Chart a Course to Keeping Rondo

[RJ87]

So if I understand correctly, in July 2014, we can offer him a contract extension that would in effect be 4 years as follow:

2014/15   $12.9 M  (Age 28)
2015/16   $13.9 M  (Age 29)
2016/17   $14.9 M  (Age 30)
2017/18   $16.0 M  (Age 31)

If he makes it to unrestricted FA, the ceiling of a Max contract depends on the salary cap but he can probably start in 2015/16 at up to $18M (35% of Cap) and go up from there.

I think anything close to the max is too much for Rondo.  I think the extension parameters, if accepted, would be a hometown discount but I don't think going much higher than that is smart.

My plan would be to offer him the extension with the final year a player option which I think is pretty valuable to the player (I assume that is OK with the CBA).  If for whatever reason, he is not happy with Boston, he can hit the market at a prime age and either pick a contender or go for max dollars.  In the meantime, he makes really good money and even if he is reinjured or otherwise his skills diminish, he still can elect to collect that final $16M big payday.

If he will not accept this, trade him.  I feel if he gets to FA, we will likely lose him or if we do keep him, we will overpay and hurt our financial flexibility.

That is my plan to keep Rondo.

I've said from the beginning, I expect extension talks to heat up this summer. I think it'd make since for us to resign him because the money is workable - and it give him the opportunity to sign one more long-term contract while he's still in his prime.

[LooseCannon]

If he wants to be a Celtic for life, offer him a no-trade clause.  However, you can't include a no-trade clause in an extension unless the original contract has a no-trade clause (which Rondo's doesn't, since he is not eligible for a clause until after this season)>

[ssspence]

If he wants to be a Celtic for life, offer him a no-trade clause.  However, you can't include a no-trade clause in an extension unless the original contract has a no-trade clause (which Rondo's doesn't, since he is not eligible for a clause until after this season)>

Ainge isn't giving out a no-trade clause to anyone under the age of 35 whose not a superstar. Rondo's neither.

If Ainge did, I'd lose a great deal of respect for him.

[Vermont Green]

So if I understand correctly, in July 2014, we can offer him a contract extension that would in effect be 4 years as follow:

2014/15   $12.9 M  (Age 28)
2015/16   $13.9 M  (Age 29)
2016/17   $14.9 M  (Age 30)
2017/18   $16.0 M  (Age 31)

If he makes it to unrestricted FA, the ceiling of a Max contract depends on the salary cap but he can probably start in 2015/16 at up to $18M (35% of Cap) and go up from there.

I think anything close to the max is too much for Rondo.  I think the extension parameters, if accepted, would be a hometown discount but I don't think going much higher than that is smart.

My plan would be to offer him the extension with the final year a player option which I think is pretty valuable to the player (I assume that is OK with the CBA).  If for whatever reason, he is not happy with Boston, he can hit the market at a prime age and either pick a contender or go for max dollars.  In the meantime, he makes really good money and even if he is reinjured or otherwise his skills diminish, he still can elect to collect that final $16M big payday.

If he will not accept this, trade him.  I feel if he gets to FA, we will likely lose him or if we do keep him, we will overpay and hurt our financial flexibility.

That is my plan to keep Rondo.

I've said from the beginning, I expect extension talks to heat up this summer. I think it'd make since for us to resign him because the money is workable - and it give him the opportunity to sign one more long-term contract while he's still in his prime.

My plan does not include a no trade clause by design.  I don't think it would be smart to give him one, even if you could.

[tstorey_97]

I would prefer Rondo remain. It is exceedingly difficult to get star players.

Thank you for the well timed post. Regrettably, we are early in the process. There is also a somewhat common view here that Rondo would sign an extension this summer. I say his agent will not allow this. It is simply unnecessary for Rondo to do "trader Danny" any favors. He owes the Boston Celtics nothing. He owes his career/legacy a shot at another title.


The "Kevin Love discussion" at Celtics blog has not been accurate. A big with Kevin Love's production/salary/fame is not coming to Boston for Green-Sully-Bradley and picks or any combination of same any more than Rondo is going to freaking Houston for Asik, some other non all star and picks.

The "build around Rondo" scenario is a long shot. As the beginning of this post, I would prefer to keep the star, but, if, as your premise suggests, Rondo will "need/demand" a "really good team" in order to stay in Boston, just how the he*& is Ainge going to get that done?

He will need luck. He will need one guy from this draft to become an all star quickly. He will need to trade someone from this roster for a guy who "gets better" just by being here and thus, matches an all star's production.

The team will need to gel with these additions and be "one player away" for the 2015 FA class.

Longshot? Sure. Impossible? Garnett and Allen for Jeff Green and Al Jefferson? No bigger an "impossibility" than the above. 

[Evantime34]

I would prefer Rondo remain. It is exceedingly difficult to get star players.

