Celtics should draft and stash Euro player for salary reasons

[Lucky17]

You make a good case, saltlover. Still, I don't think Ainge should draft with this concern in mind.

Worse comes to worse, maybe Ainge can get Sacramento to take Crawford and cash for one of their famous top-55 protected 2nd rounders.

[Galeto]

1.7 million is not going to be the difference.  If everyone returns, they'll going to have no money available except I think the mini-mid-level exception.  If Pierce or KG go, they'll have the mid-level exception.  If both Pierce and KG go, they'll have some cap room but not enough for the max even if they to pay their first round pick this season. 

If Ainge wants to stash a player next season like Giannis, so be it but it's not going to be for financial reasons.

It could be.  $1.7 mil is about the value of two vet min contracts (after league subsidy.)  It's near the difference between the big MLE and the little MLE, and a little bit less than the BAE.  If Miami and Boston are after the same player (Dalbembert maybe?) and we can offer him an extra million or so dollars, because we have enough room under the apron, would it not be worth it?

(Note: if everyone returns except for DJ White, the Celtics may have a little wiggle room to exceed the mini-MLE because the cap is very likely to increase, as it was held artificially low this year because of last year's shortened season.)

The reason why 1.7 million won't make any difference is because there is little flexibility with NBA contracts.  If you're under the cap, you don't have any exceptions, only the money under the cap.  If you over the cap, you can use the mid-level so long as you stay under a luxury tax barrier.  If you go beyond the luxury tax barrier, you can use the mini mid-level.  The Celtics aren't just going to have 1.7 million to throw at a free agent if they don't sign their first round pick.

Supposing they keep Pierce and T-Will, and ditch Shavlik and White, they're right around $74 million for next year with 12 players signed.  The apron level could go up anywhere from $3-6 million next year.  While Danny might not know the exact amount, I bet he's got a very good idea of the exact number.  If it's $3 million (or less), then you're right, that $1.7 million doesn't make a whiff of difference without some significant roster shakeup. But if it's $6 million?  Now that $1.7 million to the draft pick keeps us from offering the full MLE.  Even if it's $5 million, we could offer someone above the mini-MLE, even if it's not the full MLE, which will mean we can offer players more money than the Heat, Lakers, Nets, Knicks, and Bulls, which are a lot of the teams with whom we'd compete for free agents.  $1.7 million isn't a lot in some respects with regards to NBA contracts, but if we're going to be pushing against the wall of the hard cap, it could definitely matter.

The Celtics need to rebuild really soon, maybe as soon as next season, so any draft pick should be made on talent, no financial implications in whether they'll be able to sign a veteran role player or not.  If Ainge feels a player who might be stashed is the BPA, he should take him but only because he's the most talented player available, not because it's going to allow him to sign a veteran who will certainly not take the Celtics over the top. 

[BASS_THUMPER]

if we could get another Dino Radja
great!!

[Lucky17]

According to Chad Ford, Dario Saric will not stay in the draft unless he's taken in the lottery:

Shane (Detroit)
Who do you think will get the first promise?

Chad Ford
Dario Saric. He's not staying in the draft if he's not a lottery pick. So if he stays, someone promised him in the lottery.

So, if Ainge wants him, he'll likely need to move up. Is the next-best Euro prospect worth taking at #16?

[clover]

I'm not even sure they should be managing next year's cap for wins, depending on what Danny pulls off.

If KG and PP are gone and he's got young players and/or picks in return, maybe having a new young nucleus getting experience together while losing in advance of the '14 draft would be the right play.

[Evantime34]

According to Chad Ford, Dario Saric will not stay in the draft unless he's taken in the lottery:

Shane (Detroit)
Who do you think will get the first promise?

Chad Ford
Dario Saric. He's not staying in the draft if he's not a lottery pick. So if he stays, someone promised him in the lottery.

So, if Ainge wants him, he'll likely need to move up. Is the next-best Euro prospect worth taking at #16?

How long do Euro players have to withdraw? I thought the deadline had already passed for Americans

[Lucky17]

According to Chad Ford, Dario Saric will not stay in the draft unless he's taken in the lottery:

Shane (Detroit)
Who do you think will get the first promise?

Chad Ford
Dario Saric. He's not staying in the draft if he's not a lottery pick. So if he stays, someone promised him in the lottery.

So, if Ainge wants him, he'll likely need to move up. Is the next-best Euro prospect worth taking at #16?

How long do Euro players have to withdraw? I thought the deadline had already passed for Americans

June 17.