Celtics Ownership Willing To Spend?

[Ed Monix]

Money will not be an issue for the Boston Celtics or team president Brad Stevens as they try to build a contender this season.

Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck regarding salary expenditure:

"I think we're spending about $200 million on the roster this year, and Brad has the green light to spend more."

The Celtics have a payroll of about $170 million this season, fifth-highest in the NBA, which comes with a luxury tax bill of $44.5 million, per Spotrac.

Grousbeck explaining the team's strategy:

"People can write or think whatever they want. Or, you can actually look at what we do, which is do whatever we possibly can to win a championship. And we’re in the mode right now of completely adding on. Are you going to trade future draft picks and young players under 30? Hopefully not. But money is not a consideration whatsoever, and this roster shows that."

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Source: Adam Himmelsbach (Boston Globe)

[Roy H.]

Yeah...  Wyc is lying, at least regarding his quote in the same conversation. "Money is not a consideration whatsoever".

I think that there's probably some additional money in the budget, but I don't think it's a significant amount.  If money was "not a consideration whatsoever", we would have preserved / utilized the TPE.

[Moranis]

If that is true, I don't understand why Duncan Robinson and a draft asset from the Heat aren't currently on the team.

[Celtics2021]

If that is true, I don't understand why Duncan Robinson and a draft asset from the Heat aren't currently on the team.

Who says the Heat were willing to give up a draft asset for Robinson at this point in time?

[nickagneta]

If that is true, I don't understand why Duncan Robinson and a draft asset from the Heat aren't currently on the team.

Who says the Heat were willing to give up a draft asset for Robinson at this point in time?

Or that Pat Riley would entertain sending a player with an elite weapon and a draft pick to the Celtics, a franchise he truly hates and is in direction, top of the conference, competition with.

While I can imagine a whole bunch of different scenarios where that TPE could have been used, using it while dealing with Miami and Pat Riley, is not one of those scenarios

[Goldstar88]

If that is true, I don't understand why Duncan Robinson and a draft asset from the Heat aren't currently on the team.

Who says the Heat were willing to give up a draft asset for Robinson at this point in time?

Or that Pat Riley would entertain sending a player with an elite weapon and a draft pick to the Celtics, a franchise he truly hates and is in direction, top of the conference, competition with.

While I can imagine a whole bunch of different scenarios where that TPE could have been used, using it while dealing with Miami and Pat Riley, is not one of those scenarios

Why would the Celtics want Duncan Robinson? He was benched in the postseason since he’s an absolute sieve defensively and he has one of the worst contracts in the NBA. The Celtics identity is their defense. He would not see the court. This isn’t a fantasy sports league, fit does matter.

[nickagneta]

If that is true, I don't understand why Duncan Robinson and a draft asset from the Heat aren't currently on the team.

Who says the Heat were willing to give up a draft asset for Robinson at this point in time?

Or that Pat Riley would entertain sending a player with an elite weapon and a draft pick to the Celtics, a franchise he truly hates and is in direction, top of the conference, competition with.

While I can imagine a whole bunch of different scenarios where that TPE could have been used, using it while dealing with Miami and Pat Riley, is not one of those scenarios

Why would the Celtics want Duncan Robinson? He was benched in the postseason since he’s an absolute sieve defensively and he has one of the worst contracts in the NBA. The Celtics identity is their defense. He would not see the court. This isn’t a fantasy sports league, fit does matter.

Another reason I wouldn't have imagined the C's and Heat doing a deal.

[Moranis]

First, no one you could acquire into the TPE would have been a complete player, especially if you aren't giving up a pick to do it.  They'd all have flaws, that is why they'd be available for basically free.

Second, Robinson was clearly on the block.  The Heat have a ton of wings and his contract is long and decent sized.  He was constantly in trade rumors many of which the Heat were giving up a 1st in the process.  Now maybe Boston wouldn't have gotten a 1st, but a 2nd would have been possible and it certainly wouldn't have cost Boston anything of value.


If money was no object, as Wyc keeps saying, then  noy using the TPE was an epic fail.

[Roy H.]

