We can now put the Boston Free Agency myth to rest

[mr. dee]

"Nobody wants to sign with Boston"

- Horford signed with us before and he's the one who broke that stigma away. Horford was a top 3 free agent at that time.

- Signed Hayward who was having his best season in Utah. Another top 3 free agent at that time


Now we signed Walker who was also having a best season of his career with the Hornets. The key to attracting free agents is to keep being competitive (along with enough cap space).

[Cousy14]

Exactly what I was thinking.

Plus, Kevin Garnett agreed to be traded to Boston.

[KGs Knee]

Yes, Boston has shown capable of luring in b-level stars.  Still have yet to reel in a big game fish in free agency, though.

But it's progress.

[GRADYCOLNON]

Well, considering that free agents can only sign 4-year deals that all seem to have that magical opt out after year three, I don't think the Celtics should keep betting on free agents.

It becomes this silly revolving door.

[kraidstar]

Nike, ESPN, and TNT don't want the big names here. Otherwise it would happen.

[keevsnick]

To be fair Horford and Kemba only signed here because their teams refused to offer the full, five year max they could on fears that the age of the player would lead to a bad contract. And Hayward came here in large part because of Brad Stevens. And all three were secondary stars.

It seems like an odd time to take the "See, guys wnat to play in Boston" victory lap when Davis and Kawhi have both tried and succeeded in steering themselves away from Boston and Kyrie and Horford have both left. All in the last twelve months.

[mr. dee]

To be fair Horford and Kemba only signed here because their teams refused to offer the full, five year max they could on fears that the age of the player would lead to a bad contract. And Hayward came here in large part because of Brad Stevens. And all three were secondary stars.

It seems like an odd time to take the "See, guys wnat to play in Boston" victory lap when Davis and Kawhi have both tried and succeeded in steering themselves away from Boston and Kyrie and Horford have both left. All in the last twelve months.

This is why cap space are so important. Let's not forget, we almost signed KD in 2016 if the Warriors didn't blew 3-1 in the finals. It just happened that most superstars today are entitled manchildren.

I doubt many superstars would take less than max contracts. What to see a miserable free agency signing? Look no further than the Knicks. Kemba and Horford only signing for the max doesn't change the fact that Danny successfully lured some top free agent. When was the last time an All-Star caliber player signed to less than a max contract prior to winning anything?

[RPGenerate]

To be fair Horford and Kemba only signed here because their teams refused to offer the full, five year max they could on fears that the age of the player would lead to a bad contract. And Hayward came here in large part because of Brad Stevens. And all three were secondary stars.

It seems like an odd time to take the "See, guys wnat to play in Boston" victory lap when Davis and Kawhi have both tried and succeeded in steering themselves away from Boston and Kyrie and Horford have both left. All in the last twelve months.

A crap load of revisionist history right here. Both Horford and Hayward had multiple teams competing to sign them to max contracts. Both of them were two of the most coveted free agents of the year. Now funnily enough, you choose to omit the circumstances sounding the guys we missed. Horford left because of money. Simple as that. Kyrie's a headcase. Kawhi and AD wanted to go to LA. If they "steered themselves away" from Boston, then you can also say they did that to 28 other teams as well. 

[CelticsPoetry]

Nike, ESPN, and TNT don't want the big names here. Otherwise it would happen.

You're joking right?

[gouki88]

To be fair Horford and Kemba only signed here because their teams refused to offer the full, five year max they could on fears that the age of the player would lead to a bad contract. And Hayward came here in large part because of Brad Stevens. And all three were secondary stars.

It seems like an odd time to take the "See, guys wnat to play in Boston" victory lap when Davis and Kawhi have both tried and succeeded in steering themselves away from Boston and Kyrie and Horford have both left. All in the last twelve months.

This isn't the case at all. We beat Houston for Horford, and we beat Miami for Hayward.

Kawhi never really did anything, and Davis is pretty clearly easily influenced by Paul and LeBron. Fair enough, but hardly the case that you think you're making.

[Csfan1984]

Let me know when we sign a top ten player. Till then C's are in the middle class of attracting FAs.

[mr. dee]

Let me know when we sign a top ten player. Till then C's are in the middle class of attracting FAs.

Let me know if there are blue collar top tier talent out there that only wants to win, nothing else. 

Most of so called superstars today are all about themselves and the glamour they will have, not exactly about team and whatever it takes to win.

Kawhi is an exemption because he clearly doesnt need to be surrounded with another superstar friends in order to win.

[Csfan1984]

Let me know when we sign a top ten player. Till then C's are in the middle class of attracting FAs.

Let me know if there are blue collar top tier talent out there that only wants to win, nothing else. 

Most of so called superstars today are all about themselves and the glamour they will have, not exactly about team and whatever it takes to win.

Kawhi is an exemption because he clearly doesnt need to be surrounded with another superstar friends in order to win.

This is all in the eye of the beholder.  As KD did that and he got torched. Now he goes to Brooklyn for lifestyle and gets torched. C's are not the draw in either case. Horford just went to the 76ers, the 76ers. Stop with the green glasses take on C's being the only franchise that is about winning. All teams want to win.

[dreamgreen]

I had to turn the channel every time I heard this crap. It was an absolute joke at the time and has been for a while.

[gift]

Exactly what I was thinking.

Plus, Kevin Garnett agreed to be traded to Boston.

Yes, KG had to agree to be in Boston in order to be traded to the Celtics. Ainge & Company have a good point about considering KG a free agent who chose Boston.

For those of you looking for an example of an "A-level" star choosing Boston.

For a long time, the Celtics had no cap space and/or were rebuilding. Of course they weren't getting any top free agents at those times. But when the Celtics have been in position to get someone in free agency, they've done it more often than not. The Celtics are a free agent destination franchise.