Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge is trying to use Rasheed Wallace’s contract in trade talks, a move that would allow the Celtics to keep their midlevel exception, league sources said.
Wallace has yet to file retirement papers, so the $6.32 million owed him next season and $6.79 million in 2011-12 would come off a team’s books after Wallace is traded to them. They could do a deal and not take on his money. Ainge is trying to use the Wallace contract to bring back a power forward or center to replace Wallace and the injured Kendrick Perkins.
The Celtics could then use their midlevel exception for a different player. Several sources believe that Ainge’s target is Orlando’s J.J. Redick, who is a restricted free agent.
Boston has strong interest in Brad Miller in free agency and could try to acquire Dallas center Erick Dampier.
– Adrian Wojnarowski, June 30, 11:45 ET
This is under trade Buzz on yahoo.
Surprise! Adrian Wojnarowski is wrong again! First of all, 'Sheed's third year is a player option, which he would waive by announcing his retirement. Second, retired players contracts still count against the cap, even if they are not earning any money.
There is one way to get cap relief for a retired player, by him officially signing retirement papers. This would prevent the player from being allowed to play for 1 year. But, there is still a catch... it would only provide cap relief to the team that originally signed him.
Long story short... if we trade 'Sheed's "retiring" contract, the receiving team would effectively be receiving an expiring deal that they don't have to pay.
Still... it would be a very attractive deal for teams in financial trouble, or have cheap owners. It would not be ideal for teams that are in the luxury, because they would still have to pay the dollar-for-dollar tax on 'Sheed's contract, even if they are not paying him.
Make sense???