If money was no object, as Wyc keeps saying, then no[t] using the TPE was an epic fail.

I don't really understand the counterpoint to this argument.  Having an expiring contract -- even if we sent that player home for the year -- would be more beneficial in terms of assets than whoever we fill the 15th roster spot with.

I 100% understand the argument "you can't spend $35m - $45m in hopes you'll trade that slot for somebody better", but that only applies if you're taking money and budget into account, which Wyc has repeated bragged (lied) that he will not do.

[boscel33]

First, no one you could acquire into the TPE would have been a complete player, especially if you aren't giving up a pick to do it.  They'd all have flaws, that is why they'd be available for basically free.

Second, Robinson was clearly on the block.  The Heat have a ton of wings and his contract is long and decent sized.  He was constantly in trade rumors many of which the Heat were giving up a 1st in the process.  Now maybe Boston wouldn't have gotten a 1st, but a 2nd would have been possible and it certainly wouldn't have cost Boston anything of value.


If money was no object, as Wyc keeps saying, then  noy using the TPE was an epic fail.

I don't agree here.  We had a $17M TPE.  We could have found a complete player for that, easily.  But then again, define complete.  I'm not talking superstar, I'm talking a player that immediately improves the team.  Duncan does, Makkanen would have, Christian Wood, easily.  There were players that would have fit into that TPE that would ahve made us much better.

[SHAQATTACK]

I hope so , I can use the extra cash. 

[Vermont Green]

First, no one you could acquire into the TPE would have been a complete player, especially if you aren't giving up a pick to do it.  They'd all have flaws, that is why they'd be available for basically free.

Second, Robinson was clearly on the block.  The Heat have a ton of wings and his contract is long and decent sized.  He was constantly in trade rumors many of which the Heat were giving up a 1st in the process.  Now maybe Boston wouldn't have gotten a 1st, but a 2nd would have been possible and it certainly wouldn't have cost Boston anything of value.


If money was no object, as Wyc keeps saying, then  noy using the TPE was an epic fail.

I don't agree here.  We had a $17M TPE.  We could have found a complete player for that, easily.  But then again, define complete.  I'm not talking superstar, I'm talking a player that immediately improves the team.  Duncan does, Makkanen would have, Christian Wood, easily.  There were players that would have fit into that TPE that would ahve made us much better.

I am not sure I follow or agree with either of these arguments.  The first seems to be that we should have used the TPE to acquire a player that is bad enough or on a bad enough contract that the other team would be willing to give up the player for nothing.  The reason to do this would be to trade this bad player/contract later as trade filler.   I am just not in that camp.

The second argument seems to be that we could have gotten Markkanen or Christian Wood with the TPE without giving up any picks.  At least I think that is the point.  But there is no way you get either of these players (and probably not Duncan Robinson either) without giving up a pick or picks.

Wyc's comment was that money isn't the issue but he eluded to draft picks or good young players being factors.  I don't think MIA trades Robinson for nothing and I don't want to give up a pick for him.  No way Markkanen or Wood was available for nothing and probably not even for a pick, maybe 2 picks.

I don't find it hard to believe Wyc here and I don't presume that all these great deals were on the table for them to pick from.  They didn't use the TPE because there wasn't a smart deal on the table seems more reasonable to me.  They didn't want to give up picks just to fill the TPE with a player that isn't that good.  And I understand that at some level, money is at least part of the issue but it doesn't mean that it was the issue with the Fournier TPE.

[Roy H.]

I don't think MIA trades Robinson

I don't know about that.  If given the opportunity, would Miami chose to clear $74 million off its books for a player who isn't in their rotation, while obtaining a $17 million trade exception in the process?  I suspect so.  Would they give up some draft compensation to make that happen?  Again, I think yes.

But, for me, Duncan Robinson isn't a player I'd want, because of his salary commitment.  He's not easily flippable in a trade, which is why we're discussing the concept of him being shipped out with draft picks.  He has negative value.

