You guys have it all wrong; if we trade Rozier, it has to be for draft picks as assets to upgrade our Davis offer 7/1.
What draft picks are we going to get for him? I doubt we're getting a first rounder. How about trading him for a player under contract next year who can be used to contribute to matching salaries for Davis? Ideally a guy who can even help us this year.
I think Phoenix is an ideal trading partner. Something like:
Phoenix: Rozier, Yabu
Boston: Troy Daniels, Milwaukee's 2019 1st round pick (protected 1-3 and 17-30 in 2019; 1-7 in 2020; and unprotected in 2021)
Daniels would be a good addition for us as a shooter off the bench this year, and the Milwaukee pick would be a good addition to the AD trade, especially with the Sacramento pick continuing to lose value as they win more.
Further, between the salary savings in this deal and finding a team to take and waive Bird, you come really close to being under the taxpayer threshold, though I don't think that this quite gets us there.
I don't think we're getting under the luxury tax this year. I was thinking along the lines of acquiring a player who can help now and serve as salary filler when matching Davis' salary if we trade for him in the summer.
I'm thinking the same. We need salary to send out in an AD trade or we have to toss in Smart. Smart looks like he'll keep improving and I'd hate to lose him as a salary toss in because we can't match salaries.
I'm wondering how we can send out Tatum and keep Smart and Brown. It's going to be tough to match salaries. Like you, I really want to hold onto Smart... even more than Brown.
It will be tough and I don't see how the Celts can pull it off. Looking at the salaries, the Celts will have to deal a package of Tatum, Smart, and either Yabusele OR Ojeleye and R Williams (depending on what the Pelicans want.) I'd also hate to lose Smart, but again if it means pairing A.Davs with Kyrie, you have to do it (draft picks will also have to be included.)
And maybe that's why Ainge is so hesitant to deal Rozier. Not because of Irving, but because he knows he'll have to include Smart's salary in an AD trade this summer.
The draft picks count towards salary and they can sign and trade Morris and Rozier, but that gets complicated. Still, I think you may be right that they won't be able to do it. Horford can opt out and Hayward likely won't be involved. I'm wondering if they can move Rozier now to acquire someone who has another year left who can then be flipped in the Davis trade. You can even include Morris with Rozier and get someone making $10 million or so. I'd rather not trade Morris, but if Ainge and Demps have an understanding, I think you'd have to do it.
TP. That's the best plan at this moment. Orlando has the type of players that would fit the bill (Augustin, Ross or Vucevic).
I think Vucevic is in the last year of his deal.
For an example, NO might like Isaac. The Celtics can trade Rozier, Morris, Bird, and a first round pick for Isaac and Augustin now. Augustin replaces Rozier. Hayward replaces Morris in the starting rotation, and Isaac gets minutes off the bench. We still contend this year. Then we trade Tatum, Isaac, Augustin, Yabusele, and picks for Davis in July. I think this is within the rules, but correct me if I'm wrong.