our team)
Terrence Ross (I'd prefer Fournier, although Ross can also really score the basketball, he's two years older but signed for 3 years)
Larry Nance Jr (good player, good fit, question is whether the Cavs would trade him for a reasonable price)