I have read break downs that illustrate how Ainge could do it without hitting the tax. Regardless, there are plenty of issues.
Obviously, Ainge is the one who knows. My concern with what I have read is that there are too many young players left to play with the core of:
Thomas
Smart/Brown
Hayward
George
Horford
Bench
Zizic (never played in NBA)
Tatum (as above)
Seme
Nadir
Allen
Bird
MLE's
vet mins...or whatever
Lot of guys must be accepted by Pacers in trade to allow for the salary dump. (AB, JAE,Rozier,Jax). Indy wants all these guys? After PG they have 3 roster spots laying around?
The next issue is Thomas' injury. Smart and exactly whom start at PG next season while Thomas recovers? Vet min?
Or will Ainge trade Thomas as he will have to be traded 2018/2019 anyway to get his money?
It seems obvious to me that Horford, Hayward and George are $90M the season after next and Thomas is out.
If Thomas goes out in this deal, is the team "fully viable" with Smart and a vet minimum running PG?
Smart/Vet minimum(PG)
Hayward/Brown
George
Horford
Vet minimum(C)
Below guys who've never played in the NBA before (this makes the entire deal seem odd, you can only make it work with 6 "almost" rookie deals?)
Zizic
Nader
Allen
Seme
Tatum
Bird
MLE (big)
MLE (guard)
If it happens, there is another deal coming and the rookies are too cheap to trade.