It is not clear to me how this works. It sounds like there is not a specific value set for the buyout. And do the Celtics need to pay that or does Yam? Second round contracts are typically near minimum, do the Celtics just add $700,000 to that so Yam can by his current team? I assume in any case, it counts against the cap.
Any chance we can trade them Tacko Fall instead of cash?
The Celtics can pay up to $775,000 next year to buy out Yam without it counting against the cap/tax.
Yup, any additional amount would have to be part of Yam's contract and would count against the cap. I don't see that happening in this case, though.
If that is the case, why isn't it done already? This amount should not be an issue for the Celtics. Maybe they want to see him in summer league as a sort of try out. If he plays well enough, the Celtics can pay off the buy out and get Yam over here. If he don't show enough, stash him another year.
Summer League and roster construction, I’d think. The Celtics have 13 guys on the roster, pick #45, and presumably a desire to bring back Fournier. They’re likely a tax team, and do they want to go even further into the tax (even just a minimim salary could be a couple million tax) to buyout someone who will likely just be their 3rd-string PG, cutting a player in the process? Seems more likely they’d like to get a veteran for the minutes that don’t go to Pritchard if they’re going to cut someone (Edwards). They’re already still trying to develop Nesmith, Langford, Pritchard, Moses, and presumably pick 45. Trying to find minutes for one more project while you’re also trying to win is exactly the same problem we’ve had for years.
Now, of course, Yam can have a great showing in summer league and show that he’s ready to be on an NBA roster and contribute immediately, in which case the Celtics can and will make that happen. But he doesn’t turn 21 until a few months into the season, so there’s no rush to bring him over as far as I’m concerned.
