How could the Celtics stay under the cap but keep everyone happy?

[KGBirdBias]

I would make this easy.

Keep Smart
Keep AB
Do not resign KO - He's just too much of a liability on defense, even though he scores 10, he gives up 15 and a ton of rebounds.

Sign Taj Gibson as the replacement for KO

It doesn't look like Hayward is going anywhere. I would circle back for PG13 one more time. If no go, then I sign Otto Porter to a offer sheet to see if the Wiz match. If that falls through then I settle on Shabazz Muhammad.

Shabazz Muhammad? If we are going after him I might as well jump off the cliff now.

I don't think you've seen the list of UFA\RFA for 2017. Muhammad is a last resort after Hayward, PG13, Porter.

[hodgy03038]

I would make this easy.

Keep Smart
Keep AB
Do not resign KO - He's just too much of a liability on defense, even though he scores 10, he gives up 15 and a ton of rebounds.

Sign Taj Gibson as the replacement for KO

It doesn't look like Hayward is going anywhere. I would circle back for PG13 one more time. If no go, then I sign Otto Porter to a offer sheet to see if the Wiz match. If that falls through then I settle on Shabazz Muhammad.

Shabazz Muhammad? If we are going after him I might as well jump off the cliff now.

I don't think you've seen the list of UFA\RFA for 2017. Muhammad is a last resort after Hayward, PG13, Porter.

I see him listed as #45 just below Amir Johnson and just above Jonathan Simmons. Like I said, I will jump off a cliff. As a low-salary filler maybe but he is not someone you target as a free agent.

[JBcat]

Whatever we do we need to figure out our starting PF position.  If we sign Hayward and let Kelly and others walk we are very thin up front.  Maybe a counter move is to also trade Crowder and like Rozier for a starting PF. 

Even if we sign say less than max FA like Ibaka for example we are still going to go over the cap eventually since we have bird rights on most of our players. 

The 2 years to cash in on cap space was last year and this year.  Going forward I don't think there is anyway to not go over the cap which is fine.

[KGBirdBias]

I would make this easy.

Keep Smart
Keep AB
Do not resign KO - He's just too much of a liability on defense, even though he scores 10, he gives up 15 and a ton of rebounds.

Sign Taj Gibson as the replacement for KO

It doesn't look like Hayward is going anywhere. I would circle back for PG13 one more time. If no go, then I sign Otto Porter to a offer sheet to see if the Wiz match. If that falls through then I settle on Shabazz Muhammad.

Shabazz Muhammad? If we are going after him I might as well jump off the cliff now.

I don't think you've seen the list of UFA\RFA for 2017. Muhammad is a last resort after Hayward, PG13, Porter.

I see him listed as #45 just below Amir Johnson and just above Jonathan Simmons. Like I said, I will jump off a cliff. As a low-salary filler maybe but he is not someone you target as a free agent.

I like Simmons too but I don't think he's getting out of SA. I'm thinking of scoring off the bench, not as a starter. If we lose out on the other 3, than Crowder still gives us the best value at the SF position. We need a SF off the bench who can get buckets.

[hodgy03038]

I would make this easy.

Keep Smart
Keep AB
Do not resign KO - He's just too much of a liability on defense, even though he scores 10, he gives up 15 and a ton of rebounds.

Sign Taj Gibson as the replacement for KO

It doesn't look like Hayward is going anywhere. I would circle back for PG13 one more time. If no go, then I sign Otto Porter to a offer sheet to see if the Wiz match. If that falls through then I settle on Shabazz Muhammad.

Shabazz Muhammad? If we are going after him I might as well jump off the cliff now.

I don't think you've seen the list of UFA\RFA for 2017. Muhammad is a last resort after Hayward, PG13, Porter.

I see him listed as #45 just below Amir Johnson and just above Jonathan Simmons. Like I said, I will jump off a cliff. As a low-salary filler maybe but he is not someone you target as a free agent.

I like Simmons too but I don't think he's getting out of SA. I'm thinking of scoring off the bench, not as a starter. If we lose out on the other 3, than Crowder still gives us the best value at the SF position. We need a SF off the bench who can get buckets.

Jaylen Brown

[KGBirdBias]

I would make this easy.

Keep Smart
Keep AB
Do not resign KO - He's just too much of a liability on defense, even though he scores 10, he gives up 15 and a ton of rebounds.

Sign Taj Gibson as the replacement for KO

It doesn't look like Hayward is going anywhere. I would circle back for PG13 one more time. If no go, then I sign Otto Porter to a offer sheet to see if the Wiz match. If that falls through then I settle on Shabazz Muhammad.

