Grousbeck: We can offer a 'max contract' next year

[WedmanIsMyHero]

Jon has a good point -- what if this refers to Rondo?

[Roy Hobbs]

what if Paul and Ray are both willing to take less annual money in order to re-sign for more years?

in Paul's case, he could opt out (of $21M), take 5M in year one, and $13M in years 2 and 3 for a net gain of $11M which would be about the same he could get with a 2 year MLE offer after his contract is up

(please check my math)

It doesn't work that way.  Even if you're under the cap, you're limited to giving a 10.5% raise to your free agents within a contract (except in the very limited circumstances of a restricted free agent contract given to a second year player).  Thus, we couldn't give huge raises in the second year.

[JSD]

Is anyone else having crazy visions of Lebron James!?

[crownsy]

Listen to the Audio! He is indeed reffering to be under the cap enough to offer a Max deal!

which is impossible under the current cap rules unless we are renouncing paul pierce and then resigning him for a massive pay cut (like, near the minimum cut).

Wyc's talking out of his behind. He either means rondo or he doesn't know what he's talking about.

The only other option is the one roy descried where they renounce ray and paul's bird rights after paul opt's out and don't extend rondo anything more than the qualifying offer.

It won't happen, Wyc is misinformed or blowing smoke.

[JSD]

Jon has a good point -- what if this refers to Rondo?

Listen to the Audio entirely... He's not referring to Rondo!  

[Roy Hobbs]

Is anyone else having crazy visions of Lebron James!?

Nope, because I don't think this is a realistic possibility.

[WedmanIsMyHero]

Jon has a good point -- what if this refers to Rondo?

Listen to the Audio entirely... He's not referring to Rondo!  

Ok.  I stand corrected!

[JSD]

Listen to the Audio! He is indeed reffering to be under the cap enough to offer a Max deal!

which is impossible under the current cap rules unless we are renouncing paul pierce and then resigning him for a massive pay cut (like, near the minimum cut).

Wyc's talking out of his behind.

If they don't sign Rondo and Paul Opts out and signs a back loaded 3 or 4 year deal starting at say 14 or 15 million it is possible.

[crownsy]

Jon has a good point -- what if this refers to Rondo?

Listen to the Audio entirely... He's not referring to Rondo!  

then he has no idea how the salary cap works or is going to renounce 2/3 of the big 3 after somehow convincing one to take a utterly massive pay cut, and he still won't have enough after this magical max contract to resign paul, ray, and rondo for anything more than the MLE.

I think option one is far more likely than option 2.

[JSD]

Jon has a good point -- what if this refers to Rondo?

Listen to the Audio entirely... He's not referring to Rondo!  

Ok.  I stand corrected!

Haha ok... ok... hot stove talk gets me excited.

[crownsy]

Listen to the Audio! He is indeed reffering to be under the cap enough to offer a Max deal!

which is impossible under the current cap rules unless we are renouncing paul pierce and then resigning him for a massive pay cut (like, near the minimum cut).

Wyc's talking out of his behind.

If they don't sign Rondo and Paul Opts out and signs a back loaded 3 or 4 year deal starting at say 14 or 15 million it is possible.

not with a max contract offered its not, you'd have to renounce paul's bird rights to offer the max to someone, and thus we would only have the MLE or minimum contract available between ray, rondo, and paul after this hypothetical max offer.

The reason he wouldn't "expound on how" in the interview is because he doesn't know, IMO.

[Drucci]

Like I said on the blog's article :

I just hope that your speculation is wrong Jeff, because it would mean that Wyc is basically implying that they are going to make a trade which will make us worse next season but will allow us to sign a star in 2010... I don't like this idea at all but frankly I think we are overreacting and overanalysing.

And don't forget that Wyc is the owner of the team, not its general manager. Hopefully he's just talking about his wishes and it won't influence Danny in any way.

[crownsy]

Like I said on the blog's article :

I just hope that your speculation is wrong Jeff, because it would mean that Wyc is basically implying that they are going to make a trade which will make us worse next season but will allow us to sign a star in 2010... I don't like this idea at all but frankly I think we are overreacting and overanalysing.

And don't forget that Wyc is the owner of the team, not its general manager. Hopefully he's just talking about his wishes and it won't influence Danny in any way.

yea this is the only way I can see it being factual, that they have a deal in place that guts us for now but leaves us under cap in 2010.

It would have to involve shedding ray and rondo for sure, as well as either having a trade worked out to shed pauls salary or having him on board with opting out and taking the MLE as his salary for a year or two.

[KungPoweChicken]

I really hope this doesn't mean Wyc is trying to sell us on some bogus move. This guy has been talking way too much lately.

[JSD]

Listen to the Audio! He is indeed reffering to be under the cap enough to offer a Max deal!

which is impossible under the current cap rules unless we are renouncing paul pierce and then resigning him for a massive pay cut (like, near the minimum cut).

Wyc's talking out of his behind.

If they don't sign Rondo and Paul Opts out and signs a back loaded 3 or 4 year deal starting at say 14 or 15 million it is possible.

not with a max contract offered its not, you'd have to renounce paul's bird rights to offer the max to someone, and thus we would only have the MLE or minimum contract available between ray, rondo, and paul after this hypothetical max offer.

The reason he wouldn't "expound on how" in the interview is because he doesn't know, IMO.

According to Hoopshype the Celtics are on the books for:

$44,726,729 next offseason.

If Paul opts out of his contract at $21,513,521 the C's fall to

$23,213,208

Pierce resigns at $15, $16, $17 and $18 million with Bird rights now putting the Celtics at

$38,213,208

This gives the C's $18 million under the cap for summer of 2010.