The trade exception (TE) and how it will be used.

[JSD]

With the Celtics right up to spending into the luxery tax (LT) this season, there is no way Ainge uses the TE before the offseason. Once we hit the offseason it looks like the Celitcs will be about $12 M under the cap. My guess is, Ainge will use that space to absorb a player from another team looking to free up space. Of course a pick will come along with that move. For example, if we took on a hobbled Steve Nash for a season and nabbed the Laker 1st rounder for doing so. The Lakers probably wouldn't do that, but they are a team with cap space that would like to get out of the Nash deal as this point to put stronger pieces around Kobe in free agency. Anyway, I then think we will do the exact same with the TE bring us right up to the LT once again.

Is this fair to say? Does anyone see it being used in a different fashion? Maybe they just let it expire and don't even utilize it.

[nickagneta]

With the Celtics right up to spending into the luxery tax (LT) this season, there is no way Ainge uses the TE before the offseason. Once we hit the offseason it looks like the Celitcs will be about $12 M under the cap. My guess is, Ainge will use that space to absorb a player from another team looking to free up space. Of course a pick will come along with that move. For example, if we took on a hobbled Steve Nash for a season and nabbed the Laker 1st rounder for doing so. The Lakers probably wouldn't do that, but they are a team with cap space that would like to get out of the Nash deal as this point to put stronger pieces around Kobe in free agency. Anyway, I then think we will do the exact same with the TE bring us right up to the LT once again.

Is this fair to say? Does anyone see it being used in a different fashion? Maybe they just let it expire and don't even utilize it.

Not sure your figures are correct there JSD.

Between the 8 guaranteed contracts of Rondo, Wallace, Green, Bass, Lee, Faverani, Olynyk and Sullinger they owe $50.14 million. If they decide to renounce Humphries, Bogans and Pressey then their salaries and cap holds do not count. But two of their current starters, Bradley and Crawford, will probably be extended qualifying offers which means until they sign a contract with either Boston or another team, they have cap holds totaling $11.6 million

Also, the Celtics own two 1st round draft picks which both could be within the top 15 pick meaning cap holds for those two picks ranging somewhere between $1.5 million to $2.5 million per pick. Let's just call it $3.5 million

That means the salary cap number would be about $65 million which is over the cap.

So my guess is the TE will just be allowed to expire unless some major cap clearing trades occur between now and the trade deadline

[Roy H.]

Just for clarification, I believe that the trade exception creates a "hold" on the salary cap, just like unsigned free agents, the MLE, etc., do.  I don't believe that you can utilize cap space, spend up to the salary cap, and then use the trade exception.

[Roy H.]

So my guess is the TE will just be allowed to expire unless some major cap clearing trades occur between now and the trade deadline

This is probably the most likely result, but JSD has a good idea.  Just get rid of the idea of having any cap space, and think of it as the opportunity to take on somebody else's problem for a draft pick.

We've seen various teams do this in recent years, include the Jazz and the Cavs (the Jazz used cap space, while the Cavs used an exception).

[pokeKingCurtis]

So my guess is the TE will just be allowed to expire unless some major cap clearing trades occur between now and the trade deadline

This is probably the most likely result, but JSD has a good idea.  Just get rid of the idea of having any cap space, and think of it as the opportunity to take on somebody else's problem for a draft pick.

We've seen various teams do this in recent years, include the Jazz and the Cavs (the Jazz used cap space, while the Cavs used an exception).

Seems the old CBA's bad contracts are slowly wearing off and teams are now a little more wary than before of overspending (that, or they're unable to do so).

Apart from Nash, who else would be a viable target for this? I can't think of any...

Maybe nab a guy like Ilyasova or Thornton? I don't think we'll get picks with them, though. Ilyasova's contract is truly something else, though.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I'd just like to say, in the most polite wording I can think of.....This new cba SUCKS--!

[LooseCannon]

My guess is that if it is used then it will be for a sign and trade sending a draft pick to another team that doesn't want to take back a contract.  The next most likely way is as part of a draft day trade that isn't made official until after the July moratorium.

[Evantime34]

My guess is that if it is used then it will be for a sign and trade sending a draft pick to another team that doesn't want to take back a contract.  The next most likely way is as part of a draft day trade that isn't made official until after the July moratorium.

Agreed.

I think we could also get a pick sent to us (or the right to swap picks) from a team that is looking to get more cap space to go after a big name free agent

[Eddie20]

So my guess is the TE will just be allowed to expire unless some major cap clearing trades occur between now and the trade deadline

This is probably the most likely result, but JSD has a good idea.  Just get rid of the idea of having any cap space, and think of it as the opportunity to take on somebody else's problem for a draft pick.

