65 million at 5 yrs. would start at $10,743,802 with max raises
60 million at 5 yrs. $9,917,355
55 million at 5 yrs. $9,090,909
50 million at 5 yrs. $8,264,463
52 million at 4 yrs. $11,231,102
48 million at 4 yrs. $10,367,171
44 million at 4 yrs. $9,503,240
40 million at 4 yrs. $8,639,309
39 million at 3 yrs. $11,764,706
36 million at 3 yrs. $10,859,729
33 million at 3 yrs. $9,954,751
30 million at 3 yrs. $9,049,774
Need to get that first year down around $8M or we go over the tax line. I don't think the Celtics will or should go over the tax this year for Smart. 4 years for about $38M, starting at $8M. Even offer an opt out after two seasons potentially.
That’s the ideal, but we can free up more money by waiving Nader or dumping Yabu on a team with cap room. I think we’d need to get over $10 million AAV for Smart to even consider a deal.
4 years for about $38M, starting at $8M with an opt out is still a better deal than just the QO. He is protected against injury and has an opportunity to reenter the market at a more favorable time (assuming he stays healthy and plays well). Now if someone else offers him more, so be it, he should take the offer and go play somewhere else with no hard feelings. I like Smart and hope we keep him at the right price but I don't see it as the end of the world if we are not able to.
Is it? Everyone likes to bring up the Noel example but that was a silly contract to offer him in the first instance, he was never worth that.
There are as many examples of players locking in at a low rate and becoming discontent when they exceed that production. That's part of the business.
The league is going to be flush with cash next year, lots of teams will line up for the stars and when they get disappointed some will overpay on role players. If I was Smart then I would bank on that, take the QO and see if I can nail down the 3 in that time.
Ultimately I think the only ways Smart is back is the QO or if we give him the $12m he wants and we limit the deal to 3 years. Then if we want to remain under the tax, which I believe we do, we would trade Morris to a team with cap space or an exception.