How Should the Celtics Use the MLE, If At All?

[LooseCannon]

With the Nets trade, the Celtics should be far enough under the apron to have the full MLE at their disposal.  So how should it be put to use?  Assuming that the Celtics are embracing a rebuilding phase and aren't going to make a miraculous transaction to transform the team into an immediate contender, there are several options.

One idea is to simply not use it at all.  I'm not sure how the cap situation will work out, but it could be that using the MLE will push the Celtics into the luxury tax, or close to it, and it might make more sense for the team to forgo it and avoid being charged the repeater luxury tax in the future.

Another idea is to bring in veteran help who can stabilize the roster and provide a good influence on young players.  One idea would be to bring in a veteran big man to eat up minutes at center and provide a steady defensive presence so that young players aren't learning how to play in a completely chaotic environment.  Splitting the MLE on a center and a point guard who can start if Rondo isn't ready at the beginning of the season makes some sense.

The Celtics could bring in a young player and pay him based on unrealized potential rather than actual performance.  Overpay a player for one year.  Add a team option or unguaranteed future years. 

The Celtics could use it on a foreign player.  The team is reportedly interested in 6'9" Italian small forward Luigi "Gigi" Datome.  If not him, perhaps there is another Euro available.

Which of these options do you like best?  What other options are available?

[PhoSita]

Doesn't make sense to use it at all right now.  We'd be better off filling whatever roster needs we have by picking up D-league guys are younger guys who maybe still have some potential that haven't made it yet.  Veteran minimum guys, in other words.

[BleedGreen1989]

It's tough to tell what the roster will look like as Danny has already stated its too bloated. As of now, I see no reason to use it.

[LooseCannon]

One other idea I came up with is signing a useful veteran on a contract somewhat more than the minimum (not the full MLE) with the intention of flipping him to a playoff team in need of depth for a second-round pick at the deadline.  That could coincide with getting a center so you aren't playing Bass at the five for 20 minutes per game, but who you can give a DNP to if some young players rise to the occasion.

[saltlover]

Don't think they should (or will) use it.

That said, if they like someone who's otherwise a minimum salary player, and/or someone from Europe, I would be okay with using a portion of it on such a player. 

Say, for instance, Danny was comfortable enough to offer Oden a deal  (Hypothetically people, I don't want to start a debate about Oden!) He's looking at getting the minimum, which is around $1 mil for someone with his experience.  If Danny gave him $1.25 mil to get him to come here instead of say, Miami, I'd be down with that (again, assuming that he has reason to believe Oden can still walk.)  Or say Gigi Datome was looking at a minimum salary offer from Memphis.  If an extra $100-$200k in that first year gets him to come to Boston, that seems like a good use of the MLE.  But he shouldn't splurge on a single player to add to this roster.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

Doesn't make sense to use it at all right now.  We'd be better off filling whatever roster needs we have by picking up D-league guys are younger guys who maybe still have some potential that haven't made it yet.  Veteran minimum guys, in other words.

Exactly.
If their was ever a good time to be a young inexperienced player with potential it's right now...right exactly now. From next year that hopefully isn't the case. But this is why I think Colton and Olynyk get the unusual opportunity to get real time with a large market franchise with a solid fan base that suddenly had the curtains drawn on an era. Folks are not expecting much so...make em' notice ya...got a million fans on the rebound looking for a new love.

Just give a reason..

[Fafnir]

Nothing wrong with bringing in someone on a one year deal with it or a piece of it.

Just depends what if anything else Danny is going to do this offseason.

[Who]

Idea I like best right now is to split it between Will Bynum and Kwame Brown.

[jarufu]

Danny likes to squeeze every ounce out of trades and the CBA.  For him to have the MLE available to him, I'd say, means a lot. 

As LC said above, he could use it on a player to flip elsewhere - to make the deal more attractive or to match salaries.

[manl_lui]

if we meet the salary cap requirements, I say we should not use them...no point in signing FA that will help this team "win" if we are tanking.

Unless it is what you guys say, using the MLE to his advantage to flip that and other players for a bigger package

[KGs Knee]

In situations like these, i'm a big proponent on giving a player a one year deal @ a vastly higher salary than they would otherwise receive.  Never know when that xtra salary could help facilitate a trade for a more expensive player.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Idea I like best right now is to split it between Will Bynum and Kwame Brown.

Please, no Brown... not even for free. He's one of the players I most hate in the NBA, one of the lowest IQ players around.

I don't see the benefit of splitting the MLE when you have a roster that needs to be consolidated, so you're better off using the MLE on one sole player that you may feel is worth it.

Also, don't forget we still have the bi-annual if not mistaken, and splitting the MLE should be around that mark, so no real necessity if it got to that.

[Who]

Idea I like best right now is to split it between Will Bynum and Kwame Brown.

Please, no Brown... not even for free. He's one of the players I most hate in the NBA, one of the lowest IQ players around.

I don't see the benefit of splitting the MLE when you have a roster that needs to be consolidated, so you're better off using the MLE on one sole player that you may feel is worth it.

Also, don't forget we still have the bi-annual if not mistaken, and splitting the MLE should be around that mark, so no real necessity if it got to that.

I haven't really seen anyone that is worth the full MLE.

Right now, I think Will Bynum on something like $3mil per annum contract is my top target.

The options at center are very limited. Other options would be Chris Kaman, Timofey Mozgov (who Denver will likely keep with Koufos traded), Sammy Dalembert, Nazr Mohammed, Hasheem Thabeet (non-guaranteed contract with OKC) Ronny Turiaf, Greg Stiemsma. Kwame looked the best of the cheap ($1-2mil) options to me.

[fairweatherfan]

I wouldn't mind getting Udrih at a portion of the MLE. 

A PG of some kind needs to be a priority.

[LooseCannon]

Idea I like best right now is to split it between Will Bynum and Kwame Brown.

Please, no Brown... not even for free. He's one of the players I most hate in the NBA, one of the lowest IQ players around.

Feel safe.  Kwame exercised his option to remain a 76er.