We've seen various teams do this in recent years, include the Jazz and the Cavs (the Jazz used cap space, while the Cavs used an exception).

Seems the old CBA's bad contracts are slowly wearing off and teams are now a little more wary than before of overspending (that, or they're unable to do so).

Apart from Nash, who else would be a viable target for this? I can't think of any...

Maybe nab a guy like Ilyasova or Thornton? I don't think we'll get picks with them, though. Ilyasova's contract is truly something else, though.

It has to be teams that are looking to shed cap to either sign a free agent or simply to save money.

Dallas, who is rumored to be targeting Bosh this summer, is a candidate. They have Brendan Wright who will make 5M next year who they can trade for added cap space. Perhaps they wouldn't give up a 2014 1st rd pick for dumping his salary. However, Wright and their 2014 1st for TE and our 2015 LAC 1st could be intriguing. They not only shed Wright's deal, but also don't have to pay the 1st rd pick.

I think Memphis is another team we can trade with. On the other hand, they're a team that is likely looking to shed contracts for luxury tax reasons. Prince is owed 7.7M next season. The problem is that they can't trade their 2014 pick since their 2015 pick is committed to Cleveland, albeit under certain protections.

Oh, and that rule where you can't trade 1st rd picks in consecutive years is ridiculous. Teams, for better or worse, should be allowed to do what they want with their assets and it would allow a lot less restrictions involving trades.

[nickagneta]

Oh, and that rule where you can't trade 1st rd picks in consecutive years is ridiculous. Teams, for better or worse, should be allowed to do what they want with their assets and it would allow a lot less restrictions involving trades.

In many ways the CBA is set up to protect owners from themselves. The Septien rule, the rule you speak of, was established because an owner traded away all his picks and decimated his franchise for a decade. He alienated the fans of that town and just about caused that franchise to think about having to move due to lack of fan support.

The salary cap and new CBA rules for the salary cap are in place to stop owners from handing out ridiculous contracts to players that do not deserve contracts of the size they would give them. These rules have been changed over and over again with a couple of lock out work stoppages because the owners can't stop themselves from handing out those bad contracts.

Some of the rules suck for fans, and believe me the players aren't too happy about them either, but they are in place to stop owners from destroying the game they own.

[guava_wrench]

Oh, and that rule where you can't trade 1st rd picks in consecutive years is ridiculous. Teams, for better or worse, should be allowed to do what they want with their assets and it would allow a lot less restrictions involving trades.

I like the rule due to GMs that make desperation moves to save their jobs. Sometimes it is better for the league to just make restrictions.

[Eddie20]

Oh, and that rule where you can't trade 1st rd picks in consecutive years is ridiculous. Teams, for better or worse, should be allowed to do what they want with their assets and it would allow a lot less restrictions involving trades.

In many ways the CBA is set up to protect owners from themselves. The Septien rule, the rule you speak of, was established because an owner traded away all his picks and decimated his franchise for a decade. He alienated the fans of that town and just about caused that franchise to think about having to move due to lack of fan support.

I'm familiar with the rule and the principal behind it. Stepien traded 1st rd picks in 5 consecutive years because he wanted to "win now", but how does that really differ from what Billy King did? The Nets swapped 1st rd picks in 15 and 17 and traded away 1st rd picks in 2014, 16, and 18. So in essence they either traded away a pick or devalued the only picks they have (2015 & 2017) for the next five years and now can't trade a 1st rd pick until 2020. But this is allowed? Are the Nets in a better position going forward than those Cavs teams were?

[JSD]

The  Nets at least have Lopez and Williams though. That's 2 of the 3 superstars you supposedly need. When the other guys clear out and they get rid of Kidd, those two should be able to attract some good free agent talent.

[Eddie20]

The  Nets at least have Lopez and Williams though. That's 2 of the 3 superstars you supposedly need. When the other guys clear out and they get rid of Kidd, those two should be able to attract some good free agent talent.

I don't know. I'm beginning to question Lopez's future. Those constant foot fractures could easily end his career.

[JSD]

I didn't know the TE acted as a cap hold, I thought we could spend up to the cap and then use it. So essentially, that $10.5 M TE would have to be renounced before we could access that same amount in cap space. Interesting...

So what it does essentially is allows Ainge to maintain the flexibility of resigning Bradly and Crawford while still being able to absorb a player. It puts the option on the table. Ainge is a savvy dude.