Bobby Manning: Sources: #Celtics waived Ron Harper Jr., Jay Scrubb and Hason Ward today. All three likely Maine bound. Lonnie Walker IV remains on the roster for now. Deadline to make a decision on him is 5PM on Saturday. via Twitter RealBobManning
Hmm?Brad is probably trying to cook up a deal that would allow us to keep Lonnie and the 15th slot open. I think Springer is the guy to be dealt if ever. If no deal is made then Lonnie probably goes to Maine where any team can pick him up? Interesting next few hours ahead.
It's logical why we'd want to dump Springer. I just can't imagine anybody will take him for a cost that we find reasonable.
This is a situation where the 2nd apron restriction on trading cash really hurts us. In years past, it would have been easy to find someone willing to absorb his contract in exchange for us giving enough cash to cover his salary
Yeah, he?s gonna cost draft capital to dump.
If he is waived and the Celtics stretch and eat his salary, is that still subject to luxury tax?
Yes, we'd pay tax on the amount we pay him this year.
Also, it?s too late to stretch his salary. I believe that deadline is Sep 1.
That said, Springer is not an albatross, and the Celtics don?t have to move him, or anyone, to keep Walker next week and avoid the luxury tax. They only have to dump someone by the deadline to reap the cap savings. It is really February?s problem if they like Walker, not today?s.
Yeah, I wasn?t advocating that course of action. Just curious.
I don?t see the drama over having Springer on the roster and think the cost of Walker is overblown by fans. Springer is really the only non-core tradeable player on the roster that could possibly result in an upgrade, however unlikely that may be. The door is not closed on him being useful. Walker, while expensive when tax is involved, provides a really good depth piece. As a fan, it?s not my money, and the organization is already all in, why would they shy away now.
These being trade deadline problems, I think if the team needs to duck some luxury tax expenses, they?ll find a way to cut out some dead weight after half a year of evaluations.