Keep, Waive, or Trade Prince?

[Vermont Green]

A buyout only happens if he is willing to give up a bit of money so that he can be waived in time to be eligible to join another team for the playoffs.  Ainge should be playing hardball and refuse to waive him unless he agrees to a buyout.  If he doesn't, waive him after the deadline and fill his roster spot with a D-Leaguer signed for the rest of the season plus two unguaranteed seasons.

I agree.  I am all for trying to do the right thing for a player but we are under no obligation to buy him out so he can go play for a more interesting team.  If he wants that, he should be willing to give back some money.

I am sure things will work out.  Maybe this is where we see our veteran lineup rolled out:

Nelson
Thornton
Prince
Wallace
Bass

A bit on the small side but better than most of the tanking teams.  Show they can do something and maybe there will be trade interest.

[Endless Paradise]

Nelson
Thornton
Prince
Wallace
Bass

A bit on the small side but better than most of the tanking teams.

Better than most of the tanking teams in what regards?  Because that's a really horrific lineup in itself.

[jambr380]

I am still for trading our expirings (Prince, Bass, Thornton) for player(s) with salary that runs through next year. Everybody insists that it would take a first to unload Wallace for an expiring. Shouldn't the reverse also be true? With the salaries of those three players, we should realistically expect a return of two additional first rounders.

We then go into next season with bundles of expirings, TPEs, and picks. I am not all that confident with this year's free agent crop and we have Wallace anyway. Why not go for the maximum amount of value?

[Timdawgg]

A buyout only happens if he is willing to give up a bit of money so that he can be waived in time to be eligible to join another team for the playoffs.  Ainge should be playing hardball and refuse to waive him unless he agrees to a buyout.  If he doesn't, waive him after the deadline and fill his roster spot with a D-Leaguer signed for the rest of the season plus two unguaranteed seasons.

I agree.  I am all for trying to do the right thing for a player but we are under no obligation to buy him out so he can go play for a more interesting team.  If he wants that, he should be willing to give back some money.

I am sure things will work out.  Maybe this is where we see our veteran lineup rolled out:

Nelson
Thornton
Prince
Wallace
Bass

A bit on the small side but better than most of the tanking teams.  Show they can do something and maybe there will be trade interest.

Hey that is exactly who Doc would play for 40 minutes a game if he were still here.

[saltlover]

I am still for trading our expirings (Prince, Bass, Thornton) for player(s) with salary that runs through next year. Everybody insists that it would take a first to unload Wallace for an expiring. Shouldn't the reverse also be true? With the salaries of those three players, we should realistically expect a return of two additional first rounders.

We then go into next season with bundles of expirings, TPEs, and picks. I am not all that confident with this year's free agent crop and we have Wallace anyway. Why not go for the maximum amount of value?

I completely agree, and have been saying the same thing since Rondo was traded (after my period of grief).

The only scenario in which I'd say to do otherwise is if we somehow get Haywood's contract from Cleveland.  In that case we would have either the option to pursue multiple large scale trades (using Wallace's contract, Haywood's non-guaranteed, and the Rondo TPE, and therefore won't want to have extra clutter of additional expirings we don't want.  Of course, the only way we get Haywood is if Kyrie gets hurt before the trade deadline and we send the Cavs Nelson -- otherwise, yes, contracts into next year is the way we should go.

[byennie]

I am still for trading our expirings (Prince, Bass, Thornton) for player(s) with salary that runs through next year. Everybody insists that it would take a first to unload Wallace for an expiring. Shouldn't the reverse also be true? With the salaries of those three players, we should realistically expect a return of two additional first rounders.

We then go into next season with bundles of expirings, TPEs, and picks. I am not all that confident with this year's free agent crop and we have Wallace anyway. Why not go for the maximum amount of value?

In theory we could do something like Thornton for Javale McGee. Saves Denver about $1.5M this year and $12M next, so they might be willing to pay for the privilege, while we take a shot a rehabbing McGee. For all his limitations, McGee is still relatively productive on the court, though, so not sure how much we could get out of it for 1 year of cap relief.