Thank you for the well timed post. Regrettably, we are early in the process. There is also a somewhat common view here that Rondo would sign an extension this summer. I say his agent will not allow this. It is simply unnecessary for Rondo to do "trader Danny" any favors. He owes the Boston Celtics nothing. He owes his career/legacy a shot at another title.


The "Kevin Love discussion" at Celtics blog has not been accurate. A big with Kevin Love's production/salary/fame is not coming to Boston for Green-Sully-Bradley and picks or any combination of same any more than Rondo is going to freaking Houston for Asik, some other non all star and picks.

The "build around Rondo" scenario is a long shot. As the beginning of this post, I would prefer to keep the star, but, if, as your premise suggests, Rondo will "need/demand" a "really good team" in order to stay in Boston, just how the he*& is Ainge going to get that done?

He will need luck. He will need one guy from this draft to become an all star quickly. He will need to trade someone from this roster for a guy who "gets better" just by being here and thus, matches an all star's production.

The team will need to gel with these additions and be "one player away" for the 2015 FA class.

Longshot? Sure. Impossible? Garnett and Allen for Jeff Green and Al Jefferson? No bigger an "impossibility" than the above.

I disagree that we couldn't get Love for Sully, Green and Picks. Look at how highly picks were valued at the trade deadline this year, all the rumors indicated that no one was willing to give up firsts in any deal, not even Phoenix (who has 4 of them this year). WIth the overvaluation of draft picks in the new CBA and our abundance of picks I think we have plenty of assets to bring in Love, the question is could we add enough around Rondo to convince Love that he could play for a winner in Boston.

[LooseCannon]

Here's one plan.

Bass, Bogans, the Clippers pick, and the rights to Colton Iverson to Houston for Asik

Use the trade exception to acquire someone.  I'd try Paul Millsap, giving Atlanta the 2014 Hawks/Nets pick and the protected Philly pick.

Re-sign Bradley

Use the MLE (not necessarily all of it) to bring in a back-up wing who can play both small forward and shooting guard and who is a good three-point shooter.

The team looks like:

Big man rotation: Asik, Millsap, Sullinger, Olynyk, Anthony, Faverani
Wing rotation: Green, Bradley, free agent wing, Wallace, Chris Johnson
Point guard: Rondo, a veteran minimum salary guy and/or Pressey
Somewhere in the mix: the Celtics 2014 draft pick


I'm not sure if Houston will take that deal.  I'm not sure if Millsap will be available.  But it's possible that Morey will relent and it's possible that Atlanta will decide to flip Millsap for picks.  There might be other guys who fit into those slots.  Maybe Thaddeus Young or Anderson Varejao are available over the summer.  It's adaptable to whoever is available at certain price points, although Asik and Millsap is probably the ideal combination.

Asik, Millsap, and Rondo would all expire in 2015, meaning you can keep all three or you might have the flexibility to keep two of the three and work out a deal that gives you an upgrade on the third one.  You might even keep all three and use draft picks to turn Wallace and/or Green into something better.

[Celtics18]

So if I understand correctly, in July 2014, we can offer him a contract extension that would in effect be 4 years as follow:

2014/15   $12.9 M  (Age 28)
2015/16   $13.9 M  (Age 29)
2016/17   $14.9 M  (Age 30)
2017/18   $16.0 M  (Age 31)

If he makes it to unrestricted FA, the ceiling of a Max contract depends on the salary cap but he can probably start in 2015/16 at up to $18M (35% of Cap) and go up from there.

I think anything close to the max is too much for Rondo.  I think the extension parameters, if accepted, would be a hometown discount but I don't think going much higher than that is smart.

My plan would be to offer him the extension with the final year a player option which I think is pretty valuable to the player (I assume that is OK with the CBA).  If for whatever reason, he is not happy with Boston, he can hit the market at a prime age and either pick a contender or go for max dollars.  In the meantime, he makes really good money and even if he is reinjured or otherwise his skills diminish, he still can elect to collect that final $16M big payday.

If he will not accept this, trade him.  I feel if he gets to FA, we will likely lose him or if we do keep him, we will overpay and hurt our financial flexibility.

That is my plan to keep Rondo.

Thanks for that.  My impression was that he could only sign for three years if he took the extension this summer.  Four years makes it all the more likely that we can re-sign him before he hits free agency.

[SHAQATTACK]

We need a really good BIG center, rim protector ........

Celtics can't continue to go for years with no big defensive centers on the team .

It's starting to be annoying

First thing everybody does is get a decent big

But the Celtics

I don't blame Rondo for leaving .......even the Po -dunk nothing teams at least have good big centers

[bdm860]

there's a couple of other reasons for Rondo to stick around. 
1. C's can offer the best contract.

I don't feel that #1 really matters that much.  When was the last time a major free agent stuck around on his original team because he wanted more $$?

Doesn’t this happen all the time?

Kobe just signed a huge contract extension to stay with an LA team whose future doesn’t look so bright (but granted it’s LA, so it’s never too dim there).

Pretty much every star coming off his rookie contract stays with his original team for more money (but granted, Rondo’s not coming off a rookie contract).

