Salary implications this year and next.

[nickagneta]

Well with the roster all but completed except for one position and knowing that that one position isn't going to be anything more than a one year player's minimum contract, we now know what the salary outlay looks like for this year.

Player                           2009/2010             2010/2011             2011/2012           2012/2013                  2013/2014               2014/2015
Paul Pierce               $19,795,712           $21,513,521                  N/A                       N/A                               N/A                               N/A
Ray Allen                   $18,776,860                   N/A                           N/A                       N/A                               N/A                               N/A
Kevin Garnett            $16,417,044           $18,832,044        $21,247,044                N/A                               N/A                               N/A
Rasheed Wallace   $5,854,000              $6,322,320          $6,790,640                  N/A                                N/A                               N/A
Kendrick Perkins     $4,750,000             $4,890,208                    N/A                        N/A                              N/A                                 N/A
Brian Scalabrine      $3,413,793                    N/A                           N/A                         N/A                              N/A                               N/A
Eddie House            $2,862,000                     N/A                          N/A                         N/A                              N/A                               N/A
Tony Allen                 $2,500,000                     N/A                           N/A                       N/A                               N/A                               N/A
Rajon Rondo           $2,094,922              $3,018,783                   N/A                         N/A                              N/A                                N/A
J.R. Giddens           $1,028,880              $1,100,640             $1,986,655           $2,979,983                      N/A                               N/A
Glen Davis               $2,800,000              $3,000,000                    N/A                        N/A                              N/A                               N/A
Bill Walker                $736,420                  $854,389                $916,100                  N/A                               N/A                                N/A
Marquis Daniels     $1,990,000              $1,990,000                    N/A                         N/A                             N/A                               N/A
Shelden Williams  $1,306,000                       N/A                           N/A                         N/A                             N/A                                N/A
Vet Minimum           $1,000,000                      N/A                           N/A                       N/A                              N/A                                N/A   

Total Salaries      $84,325,134              $55,503,122          $30,940,439                 $0                                 $0                                $0
Total w/o options $84,325,134             $30,898,961          $22,163,144                 $0                                 $0                                 $0


Note: All figures above are based on the shamsports.com reported salary figures, the assumption that Glen Davis will sign a 2 year/$5.8 million contract separated into years of $2.8 million and $3 million, the assumption that Marquis Daniels will sign a 2 year full LLE contract, the assumption that the Celtics will sign another vet minimum contract at approximately $1 million per year and the knowledge that Sheldon Williams was reported as signing a 1 year/$1.306 million contract already.

http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/celtics.jsp

So the Celtics this year will be pretty set with a salary hovering somewhere over $83 million for sure and possibly somewhat higher dependent on all the contract details and possible future signing of another player. You're talking a $13-15 million luxury tax commitment to winning now, which I think, every Celticsblog member should drop a line to Wyc Grousbek and the ownership group thanking them for. We could have Jeremy Jacobs as a franchise owner after all.

It also call into focus that there's still a whopping amount of expiring contracts on this roster and that wiping out every one of those contracts for next year, we will still be over the cap and in desperate need of signing players with very little to do it with.

We will need to resign Ray, extend Rondo, extend Perk, and still find a way to sign 5-6 other guys who will ad depth to this team. It is still possible that next year we might have to actually replace even more than that if no trade is accomplished during the season. Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Sheldon Williams, J R Giddens, Bill Walker, and another player who might sign on as a vet min FA this year, could all be gone and need replacing.

I think it calls into question just how much this franchise might be banking on having to have a championship this season because, the financial reality is that this could be the last great assembled Celtic title contender of this era strictly because of the realities of the salary cap and salary structure of this team.

[Rondo2287]

Definitly something that gets you thinking, TP on the great post that obviously took alot of work

[Roy Hobbs]

A small correction, nick:  the amount of salary we'll be paying Shelden Williams is $825,497, which is the amount the team has to pay any player signed to the minimum who has two or more years experience.

The $1,306,455 salary is the amount veterans with 10+ years of experience are paid, but even then, the team only pays the first $825,497; the league picks up the rest.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Danny has done a good job of maintaining roster flexibility.  It wouldn't shock me to see the team try to extend Ray Allen for one year, as I think the team is really going to "go for it" for two, and maybe three, more years.  After that, the Celts will be positioned to be players in free agency.  If Kevin Durant decides he wants to be the face of an elite franchise, we'll be able to make that happen.

[nickagneta]

A small correction, nick:  the amount of salary we'll be paying Shelden Williams is $825,497, which is the amount the team has to pay any player signed to the minimum who has two or more years experience.

The $1,306,455 salary is the amount veterans with 10+ years of experience are paid, but even then, the team only pays the first $825,497; the league picks up the rest.

Double correction....if the Celtics sign another vet minimum contract typoe player the same salary implications apply as to that which Roy just discussed about Sheldon Williams.

