Shelden and Baby cheap contracts = C's looking at a big 2010 FA?

[Global Celtic]

According to HoopsHype, Shelden Williams' contract is worth $825.000 and not the 1.3mil vet minimum. Even Baby will get a 2-3mil/year deal, and Marquis Daniels won't be that expensive also.
Danny will probably end up signing Lester Hudson (I hope he does), but a #58 pick is extra-cheap, so... This means we're probably heading for a big FA name in 2010!

Roy Hobbs can correct me if I'm wrong, but our cap situation for next summer is looking good.   
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm

Danny is making all the right moves to keep us in a position to win AND looking for next year's FA market. Wyc Grousbeck even said a few months ago that there's "a way" we could land a big FA name, probably refering to Paul's final year option (I can see Pierce limiting his salary to bring, say, Dwyane Wade).

[hpantazo]

According to HoopsHype, Shelden Williams' contract is worth $825.000 and not the 1.3mil vet minimum. Even Baby will get a 2-3mil/year deal, and Marquis Daniels won't be that expensive also.
Danny will probably end up signing Lester Hudson (I hope he does), but a #58 pick is extra-cheap, so... This means we're probably heading for a big FA name in 2010!

Roy Hobbs can correct me if I'm wrong, but our cap situation for next summer is looking good.   
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm

Danny is making all the right moves to keep us in a position to win AND looking for next year's FA market. Wyc Grousbeck even said a few months ago that there's "a way" we could land a big FA name, probably refering to Paul's final year option (I can see Pierce limiting his salary to bring, say, Dwyane Wade).

I'm not an expert, but how can he get less than the vet minimum? I mean, it is called "the minimum".

[Fan from VT]

I can step in:

No way.

1. Paul is not opting out.

2. We'd better hope that Rondo doesn't take the QO listed...that means he'd be an unrestricted free agent after. Not keeping him?

3. Rasheed Wallace will account for about 5.5 million (he signed a 2 year MLE deal)

4. Cap is going backwards.

[JBcat]

I can step in:

No way.

1. Paul is not opting out.

2. We'd better hope that Rondo doesn't take the QO listed...that means he'd be an unrestricted free agent after. Not keeping him?

3. Rasheed Wallace will account for about 5.5 million (he signed a 2 year MLE deal)

4. Cap is going backwards.

Yeah it's very unrealistic.   I can't see Paul picking up his player option of 21 mil.  Plus it seems half the teams in the league will have at least the cap space we have.

The only chance I see getting one of the big names is to get them via trade by the trade deadline and I think the talks would have to start with Ray's expiring deal and the first young player on our team every team would want is Rondo.  Then we would likely have to add some other small pieces.   If you are talking someone like Wade I think that is where the conversation will start. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

We're not landing any big name via free-agency. We'll either get someone through the use of the MLE or via a sign and trade. We won't be under the cap. So please, take that idea out of your mind it's not happening, especially when you have to sign Rajon Rondo and you include all the cap holds. Please, don't even contemplate having cap room next year to land anyone other than via sign and trade or for the MLE.

[meesho33]

First of all, DA is absolutely keeping us in a position to be flexible salary-wise right now. We have $30M in expiring/team option contracts this season. And that's a great thing.

If we are healthy and competing for a title, we will keep what we have and still have  a boatload of expiring money. Enough to extend Rondo and be active in FA. Maybe not for the top-tier, but still able to get an impact player.

If things start to go sideways on us with injuries/age, we have the assets to blow things up with a trade. And we've seen that DA is capable of that.

And I will tell you what - I would LOVE to be able to pitch D Wade on the idea of coming to Boston after this season to play in a backcourt with Rondo, along with KG and Paul for the next 2-3 years. LOVE to.

They would pay tax for that team. No doubt about it.

[Rida]

I can step in:

No way.

1. Paul is not opting out.

2. We'd better hope that Rondo doesn't take the QO listed...that means he'd be an unrestricted free agent after. Not keeping him?

3. Rasheed Wallace will account for about 5.5 million (he signed a 2 year MLE deal)

4. Cap is going backwards.

I can see a situation where paul opts out to get a guarenteed 13 million for 3 years. Like wise I think Ray could resign for slightly less too

[Spilling Green Dye]

The Celtics will not have a big FA summer in 2010 either way, but especially not by the method you speak of.