But, there were several options that I think would have come pretty cheaply, for free, or with an asset.  The team made the reasonable decision not to spend $45 million in extra salary on a 10th or 11th man.  That's a fair decision, but it's not a decision that 1) maximizes our title chances or 2) is consistent with "money doesn't matter whatsoever".

I don't find it hard to believe Wyc here and I don't presume that all these great deals were on the table for them to pick from.  They didn't use the TPE because there wasn't a smart deal on the table seems more reasonable to me.  They didn't want to give up picks just to fill the TPE with a player that isn't that good.  And I understand that at some level, money is at least part of the issue but it doesn't mean that it was the issue with the Fournier TPE.

Don't these statements contradict each other, at least in terms of Wyc's "Money is not a consideration whatsoever" statement?

[Moranis]

First, no one you could acquire into the TPE would have been a complete player, especially if you aren't giving up a pick to do it.  They'd all have flaws, that is why they'd be available for basically free.

Second, Robinson was clearly on the block.  The Heat have a ton of wings and his contract is long and decent sized.  He was constantly in trade rumors many of which the Heat were giving up a 1st in the process.  Now maybe Boston wouldn't have gotten a 1st, but a 2nd would have been possible and it certainly wouldn't have cost Boston anything of value.


If money was no object, as Wyc keeps saying, then  noy using the TPE was an epic fail.

I don't agree here.  We had a $17M TPE.  We could have found a complete player for that, easily.  But then again, define complete.  I'm not talking superstar, I'm talking a player that immediately improves the team.  Duncan does, Makkanen would have, Christian Wood, easily.  There were players that would have fit into that TPE that would ahve made us much better.

You clearly missed the highlighted portions.  I was big on the Wood train before he was traded to Dallas, but acquiring Wood would have cost real and legit draft capital, same with Markkanen

[Moranis]

I don't think MIA trades Robinson

I don't know about that.  If given the opportunity, would Miami chose to clear $74 million off its books for a player who isn't in their rotation, while obtaining a $17 million trade exception in the process?  I suspect so.  Would they give up some draft compensation to make that happen?  Again, I think yes.

But, for me, Duncan Robinson isn't a player I'd want, because of his salary commitment.  He's not easily flippable in a trade, which is why we're discussing the concept of him being shipped out with draft picks.  He has negative value.

But, there were several options that I think would have come pretty cheaply, for free, or with an asset.  The team made the reasonable decision not to spend $45 million in extra salary on a 10th or 11th man.  That's a fair decision, but it's not a decision that 1) maximizes our title chances or 2) is consistent with "money doesn't matter whatsoever".

I don't find it hard to believe Wyc here and I don't presume that all these great deals were on the table for them to pick from.  They didn't use the TPE because there wasn't a smart deal on the table seems more reasonable to me.  They didn't want to give up picks just to fill the TPE with a player that isn't that good.  And I understand that at some level, money is at least part of the issue but it doesn't mean that it was the issue with the Fournier TPE.

Don't these statements contradict each other, at least in terms of Wyc's "Money is not a consideration whatsoever" statement?

I actually would have no intention of moving Robinson unless his salary was needed for a much larger trade.  I think Robinson is perfectly fine as a player that could play pretty consistently for Boston.  And I get he didn't play as much in the playoffs, but Robinson started 68 games for the Heat last year and even in his more limited playoff minutes, he played pretty well.  I mean in the first game of the playoffs he played 23 minutes and was 8 of 9 from 3.  For some reason, his minutes went down after that and he barely played against he Sixers, but in the games when he had 20+ minutes in the playoffs, he actually shot pretty well and the team was better when he was on the floor.  Robinson is a guy that once he gets going, he just gets on fire.  Having that sort of player on your bench is incredibly useful.  And his down year, he still shot over 37% from 3.  He has a big contract, no doubt, but that is why he was available for basically nothing. 

As an actual player on the floor, I'd rather have him than Gallinari honestly.  Gallo is bigger obviously, but Robinson has been the better shooter on more attempts over the last few years.  Robinson is much younger and has been a lot healthier.  Now contractually obviously Gallo is much better, but if they had the same contract, I'd take Robinson over Gallinari at this point of their careers even with Robinson being unable to play as a "big".