Let's manufacture some good old fashion cap space

[ptroger83]

If (big if), Hayward or Monroe had interest in playing here and we needed cap space, I would do the following:

Dump Bass to a contender:
Would likely have to wait to see where the dust settles as far as the Heat's big 3 and Melo go, but you could find a suitor in Golden State who has a large TPE (9.8 mil. Again, if you had an agreement with one or both of the two guys above, you could dump Bass freeing up his 6.9 million. OKC could also make way for him as well.

Dump Jeff Green to the Nuggets:

The Nuggets have a $9.8 million TPE. I'd propose we trade Green for Nurkic (sp?) or a protected pick. Or we could end up keeping Green if we only grabbed one free agent.

Dump Joel Anthony to the 76er's:
They are in danger of being on the salary cap floor, which doesn't really mean much other than they have to pay up to the floor and split that money with their current players. BUT, since they have to pay up to the salary cap floor anyways, why not get them to absorb Anthony for a couple of their unguaranteed contracts and sweeten the pot by offering them their pick back for next year? Or some other combination of 2nd rounders? This would save $3.8 million.

I'm not capologist, but it seems to me that a combination of some deals like this could get us in the ballpark to make a play on one of these two guys, if not both once we unload Bogans. Also, even if Hayward and Monroe aren't available for us, it could allow us to use our own TPE to take on a bad contract and get another pick in the process if that's the rebuilding road we're going down again this year. Thoughts?

[BudweiserCeltic]

If (big if), Hayward or Monroe had interest in playing here and we needed cap space, I would do the following:

Dump Bass to a contender:
Would likely have to wait to see where the dust settles as far as the Heat's big 3 and Melo go, but you could find a suitor in Golden State who has a large TPE (9.8 mil. Again, if you had an agreement with one or both of the two guys above, you could dump Bass freeing up his 6.9 million. OKC could also make way for him as well.

Dump Jeff Green to the Nuggets:

The Nuggets have a $9.8 million TPE. I'd propose we trade Green for Nurkic (sp?) or a protected pick. Or we could end up keeping Green if we only grabbed one free agent.

Dump Joel Anthony to the 76er's:
They are in danger of being on the salary cap floor, which doesn't really mean much other than they have to pay up to the floor and split that money with their current players. BUT, since they have to pay up to the salary cap floor anyways, why not get them to absorb Anthony for a couple of their unguaranteed contracts and sweeten the pot by offering them their pick back for next year? Or some other combination of 2nd rounders? This would save $3.8 million.

I'm not capologist, but it seems to me that a combination of some deals like this could get us in the ballpark to make a play on one of these two guys, if not both once we unload Bogans. Also, even if Hayward and Monroe aren't available for us, it could allow us to use our own TPE to take on a bad contract and get another pick in the process if that's the rebuilding road we're going down again this year. Thoughts?

My real problem is doing these moves in order to entice a restricted free-agent. That's too big a risk.

[ptroger83]

Could we not have a handshake (private) agreement with the players and their agents with the understanding that once their salaries are agreed upon, it's up to us to go get the cap space?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Could we not have a handshake (private) agreement with the players and their agents with the understanding that once their salaries are agreed upon, it's up to us to go get the cap space?

The problem is that with a restricted free agent their previous team have a right to match any offer we make. So we can agree all we want, clear up all the space we want and it could all be for nothing if Utah or Detroit respectively decide to match our offer.

[ptroger83]

I just saw that you mention the "restricted free agent" part and I should have addressed that. It's been reported that the Jazz don't want to match a max deal and that the Pistons are torn over how high to pay Monroe (but definitely not max). I'm not so sure either player should get max deals, but if we wanted to pay them that and had the cap room, I don't think either team would match. Or Green could be used as a S & T piece in the Monroe deal, plus a pick. 

[Who]

I've noticed here in Boston (it's not just with the Celtics), it's almost like some have resigned to accepting second-best.

I think we need to hold our teams to a higher standard.

As for not being able to attract top tier talent, "if you build it, they will come."

I couldn't agree more with this. I just do not believe Ainge has built it yet.

More work to be done first.

[Who]

When it comes to attracting top stars, in this year's free agent class I really think it's this simple:

(1) Houston - two star players - D.Howard and J.Harden
(2) Chicago - two star players - D.Rose and J.Noah

(3) Boston - one star - Rondo

(4) Dallas - one old star - Dirk
(5) LAL - one old star - Kobe

[Who]

I've noticed here in Boston (it's not just with the Celtics), it's almost like some have resigned to accepting second-best.

I think we need to hold our teams to a higher standard.

As for not being able to attract top tier talent, "if you build it, they will come."

I couldn't agree more with this. I just do not believe Ainge has built it yet.

More work to be done first.

When it comes to attracting top stars, in this year's free agent class I really think it's this simple:

(1) Houston - two star players - D.Howard and J.Harden
(2) Chicago - two star players - D.Rose and J.Noah

(3) Boston - one star - Rondo

(4) Dallas - one old star - Dirk
(5) LAL - one old star - Kobe

I think for Boston to prepare for next summer's free agent class, to make themselves the #1 choice destination instead of just another name on a shortlist, to acquire one of the top FAs in that class, Boston needs to either:

(a) Acquire a 2nd star (like K-Love) in a trade prior to FA opening in order to attract an A-list star in FA to joining Celtics

(b) Dump all unnecessary non-star player contracts and enter next year's FA class with enough cap space to sign two max contracts outright in addition to Rondo's max deal. Sell two FAs on coming in together, playing with Rondo and playing for a Championship caliber organization that is one of the few teams in the league that has actually built a Championship winning team. Of course, that means no multi-year contracts for role players like Avery Bradley. Cap space paramount.

[LooseCannon]

Could we not have a handshake (private) agreement with the players and their agents with the understanding that once their salaries are agreed upon, it's up to us to go get the cap space?

The problem is that with a restricted free agent their previous team have a right to match any offer we make. So we can agree all we want, clear up all the space we want and it could all be for nothing if Utah or Detroit respectively decide to match our offer.

To clarify, you don't sign a restricted free agent directly, you sign him to an offer sheet.  You must have the cap space (or an appropriate exception...not a TPE) to sign him to the offer sheet.  Then the player's team has the opportunity to match the offer sheet.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I know we're not getting Melo (and honestly I just not a fan of him)... but here's the latest from the Chicago Bulls:
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/04/report-nikola-mirotic-joining-bulls-for-next-season/

Nikola Mirotic seems to be joining the team next year. I don't know how his contract would look like, but I can tell you this much, the Bulls were already struggling to open enough cap space for Carmelo to offer him a max deal, so this addition might be enough to put them out of the running depending...