The new spending penalties, second apron, etc might prevent teams from building up a super team these days. But the Celtics were already well underway on that course when these changes were announced. Too late to turn back now.
The Celtics have the most talent #1-6 of any roster. If they just brought everyone back and spent money Warriors style, would there even be another team in the league capable of keeping up with our spending / bringing in this much high level talent?
We could have the highest bill and the most talent, and it would be difficult for another team to even be allowed to spend that much on good value contracts.
The Warriors are already at that stage, but are on the decline and not on the rise like the Celtics.
Just pondering the market at large. The Celtics have assembled the most talent and can resign everyone if they want, at a time when it is very difficult for the top teams to have good assets and room to maneuver below the 2nd apron when it comes to all star players.
Yeah, in the "old days" a team could just extend a player like White to top dollar, like GSW did with Poole or MIA with Herro. I questioned both of those signings, but that is what teams were doing to keep their players. Now that Brogdon and Smart are both gone (of course Holiday is now here), it makes sense to try and extend White.
But I am not for overpaying for a player like White. Poole ended up getting dumped for Chris Paul (considered a bad contract). No one wanted Herro. If White is signed to a fair contract, then we might be able to trade him for something of value down the road. Overpay him and it limits your flexibility. We are going to be over the second apron in any case. Paying tax is paying tax but no need to be reckless about it. But the worst thing is having a bad contract taking up space.
White is locked up this season and next. If he will accept a fair, team friendly extension, great. If not, it doesn't mean he is gone. White has to decide. Even worst case, the team friendly extension will set him for life. If we wants to maximize earnings, totally his prerogative, then he can play out this contract and hit the FA market in 2 years.
It is true that if we lose White in 2 seasons, it will be hard to replace him via FA signings. It would have to be a draft pick we develop or something like that. So I do get that aspect of this. It is a real advantage to be able to keep him even while over the second apron so it is not nothing to give up that advantage.