Is there some way we can keep Powell?

[saltlover]

he's looked intriguing so far but it's only 2 preseason games.  Unless Danny makes a trade to free up a roster space or Fav looks to be out for extended time, Powell will probably be the one that's let go.

This makes little sense to me.  His salary is guaranteed, same as everyone else's.  If you release him, it's a sunk cost, the same as if you release any other player who's not guaranteed any money beyond this season.  The Celtics will pay the same amount of money* if they release Fav or Anthony and keep Powell, or release Powell.  So if he's one of the best 15 players, you keep him.  And if he's not, you don't.

Now, I completely agree they've had only a week of practices and two pre-season games, and it's entirely possible that Powell will not be able to earn a roster spot.  And if it's a basketball decision that doesn't keep him around, whatever.  But in terms of roster space, he's got a guaranteed contract the same as 15 other players, so it doesn't make sense to assume that he'll be cut because he's cheapest or most recently acquired.  Barring a trade, the Celtics will pay the salary of a player they release, so it really doesn't matter who that released player is as long as he only has one year of guaranteed money left.

*Because he's cheap and on a minimum deal, I admit it's not unlikely that Powell would get claimed off waivers, so in fact the Celtics might save a whopping $500k if they released Powell instead of Fav or Anthony.  But it's not a 100% guarantee.

[clover]

I think something else gives and Powell stays.

My best guess is they manage to trade away Anthony or through injury or otherwise get Fav off the roster. I'm thinking Pressey stays and Bass is an unlikely trade at this point--though he's generally playing well.

[gar]

Can we send Faverani back to Spain and keep his rights?

[saltlover]

Can we send Faverani back to Spain and keep his rights?

No.

[Fred Roberts]

Powell is going to stick. Count it.

Loved this addition and was hoping Danny would pick up a 2nd rounder to draft him this summer.

2 time all Pac-12 1st team player. Obviously smart, long and athletic. He'll find a way on the roster. I bet Danny and Brad love him already.

There are 13 players I really want to see on the roster: Rondo, Smart, Bradley, Young, Turner, Thornton, Green, Sully, Oly, Zeller, Powell, Wallace & Bass.

That leaves two spots for the likes of Anthony, Pressey, Favernani. Let those 3 duke it out for the final two roster spots or make a trade if possible.

[slamtheking]

he's looked intriguing so far but it's only 2 preseason games.  Unless Danny makes a trade to free up a roster space or Fav looks to be out for extended time, Powell will probably be the one that's let go.

This makes little sense to me.  His salary is guaranteed, same as everyone else's.  If you release him, it's a sunk cost, the same as if you release any other player who's not guaranteed any money beyond this season.  The Celtics will pay the same amount of money* if they release Fav or Anthony and keep Powell, or release Powell.  So if he's one of the best 15 players, you keep him.  And if he's not, you don't.

Now, I completely agree they've had only a week of practices and two pre-season games, and it's entirely possible that Powell will not be able to earn a roster spot.  And if it's a basketball decision that doesn't keep him around, whatever.  But in terms of roster space, he's got a guaranteed contract the same as 15 other players, so it doesn't make sense to assume that he'll be cut because he's cheapest or most recently acquired.  Barring a trade, the Celtics will pay the salary of a player they release, so it really doesn't matter who that released player is as long as he only has one year of guaranteed money left.

*Because he's cheap and on a minimum deal, I admit it's not unlikely that Powell would get claimed off waivers, so in fact the Celtics might save a whopping $500k if they released Powell instead of Fav or Anthony.  But it's not a 100% guarantee.

makes plenty of sense.  I don't see a trade on the horizon to free up that spot but one could happen.  I don't see him getting a spot over anyone else that's under a guaranteed contract EXCEPT Fav in the circumstance where Fav is toast for half the season or more.

the fact that they're all guaranteed makes no difference since they're paying for everyone anyway unless the released player is claimed off waivers.  I think in the end that everyone else on the roster is pretty much assured of keeping their spot over Powell since they either
= play another position of need
= get paid way too much to release
= are better players

I like the kid.  I just don't see him making the team.  I honestly think someone else grabs him if he's released -- probably Philly.  If they like CJ, they'll like this kid.

[Celtics4ever]

I wonder if we are going to eat some salary like Anthony's at some point.

[greece66]

[ScoobyDoo]

faverani has some issues - knee, maybe a bit of a knucklehead. but he plays, hard and physical in the paint

pressey is a 100 percent keeper to me. if his jump shot kicks in, he can be game changing back up point. and even though short, he's tough and physical

haven't seen powell play, will watch dvr of game. but if he's that tall, long and athletic and can possibly guard positions from sg to pf, maybe centers.... i keep him.

joel anthony is the obvious choice to cut - that or trade bass. there are probably 4-5 playoff teams that wouldn't mind having anthony in the rotation at center.

we need to develop young talent right now. i also remember reading somewhere that steven's really likes length at all positions - i bet powell sticks, one way or another.

[saltlover]

he's looked intriguing so far but it's only 2 preseason games.  Unless Danny makes a trade to free up a roster space or Fav looks to be out for extended time, Powell will probably be the one that's let go.