There’s been a lot of stars re-up with their current teams who were not so good for more money (Pierce in 2006, Michael Redd in 2005, Vince Carter in 2007, Gilbert Arenas in 2008, Steve Nash in 2010 etc.), and even more re-upped with good but not great teams that would likely go nowhere (Ray Allen in 2005, Joe Johnson in 2010, etc).

Then on top of all that, you have guys leaving good to great teams to go to a worse team for more money (Joe Johnson in 2005, Ben Wallace in 2006, Hedo Turkoglu in 2009, James Harden in 2012, Kevin Martin in 2013).

While money is not the be all end all of a players decision, I think it does factor in a lot of the time, and can be a factor in which team Rondo signs with.

[Fred Roberts]

I think Rondo is intrigued by free agency, but I also think he's well situated in Boston and would like it to be option A if Danny rebuilds the team into a contendah. I think it's fair to speculate that Rondo would like to have his number in the rafters one day and continue on as the next captain / leader of the team.

That said, Danny needs to nab 1 blue chip piece and a future rotation player in the draft and package either the 2nd 1st rounder or the early 2nd rounder to pair with someone like Bradley in a trade for a solid vet. One way or the other, via draft or trades, the 2014 draft should produce at least 2 strong players for the C's future core.

Marcus Smart would make Bradley expendable. Cauley-Stein may be a good option if our lotto pick slides towards double digits. Glenn Robinson w/ the 2nd rounder?

Bottom line, there is a lot of talent in this draft and we have 3 good picks. The C's also already have a number of younger up and coming players to keep or trade and Rondo is smart enough to know good things are likely to happen.

I can't see a scenario where the Celts aren't good enough to at least be a respectable playoff team in the East within 2 years. The current core and the load of picks give us a great shot at being relevant (at worst) and it would have to take some serious differences in contract negotiations and a perfect alternative landing spot for Rondo to leave town.   

[BballTim]

I don't feel that #1 really matters that much.  When was the last time a major free agent stuck around on his original team because he wanted more $$? 

  I think that offering better contracts helps teams retain star players. If it didn't, why would they have it in the CBA? They'd rather pay less money than more. It's only in the owner's best interest to have that rule if it helps teams retain players.

[Moranis]

Draft day trade with Minnesota for Kevin Love.  Boston trades Bogans, rights to lotto pick, Sullinger, Faverani, 2015 Boston 1st (lotto protected)

Convince Carmelo Anthony to come here this summer on a 3 year contract starting around 17 million (a pay cut).  To get NY to do said deal Boston agrees to take on Amare and a pick.  Something like Amare 23.4, Anthony 17 for LAC 1st, Green 9, Bass 7, J. Anthony 3.8, Humprhies 1 yr sign and trade for whatever amount is necessary to make up the difference

re-sign Bradley, Bayless

New lineup
PG - Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
SG - Bradley, ?, Johnson
SF - Anthony, Wallace
PF - Love, Olynyk
C - ?, Amare, Iverson

Ideally the 2014 Brooklyn pick would yield either a SG or C and the MLE could be used to pick up the other spot.


That teams should be a real contender for a very long time.

[bdm860]

Draft day trade with Minnesota for Kevin Love.  Boston trades Bogans, rights to lotto pick, Sullinger, Faverani, 2015 Boston 1st (lotto protected)

Convince Carmelo Anthony to come here this summer on a 3 year contract starting around 17 million (a pay cut).  To get NY to do said deal Boston agrees to take on Amare and a pick.  Something like Amare 23.4, Anthony 17 for LAC 1st, Green 9, Bass 7, J. Anthony 3.8, Humprhies 1 yr sign and trade for whatever amount is necessary to make up the difference

re-sign Bradley, Bayless

New lineup
PG - Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
SG - Bradley, ?, Johnson
SF - Anthony, Wallace
PF - Love, Olynyk
C - ?, Amare, Iverson

Ideally the 2014 Brooklyn pick would yield either a SG or C and the MLE could be used to pick up the other spot.


That teams should be a real contender for a very long time.

Not that I don't like it, but wouldn't that put Boston in Brooklyn's luxury tax neighborhood?  I've gotten the idea that only the Net's owner is crazy enough to pay that bill.

2015 salaries:
Known
Amare - 23.4
Melo - 17
Love - 15.7
Rondo - 12.9
Wallace - 10.1
Olynk - 2.1
Pressey - .8
Johnson - .9

Estimates:
Bradley - 6 to 8m?
Bayless - 3
Iverson -0.8
Mid-level - 5.15

That's somewhere between $90m and $100m in 2015, and assuming a low $70m luxury tax line, that puts the tax bill between $45m and almost $90m right?

Then even once you lose Amare in 2016, Rondo and Love would probably want raises, so still looking at an $80m+ payroll and another $15m in tax, and then you start flirting with the repeater tax (thought luckily they lose Wallace at this point if not already).