[Fafnir]

A buyout only happens if he is willing to give up a bit of money so that he can be waived in time to be eligible to join another team for the playoffs.  Ainge should be playing hardball and refuse to waive him unless he agrees to a buyout.  If he doesn't, waive him after the deadline and fill his roster spot with a D-Leaguer signed for the rest of the season plus two unguaranteed seasons.

It really isn't hardball most of the time. From what I understand there is a fairly set percentage that a buyout will save teams in these situations.

Sometimes teams demand more savings and that leads to protracted negotiations. But I don't think the C's need to be doing that sort of thing. At this point keeping agents/players happy matters more than a tiny bit of salary that Wyc is paying. Not unless Danny has some master plan with the space it'd open.

[spikelovetheCelts]

He is at the end of a long career.   I always thought he has a nose for the ball.  Always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and played tough against us.  But he is old now, and not the same player.  I see a buyout as well.

If we take some salary back for next year we may get something for either him or Nelson. I hope he stay a few weeks and shows James Young a thing or too like what was mentioned above.

[Roy H.]

A buyout only happens if he is willing to give up a bit of money so that he can be waived in time to be eligible to join another team for the playoffs.  Ainge should be playing hardball and refuse to waive him unless he agrees to a buyout.  If he doesn't, waive him after the deadline and fill his roster spot with a D-Leaguer signed for the rest of the season plus two unguaranteed seasons.

It really isn't hardball most of the time. From what I understand there is a fairly set percentage that a buyout will save teams in these situations.

Sometimes teams demand more savings and that leads to protracted negotiations. But I don't think the C's need to be doing that sort of thing. At this point keeping agents/players happy matters more than a tiny bit of salary that Wyc is paying. Not unless Danny has some master plan with the space it'd open.

Yeah, I don't know what the standard is, but if Prince gives back $500k (which he'd probably make back with a vet minimum deal + playoff shares), is that enough incentive for all involved?

I'd say yes.

[Nerf DPOY]

Not sure if worth posting, but Ainge and Prince apparently are planning to meet to discuss whether there is to be a buyout, per Spears. I interpret that basically as he is surely going to be bought out.

https://twitter.com/spearsnbayahoo

[crownontherocks]

Keep an eye on Tayshaun Prince situation in Boston. Cavs definitely interested in Prince if contract bought out by Celtics.

Sam amico

[pearljammer10]

Another team I could see Tayshaun working out for is the Blazers. Portlands got the most wins in the NBA right now and as of today are number one in rebounding and points allowed. The one thing that lack is a heady veteran with championship experience. Prince would be a fantastic addition for their roster playing 15 minutes a game on the wing and being a presence in that locker room.

[2short]

That Raptor idea seems like a good fit for all: Raps get a wing upgrade with championship experience, Celts get a 2nd rounder, Prince gets to go to a playoff team.

This
Prince can still contribute in limited minutes. Toronto, San antonio, Cleveland someone can use him and trader Danny should get something

[LooseCannon]

A buyout only happens if he is willing to give up a bit of money so that he can be waived in time to be eligible to join another team for the playoffs.  Ainge should be playing hardball and refuse to waive him unless he agrees to a buyout.  If he doesn't, waive him after the deadline and fill his roster spot with a D-Leaguer signed for the rest of the season plus two unguaranteed seasons.

It really isn't hardball most of the time. From what I understand there is a fairly set percentage that a buyout will save teams in these situations.

Sometimes teams demand more savings and that leads to protracted negotiations. But I don't think the C's need to be doing that sort of thing. At this point keeping agents/players happy matters more than a tiny bit of salary that Wyc is paying. Not unless Danny has some master plan with the space it'd open.

Yeah, I don't know what the standard is, but if Prince gives back $500k (which he'd probably make back with a vet minimum deal + playoff shares), is that enough incentive for all involved?

I'd say yes.

The standard is probably giving back the equivalent of the pro-rated veteran's minimum.  Rajah Bell declined that buyout a few years ago because he wanted the Jazz to find him a guaranteed landing spot so that he wouldn't lose any money.

I'm not convinced that Tayshaun Prince is certain to end up on a playoff roster if he gets bought out, so the smart thing would be for him to be cautious and evaluate the market before agreeing to any terms.

[Eddie20]

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixSI  ·
The Celtics are negotiating a buyout with forward Tayshaun Prince, NBA sources tell http://SI.com . Nothing finalized yet.