I should mention that I missed tonight's game, because league pass blacks out NBA TV games. So perhaps if I saw him tonight, I'd be more prisoner of the moment. But as is, I see all the players we received in the Dallas trade as flipable assets that Danny will utilize for picks.
flippable*
Who are the two max contract guys you're going to sign in the off-season?
http://hoopshype.com/free_agency_2015.htmSay I gave you 40 million dollars to play with this summer, tarheel.
Option 1 - gamble on keeping rondo and green
Option 2 - I'll give you 6+ draft picks to abandon green and rondo for a few months. You can still try to sign them this summer if you want... Or you can find a creative way to use that 40 million in cap space by offering contract to all of those available players. You can mix and match as you please. Want to sign 8 average players to 5 mil deals?... Go for it. Want to overpay two guys from that list ? Go for it. Want to offer max contracts to green and rondo? Go for it. But by taking this option, you will have guaranteed yourself 6+ draft picks.
Which option you taking?
Granted, we will not have 40 mil in cap space without dumping Bradley's bloated contract and avoiding overpaying role players like Crowder... but the premise still applies.
You don't get this opportunity very often. Inevitably we're going to have to pay to keep guys like Sully, Smart, Oly, etc. You can only take advantage of this situation while you have kids on cheap rookie contracts. It's in the best interest of this organization to maximize our cap space.
Ainge has invested a ton of energy in putting us in this position. This is the equivalent of having your cake and eating it too. We moved Green/Rondo for 6+ picks... and really are in no worse a position than we were prior to the trades. If we ever had a chance of signing those guys this summer, we'll still have that opportunity. If not Green and Rondo, we can bring in equal talent (fringe stars). But those draft picks, baby... All for saying, "Hey Jeff and Rajon... we're gonna send you off to contenders for a few months. I look forward to discussing contracts with you during the free agent period". And now we'd be in a far better position to negotiate with them. Instead of them holding our butts over the fire and saying, "Pay up or watch us leave you empty handed" we can say, "Meh... we got our 6+ picks... Here's a reasonable contract offer... if you don't wanna sign here, we'll just use the money on someone like Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight. Whatevs"
All of which why I wouldn't get too attached to Crowder until the deadline comes and goes. If Ainge believes he's going to get 6-7 mil on the open market, I think he'll strongly consider cashing him in for a pick. Just like Green and Rondo... if you really want Crowder this summer, you can feel free to offer him a contract. But getting a pick now would be a win. Have that cake and eat it, baby.
