Small quibble with the Cleveland trade. If the C's trade for Bynum, I think they would hold on to him, not cut him, unless the trade put them over the luxury tax. While saving Wyc $6 million is nice, having Bynum's non-guaranteed deal to trade of draft night is much better. That would be a very valuable asset at that point.
Having the ability to absorb 35 million in salary makes that irrelevant. Teams would rather get back a trade exception that they could actually use. You get what I'm saying?
You can't absorb it on draft night though, and that is where the contract is so valuable.
Yeah that doesn't matter. Teams wouldn't be looking to desperately free up salary until free agency began. And at that point, Boston's 35 million in cap space would become very appealing for teams that actually stand a shot at landing the LeBrons and Melos of the world. Granted, theoretically Boston itself would have enough cap space to sign 2 max superstars... but more likely those guys want to go to destinations like the Lakers.
It absolutely matters. Draft night is when trades are made, and trades are the best way for the C's to reload, since as you say, they are not a prime free agent location...particularly after trading away their best players.
In this scenario, the C's will go into draft night with 2 first rounders this year (at least), and a number of solid young prospects, as well as another handful of draft picks in future drafts. One of the picks this year would also be a mid to high lottery pick.
If the guy they want is not on the board when they are picking, that pick, along with Bynum's contract would make for a very good start to a trade for an All-Star caliber player. A trade that would be harder to do after draft night.
And yes, teams would be looking to desperately free up salary before free agency begins, because the longer they wait, the more of a premium they have to pay, and it begins to become cost prohibitive.
So, for example, if the Lakers wanted to dump Nash on Draft night, they might be willing to give up their 2014 pick to do it, and there would be very few teams in the position the C's would be to make that deal happen.