Celts paid Memphis 1.66 mil to take Fab

[green147]

Either Memphis really doesn't believe in Fab Melo or they got a steal.

Eric Pincus ‏@EricPincus 10h

Also, Boston Celtics sent $1.66 mil to the Memphis Grizzlies in deal - about $350k more than Fab Melo's salary

They paid that much for a salary dump? I don't think Memphis has long-term plans for him if this is true.

[indeedproceed]

Memphis just sent out Darrell Arthur to get back Kosta Koufos, I don't think they're heavily invested in their 3rd center, when they're already 18 million deep in their first 2 centers

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Maybe its based on what he would be due next season, or does the CBA not work like that?

[PhoSita]

Yep.  It truly was a complete dump of Melo.  Still a head scratcher to me.

[rickyfan3.0...]

If they are going to be bad, why not get under the salary tax? I don't mind it... Hate that pick though.

[BballTim]

Yep.  It truly was a complete dump of Melo.  Still a head scratcher to me.

  I don't know their exact salary specifics this year, but getting under the luxury threshold this year will mean a pretty big savings going forward.

[Eja117]

So now Fab officially ranks as one of the single worst draft picks in Celts history. Worse than Acie Earl and a lot worse than Montross.  Worse than JR Giddens. Probably not worse than Joe Forte. 

[saltlover]

Eh, the Celtics will still come in about $5 million richer this year, despite paying Memphis more than they were going to pay Fab.  General bummer, but that's what happens when you pick really tall people in the late first round.  If they were tall and good, they wouldn't be available.  You hope you get one who can learn.  Fab is as bad at learning as he was reputed to be.

[Roy H.]

So, who was the worst draft pick of the Ainge era?  Banks, Giddens, Johnson, or Melo?

Melo probably ranks last, just because there doesn't appear to have been any overwhelming talent taken behind him.  Still, eating not only his full salary but another $350k is a tough pill to swallow.

[Fafnir]

Yep.  It truly was a complete dump of Melo.  Still a head scratcher to me.

  I don't know their exact salary specifics this year, but getting under the luxury threshold this year will mean a pretty big savings going forward.

Getting a piece of BKN's luxury payment has to be a nice chunk of change.

[kozlodoev]

So, who was the worst draft pick of the Ainge era?  Banks, Giddens, Johnson, or Melo?

Melo probably ranks last, just because there doesn't appear to have been any overwhelming talent taken behind him.  Still, eating not only his full salary but another $350k is a tough pill to swallow.

From that lot, clearly Banks. He was picked in the lottery and ended up being pretty much nothing.

Although I'd rank the pick that we didn't make (trading out of the 2006 draft lottery to get Telfair) as possibly worse.

[PhoSita]

Yep.  It truly was a complete dump of Melo.  Still a head scratcher to me.

  I don't know their exact salary specifics this year, but getting under the luxury threshold this year will mean a pretty big savings going forward.

Yes, I understand that, and this has been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere, but I just can't imagine that it was vital to make the salary dump NOW.

[kozlodoev]

Yep.  It truly was a complete dump of Melo.  Still a head scratcher to me.

  I don't know their exact salary specifics this year, but getting under the luxury threshold this year will mean a pretty big savings going forward.

Yes, I understand that, and this has been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere, but I just can't imagine that it was vital to make the salary dump NOW.

It's not _that_ vital - but Melo is not that good.

[Roy H.]

So, who was the worst draft pick of the Ainge era?  Banks, Giddens, Johnson, or Melo?

Melo probably ranks last, just because there doesn't appear to have been any overwhelming talent taken behind him.  Still, eating not only his full salary but another $350k is a tough pill to swallow.

From that lot, clearly Banks. He was picked in the lottery and ended up being pretty much nothing.

Although I'd rank the pick that we didn't make (trading out of the 2006 draft lottery to get Telfair) as possibly worse.

In terms of talent alone, absolutely.  Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy had a lot more value.

However, you can't discount swapping Raef for Ratliff.  Without Ratliff's expiring, insurance-paid contract, there's a chance that Minnesota doesn't do our KG deal.

[PhoSita]

So, who was the worst draft pick of the Ainge era?  Banks, Giddens, Johnson, or Melo?

Melo probably ranks last, just because there doesn't appear to have been any overwhelming talent taken behind him.  Still, eating not only his full salary but another $350k is a tough pill to swallow.

Banks, because he was a lottery pick.

Picks in the 20s are naturally hit or miss.

The fact that they gave up after a year on a guy they must have known was a 3+ year project when they drafted him is hard to reconcile, though.  In that light Fab definitely seems like one of the dumber picks Danny's made.