People are flipping out about the cost of Greens contract. I have to ask: WHY? Would he be any better of a player if he was making $7M a year?
The main reason NBA analysts were criticizing the deal was the fact that Green was coming off of a major, major injury. And they were criticizing the years more than the $$. All of us should remember that before Green went down last year, he was making the exact same amount he is this year.
I am sure Green's agent argued that point during the salary negotiations.
Let's also remember that Green was locked up for the LONG HAUL. Paul Pierce will not be starting for us forever. In fact, he could be done after this year. Who is our starting SF if that happens? Jeff Green.
But the biggest issue I want to counter - getting back to the contract and the $$ - is that the Green signing has done something to prevent Danny from assembling the roster he wanted to build for this year. Everyone going into this season thought we were at least a deeper team than last year, probably a better team too. Isn't that the goal year-in, year-out? Get as much talent as possible on your roster, and go from there? No one on this board would argue that Green isn't talented. He is still only 25 years old. Just getting him on your roster is a bonus, and if you have to pay $1-2M more to do that, then that's what you do in professional sports.
I will only accept criticisms of the contract when and if it prevents the Celtics from acquiring a much-needed player down the road. And NO I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT REGGIE EVANS. I am talking about an NBA All-Star caliber player. I will not complain if the extra $1-2M per year that people on this board seem to think he is not worth winds up costing us another Darko, Sasha, Collins, Marquise Daniels, Troy Murphy, Name Your End of the Bench Guy. I will not complain even if it costs us a Pietrus or Barbosa. Those guys do NOT win you championships. Your top 7 players do. And like it or not, Green would be in the top 7 on almost every NBA roster. Most of those guys make good $$$. That's just the way it is.