Thanks ROy and TP for the continued excellent capology.

[Roy Hobbs]

A small correction, nick:  the amount of salary we'll be paying Shelden Williams is $825,497, which is the amount the team has to pay any player signed to the minimum who has two or more years experience.

The $1,306,455 salary is the amount veterans with 10+ years of experience are paid, but even then, the team only pays the first $825,497; the league picks up the rest.

Double correction....if the Celtics sign another vet minimum contract typoe player the same salary implications apply as to that which Roy just discussed about Sheldon Williams.

Thanks ROy and TP for the continued excellent capology.

Thanks, nick.  TP for putting the numbers together; these posts don't write themselves, so thanks for the interesting discussion.

[Cman]

Nick, TP for a well done post.

You are absolutely right that we all need to doff our hats to the owners -- they have really committed financially this year (Wyc&Co: "Thanks!")

Second, next offseason is going to be interesting.  It is not quite as dire as you make out because the Cs will have the MLE to work with to sign bench players, if current bench players like House are not resigned.  But if Ray is resigned, then the core of the team will be back: starting 5 plus Sheed, BBD, Daniels.  The only thing the Cs will need to do is find a replacement for House (or resign House).

Assuming Ray and Rondo are both signed for around $10M/yr, that puts the Cs at about $72M.  Assuming another $2.5M for House or a replacement (using a portion of the MLE) and the Cs will have about $75M in salary, which seems reasonable (cheaper than this year, at least).

[Rondo2287]

Do you all think that the ammount of money that Ray demands going decreasing and the ammount of money Rondo demands increasing will balance eachother out?

[JSD]

I think it calls into question just how much this franchise might be banking on having to have a championship this season because, the financial reality is that this could be the last great assembled Celtic title contender of this era strictly because of the realities of the salary cap and salary structure of this team.

Why is that? This ownership group had shown a commitment to winning and spending to do so.

Also, the Celtics should have some flexibility going forward:

- Ray Allen and Rondo could both be inked for less than what they're  combined to make now. In other words, instead of (18.5 and 3 per = 21 million) it could be (8 + 9 = 17 per.) saving 4 mill.

- Piece could opt out of his (21 per) for long term security (60-65 over 4 years.) saving 6 - 7 mill.

These savings will allow Perk his (10-12 mill per). with little effect on overall salary.

[nickagneta]

I think Danny has done a good job of maintaining roster flexibility.  It wouldn't shock me to see the team try to extend Ray Allen for one year, as I think the team is really going to "go for it" for two, and maybe three, more years.  After that, the Celts will be positioned to be players in free agency.  If Kevin Durant decides he wants to be the face of an elite franchise, we'll be able to make that happen.

I agree. I think with all the hoopla made about the 2010 free agent market that not enough is made about the 2012 free agent market that could see a fully mature Kevin Durant, a just coming into his own Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green , Joakim Noah, Wilson Chandler, Al Thornton, Carmelo Anthony, Nene, David West, Tim Duncan, and a host of RFA like Rose, Mayo, Love, Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, Michael Beasley, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Marresse Speights and Russell Westbrook all hitting the market with the Celtics having a ton of cap room and hopefully an expanding salary cap due to an economic turnaround.(Let's keep the fingers crossed).

[JSD]

I think Danny has done a good job of maintaining roster flexibility.  It wouldn't shock me to see the team try to extend Ray Allen for one year, as I think the team is really going to "go for it" for two, and maybe three, more years.  After that, the Celts will be positioned to be players in free agency.  If Kevin Durant decides he wants to be the face of an elite franchise, we'll be able to make that happen.

I agree. I think with all the hoopla made about the 2010 free agent market that not enough is made about the 2012 free agent market that could see a fully mature Kevin Durant, a just coming into his own Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green , Joakim Noah, Wilson Chandler, Al Thornton, Carmelo Anthony, Nene, David West, Tim Duncan, and a host of RFA like Rose, Mayo, Love, Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, Michael Beasley, Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Marresse Speights and Russell Westbrook all hitting the market with the Celtics having a ton of cap room and hopefully an expanding salary cap due to an economic turnaround.(Let's keep the fingers crossed).

You can add KG and Sheed to that list too.

[Chris]

Great job Nick, that definitely helps put everything into perspective, by seeing it layed out like that.

Personally, I think next year Danny will go 1 of 2 ways.  

A. He will resign a bunch of guys (Ray and Rondo at the top of the list, and then some combination of House, Scal and Williams...who is least likely to be resigned, due to the fact they won't have Bird or early Bird rights on him), and then use the MLE to try to lure another rotation player or two to make one more run with the Garnett/Pierce/Allen/Rondo/Wallace/Perk group.  I think this is the most likely scenario...especially if they are successful this year.