Shabazz Muhammad? If we are going after him I might as well jump off the cliff now.

I don't think you've seen the list of UFA\RFA for 2017. Muhammad is a last resort after Hayward, PG13, Porter.

I see him listed as #45 just below Amir Johnson and just above Jonathan Simmons. Like I said, I will jump off a cliff. As a low-salary filler maybe but he is not someone you target as a free agent.

I like Simmons too but I don't think he's getting out of SA. I'm thinking of scoring off the bench, not as a starter. If we lose out on the other 3, than Crowder still gives us the best value at the SF position. We need a SF off the bench who can get buckets.

Jaylen Brown

So why then would we need Hayward or PG13? I mean Hayward would be signing as a FA and Brown and Crowder would still be here. I like Brown too

[nickagneta]

My feeling is they sign Hayward or Durant if he opts out of his GS contract.  Then we make our bench younger.  Zeller , Mickey, Young all gone.  I would try to bring Amir back on a low level contract since we way over paid for him the last couple years.  If not he is gone too.  Bring in Zizic, Yaba daba and the new draft pick to fill out the line-up.  My prediction for next year
IT/TR/Rookie#1
AB/Smart/
FA signing/JB/
Crowder/ KO/ Yabadaba
Horford/ AJ/ Zizic
Other guys that might be in the mix for low level contract GG and JJ.

In order to sign a max level free agent either Bradley has to be moved for just picks or KO has to be let go. You can't keep both. Amir could be kept signing a vet minimum contract or using the room exception. There is also a good chance either Smart or Rozier might need to be moved for picks if we land the number one pick to get Fultz and the salary cap doesn't increase to a level some thought it would.

[Tr1boy]

If IT4 and AB want to lock up an extension this offseason what are the max/years they can get?

[Jon]

If we end up with getting Fultz or Ball, something is going to have to give with this roster unless Brad wants to start running 4 guard lineups. As it is, it's already going to be tough to find minutes for IT, Bradley, Smart, and Rozier, particularly if Brown starts needing more minutes.

[JSD]

Smart still has a year left on his rookie deal. Kelly is on a QO.

[Tr1boy]

If we end up with getting Fultz or Ball, something is going to have to give with this roster unless Brad wants to start running 4 guard lineups. As it is, it's already going to be tough to find minutes for IT, Bradley, Smart, and Rozier, particularly if Brown starts needing more minutes.

If its between rozier and smart...who do you pick to stay?

[Phantom255x]

If we end up with getting Fultz or Ball, something is going to have to give with this roster unless Brad wants to start running 4 guard lineups. As it is, it's already going to be tough to find minutes for IT, Bradley, Smart, and Rozier, particularly if Brown starts needing more minutes.

If its between rozier and smart...who do you pick to stay?

Hate to say it with the way he's been playing, but Smart stays, Rozier goes.

I think they can keep Smart on a reasonable deal (definitely not more than 20M/Year), and if you can package Rozier + future non-BKN Picks for a cheap center who can rebound, that would be ideal for this team.

Rozier's trade value is probably getting better as well right now.

I also think Smart makes "winning plays" and is the most "aggressive, physical" guy on this team right now besides Crowder. Need those kind of guys to go far in the postseason.

[JOMVP]

I think Crowder and Rozier end up as odd men out this offseason to clear cap for a run at Paul George. Olynyk is an interesting case. I think he is important because he allows Brad's offensive system to continue off the bench with a big stretching the floor, but he's so inconsistent and his defense is usually a negative. Tell me a guy who you can sign though as a big that can stretch the floor like Kelly though? They kind of need him.

[Kuberski33]

I'd let KO go.

After that it gets tough.

They do need to get better offensively in that they need some cover for IT in terms of ability to get to basket.  Brown will be there eventually but probably not next season.

So your core is IT, Horford, Brown.

Bradley's a tough call.  Really good 2 way player who can play above his size.  Can't create but gets hurt a lot.  I'd probably lean towards keeping him.

Smart is the heart and soul of this team, also has a lot of value with the trend to small ball because he can guard above his size. But both he and the C's need to be reasonable.

Rozier is a lot like Smart and Bradley - his rebounding helps with small ball, better handle than both of them, better shooter than Smart, and he's still improving.  But defensively he's still not Smart - not even close.

But the best players in this draft are guards. I think Danny's going to wind up doing something that none of us are expecting.  They need a physical 4/5 who can pass/shoot/rebound.  And Horford's age means you want to win right now.

Glad I'm not the GM.