This makes little sense to me.  His salary is guaranteed, same as everyone else's.  If you release him, it's a sunk cost, the same as if you release any other player who's not guaranteed any money beyond this season.  The Celtics will pay the same amount of money* if they release Fav or Anthony and keep Powell, or release Powell.  So if he's one of the best 15 players, you keep him.  And if he's not, you don't.

Now, I completely agree they've had only a week of practices and two pre-season games, and it's entirely possible that Powell will not be able to earn a roster spot.  And if it's a basketball decision that doesn't keep him around, whatever.  But in terms of roster space, he's got a guaranteed contract the same as 15 other players, so it doesn't make sense to assume that he'll be cut because he's cheapest or most recently acquired.  Barring a trade, the Celtics will pay the salary of a player they release, so it really doesn't matter who that released player is as long as he only has one year of guaranteed money left.

*Because he's cheap and on a minimum deal, I admit it's not unlikely that Powell would get claimed off waivers, so in fact the Celtics might save a whopping $500k if they released Powell instead of Fav or Anthony.  But it's not a 100% guarantee.

makes plenty of sense.  I don't see a trade on the horizon to free up that spot but one could happen.  I don't see him getting a spot over anyone else that's under a guaranteed contract EXCEPT Fav in the circumstance where Fav is toast for half the season or more.

the fact that they're all guaranteed makes no difference since they're paying for everyone anyway unless the released player is claimed off waivers.  I think in the end that everyone else on the roster is pretty much assured of keeping their spot over Powell since they either
= play another position of need
= get paid way too much to release
= are better players

I like the kid.  I just don't see him making the team.  I honestly think someone else grabs him if he's released -- probably Philly.  If they like CJ, they'll like this kid.

This is what I disagree with.  Yes, other players get paid more than Powell.  But the salary is all committed regardless of who's released, and the Celtics are below the luxury tax, so there's less urgency in saving every penny.  If Powell is better than player X, player X is essentially an expiring deal, and player X is a frontcourt player (so similar position), the Celtics are faced with the decision of keeping Powell instead, or releasing Powell and maybe saving $500k if someone claims him.  Player X is a sunk cost.  You don't make decisions based on sunk costs -- or at least not good ones.  Now if releasing Powell would spare the C's the luxury tax, that could be a different story, since then the cost is more than Powell's salary.  But with Powell they're still over one million clear of that, so it's not an issue.  Or if the player to be released is on the hook for more than this year, then the salary cap implications are long-term, but that's not what people are advocating in mentioning Anthony or Faverani.  You don't keep the more expensive player when he's only on a 1-year deal just because he's more expensive if the alternative situation comes with the same price tag.

[Tr1boy]

Nbadraft has powell compared to mason plumlee. Interesting.

[ScoobyDoo]

couldcwe trade joel anthony for a player with half his salary, that is also expiring and a second round pick or something -

is there some creative way we could unload joel anthony without eating all of his contract...

buy him out, let him recoup his lost salary with someone else

i actuallt like anthony as a surly, physical, 3rd string center in my rotation 'if i'm a contender', but not on this team, right now.

[sofutomygaha]

Nbadraft has powell compared to mason plumlee. Interesting.

he's an athletic four-year man with no post game from an elitist school. I don't see any other similarities, though

[LooseCannon]

This is what I disagree with.  Yes, other players get paid more than Powell.  But the salary is all committed regardless of who's released, and the Celtics are below the luxury tax, so there's less urgency in saving every penny.  If Powell is better than player X, player X is essentially an expiring deal, and player X is a frontcourt player (so similar position), the Celtics are faced with the decision of keeping Powell instead, or releasing Powell and maybe saving $500k if someone claims him.  Player X is a sunk cost.  You don't make decisions based on sunk costs -- or at least not good ones.  Now if releasing Powell would spare the C's the luxury tax, that could be a different story, since then the cost is more than Powell's salary.  But with Powell they're still over one million clear of that, so it's not an issue.  Or if the player to be released is on the hook for more than this year, then the salary cap implications are long-term, but that's not what people are advocating in mentioning Anthony or Faverani.  You don't keep the more expensive player when he's only on a 1-year deal just because he's more expensive if the alternative situation comes with the same price tag.

It's not purely a sunk cost.  You also have to consider the value of having a larger expiring salary on the roster that may be used to facilitate a mid-season trade.  Since Faverani is unguaranteed for 2015-2016, his contract has even more value than someone who is simply expiring.

There are, of course, other options.  The Celtics can negotiate a buy-out with a player on an expiring contract.  Maybe they can tell Marcus Thornton that he is likely to rack up a bunch of healthy inactives, but if he takes $2-3m less, the Celtics would be willing to release him now so he has a better shot at earning minutes elsewhere.  For Joel Anthony, the reduction in guarantee might be the amount of the veteran's minimum.

One scenario I see for making room for Powell is for Smart and Turner to show they can handle the backup point guard duties and Pressey being traded to a team under the cap for a protected second-round pick. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Coreect me if im wrong he will still count as a player in our roster if he gets assigned to the D-League right?

If thats the case then it'll be hard to open up room for him, unless we release some veterans or he really, really impresses.

I wish he makes the roster. He's got a good skill set for a big. A 6'10" guy who can put the ball on the floor, yes please.