However, there is a viable way for the Celtics to secure a major star who would otherwise be a FA in the summer of 2010.  Both Danny and Wyc have touched on this, unsollicited, and it is by a mid-season trade.  Even Danny alluded rather bluntly to the possibility of a mid-season trade involving Ray Allen.  With his contract combined with other player talent and draft picks, the Celtics CAN get a major 2010 Free Agent.  The odds aren't great, but it is possible.

[oldmanspeaks]

1.3M is not the minimum salary for all vets. Only those for 10+ years experience. It scales up for 1-10 years. Sheldon got the minimum for his number of years.

[meesho33]

The Celtics will not have a big FA summer in 2010 either way, but especially not by the method you speak of.

However, there is a viable way for the Celtics to secure a major star who would otherwise be a FA in the summer of 2010.  Both Danny and Wyc have touched on this, unsollicited, and it is by a mid-season trade.  Even Danny alluded rather bluntly to the possibility of a mid-season trade involving Ray Allen.  With his contract combined with other player talent and draft picks, the Celtics CAN get a major 2010 Free Agent.  The odds aren't great, but it is possible.

So if they can make a big mid-season trade for a big time FA, why couldnt they make a play for a big FA after the season?

[BudweiserCeltic]

The Celtics will not have a big FA summer in 2010 either way, but especially not by the method you speak of.

However, there is a viable way for the Celtics to secure a major star who would otherwise be a FA in the summer of 2010.  Both Danny and Wyc have touched on this, unsollicited, and it is by a mid-season trade.  Even Danny alluded rather bluntly to the possibility of a mid-season trade involving Ray Allen.  With his contract combined with other player talent and draft picks, the Celtics CAN get a major 2010 Free Agent.  The odds aren't great, but it is possible.

So if they can make a big mid-season trade for a big time FA, why couldnt they make a play for a big FA after the season?

Motivations are different. A midseason trade provides cap relief, and probably other assets (like draft picks).

A trade during the offseason adds salary to a team, plus it decreases Ray Allens value, as he'll probably need to be involved in any sign and trade situation, or Rondo... and they would have to agree to go to the team they're being traded to. Assuming the other team would be interested in them.

[Neurotic Guy]

What Danny's done is put the team in a situation where there is flexibility.  Plans B and C are available if Plan A doesn't work.  If Plan A doesn't work-- contend for a championship with the Big 3 and a close semblance of the cast currently in play -- he has the flexibility to shift gears in a few different directions. One direction (probably Plan C) would be to clear cap space and enter the FA market but I am afraid that would mean some drastic maneuvering.  There just doesn't seem to be a realistic scenario for the team to have its cake and eat it too -- i.e. cotend for a championship with the current team AND get into the 2010 FA market for one of the major players.  However, if things don't go as planned, Danny has put the team in a position for feasible scenarios to emerge for big changes that could get the team back in contention quickly. 

[tenn_smoothie]

we need total focus on winning another banner this season - that is everything right now !!

no celtic championship group has hung just one flag - this group reminds me somewhat of the cowens 70's team and i'd love to see them match those two titles.

also - i'd really like to see these rondo trade ideas put to rest - he is a unique player who is only going to get better and more mature. there is not another player in the league quite like rajon rondo - i'd like to keep him around for a couple of multi-championship runs .......... and then hang #9 in the rafters some day.

[guava_wrench]

They signed them cheap because that was the market for those players. That's good business.

But we are still well over the cap.

[meesho33]

The Celtics will not have a big FA summer in 2010 either way, but especially not by the method you speak of.

However, there is a viable way for the Celtics to secure a major star who would otherwise be a FA in the summer of 2010.  Both Danny and Wyc have touched on this, unsollicited, and it is by a mid-season trade.  Even Danny alluded rather bluntly to the possibility of a mid-season trade involving Ray Allen.  With his contract combined with other player talent and draft picks, the Celtics CAN get a major 2010 Free Agent.  The odds aren't great, but it is possible.

So if they can make a big mid-season trade for a big time FA, why couldnt they make a play for a big FA after the season?

Motivations are different. A midseason trade provides cap relief, and probably other assets (like draft picks).

A trade during the offseason adds salary to a team, plus it decreases Ray Allens value, as he'll probably need to be involved in any sign and trade situation, or Rondo... and they would have to agree to go to the team they're being traded to. Assuming the other team would be interested in them.

For trades, sure. I get that. I am asking, with a lot of money able to come off the books at the end of the year, why couldn't the C's be a FA player?

I think this ownership would pay significant tax for a few years if they could make this team competitive for the long-term.