B. He really blows it up.  I think he will hold on to Pierce and Garnett, mainly due to the fact that they both have more value to the team than they do as trade assets at this point in their careers.  But he could use a combination of Rondo, a resigned Allen, BBD, and Perk (yes, I think there is a good chance they will be looking to move Perk next summer...or maybe even during this season...due to the fact that he will be looking at a big payday after next season, which will likely bring him from one of the best bargains in the league, to just another overpaid big guy with injury concerns) to try to rework the roster.  While I think this is less likely than route A, I could definitely envision it happening.  And if the C's get hit hard enough with injuries...or just don't gel this season, you could even see this happening at the trade deadline, since they would get much more value for a package of Allen (expiring), Rondo (not yet BYC), and Perk (getting him for the extra playoff run), than if they waited until the offseason.

Personally, I don't think there is much of a chance that there will be anything in the middle.  I don't think they are going to simply let Ray walk without blowing things up a bit.

[nickagneta]

I think it calls into question just how much this franchise might be banking on having to have a championship this season because, the financial reality is that this could be the last great assembled Celtic title contender of this era strictly because of the realities of the salary cap and salary structure of this team.

Why is that? This ownership group had shown a commitment to winning and spending to do so.

Also, the Celtics should have some flexibility going forward:

- Ray Allen and Rondo could both be inked for less than what they're  combined to make now. In other words, instead of (18.5 and 3 per = 21 million) it could be (8 + 9 = 17 per.) saving 4 mill.

- Piece could opt out of his (21 per) for long term security (60-65 over 4 years.) saving 6 - 7 mill.

These savings will allow Perk his (10-12 mill per). with little effect on overall salary.

The reason I say that is because with the age of much of the core and having already seen the injury bug derail a season that cost this ownership group millions without the return of the title. It is reasonable to think that a title could mean a plug pull on the cash(not completely unreasonable thought). It is reasonable to think that a major injury could cause the team to blow things up to restructure(maybe not as far fetched as some think). It could be we can't resign or won't resign Ray which puts a gigantic hole in the middle of the lineup with only a full MLE to fill it leaving little else to fill all the other positions that could be needed to be filled(a likely scenario). Also, Pierce could be very modern NBA player like and decided not to opt out to help the team and expect a huge contract extension as well feeling he is the heart of the team and deserves his props in the only way modern athletes know how to get their props, through money(a very likely scenario).

[JSD]

The reason I say that is because with the age of much of the core and having already seen the injury bug derail a season that cost this ownership group millions without the return of the title.

It cost them millions in terms of LT but I'm sure they still had a positive on their bottom line. That said, I'm thanking my lucky stars for this ownership group.

It is reasonable to think that a title could mean a plug pull on the cash(not completely unreasonable thought).

Hmm... Wouldn't it be more likely that not winning a title with this group = pulled plug?

It is reasonable to think that a major injury to KG could cause the team to blow things up to restructure(maybe not as far fetched as some think).

I fixed it.

It could be we can't resign or won't resign Ray which puts a gigantic hole in the middle of the lineup with only a full MLE to fill it leaving little else to fill all the other positions that could be needed to be filled(a likely scenario).

I think the Celtics could get Ray Allen for a bargain next season. Where else could he go for over the MLE?

Also, Pierce could be very modern NBA player like and decided not to opt out to help the team and expect a huge contract extension as well feeling he is the heart of the team and deserves his props in the only way modern athletes know how to get their props, through money(a very likely scenario).

This scenario = thanks for the memories Paul.

[nickagneta]

The reason I say that is because with the age of much of the core and having already seen the injury bug derail a season that cost this ownership group millions without the return of the title.

It cost them millions in terms of LT but I'm sure they still had a positive on their bottom line. That said, I'm thanking my lucky stars for this ownership group.

It is reasonable to think that a title could mean a plug pull on the cash(not completely unreasonable thought).

Hmm... Wouldn't it be more likely that not winning a title with this group = pulled plug?

It is reasonable to think that a major injury to KG could cause the team to blow things up to restructure(maybe not as far fetched as some think).

I fixed it.

It could be we can't resign or won't resign Ray which puts a gigantic hole in the middle of the lineup with only a full MLE to fill it leaving little else to fill all the other positions that could be needed to be filled(a likely scenario).

I think the Celtics could get Ray Allen for a bargain next season. Where else could he go for over the MLE?

Also, Pierce could be very modern NBA player like and decided not to opt out to help the team and expect a huge contract extension as well feeling he is the heart of the team and deserves his props in the only way modern athletes know how to get their props, through money(a very likely scenario).

This scenario = thanks for the memories Paul.

A career ending injury to Paul or Rondo could have a similar effect as a serious injury to KG.

Also, if they win this year and the ownership group figures they got 2 titles in 3 years with this group while throwing millions into it for not a lot of profit, they could think it's time to ride the wave of the championships, keep payroll down, jerk up the ticket prices and ride a wave of extreme profitability for a while. They are businessmen first and foremost.

Stern did say that over half the teams in the league did not make a profit last year.