Marc Stein on C's (Cousins, Love, etc.)

[Eddie20]

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/3796/summer-scoop-boston-celtics

Marc Stein, Senior Writer, ESPN.com

Five burning questions and answers about the Boston Celtics' immediate future in the wake of their four-game exit from the playoffs and team president Danny Ainge's end-of-season news conference Thursday:

1. Who is the Celtics' dream target in free agency?

Kevin Love is the most common reflex answer you hear these days.

Not so sure, though, that it's the correct answer.

The Celtics certainly want to make a free-agent splash this summer. No less an authority than Ainge was very clear at his farewell address that he knows he has no stars in Boston at the minute and needs to find at least one as soon as possible.

Yet Ainge is realistic. He also knows that Love -- irrespective of anything Kelly Olynyk did to him last weekend -- is going to be very hard to get come July. Which is a sentiment that applies to any of the top free agents.

And this has nothing to do with the long-running narrative about the Celtics and their decades of struggles when trying to sign the biggest names on the open market. It's more about the simple reality that the LaMarcus Aldridges, Marc Gasols and Kawhi Leonards of the world generally look to land with contending teams when deciding to walk away from an incumbent team that has treated them well.

The good news for Boston: Ainge and his staffers are creative and aggressive and understand all of those dynamics as well as anyone else. And that's why the Celtics realize their next major talent infusion is perhaps even more likely to come via trade rather than free-agent signings.

Will they open their war chest of future draft picks to try to pry DeMarcus Cousins away from Sacramento via trade? The early word out there is: Bank on it.

Will they be in the mix for pretty much any name player who unexpectedly comes available in coming months?

Bank on that, too.

An athletic big man or a scoring threat on the wing would appear to be Boston's two most glaring needs, but Ainge likely won't be choosy.

Expect him to try to pounce on the next elite player, at any position, who finds himself being abruptly shopped.

[Evantime34]

What I thought was really interesting about this was the Love will be difficult to  get come July. This indicates that he will decline his player option and become a free agent this summer which I thought was off the table when it was announced he was out 4-6 months.

[greece66]

Thanks for the find  TP

[crimcartel]

I hope the c's go after paul George.. his value is down and possibly they can match salaries using one of there larger TPE's a few players and 3 firsts.. We'll see......

 

[Evantime34]

With Lillard making public demands for a 5 year max extension, I'm hoping the Blazers balk at his price and trade him to us for a huge offer.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

TP to the OP.

Me, I'd love it if Ainge landed Cousins. But I also like Ainge's supposed strategy: Get whatever star(s) is/are available, regardless of position. Ainge can then jettison whatever lesser players at that position that he needs to, and use that star to attract other stars, or flip that star for another star, etc. All kinds of good possibilities.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

With Lillard making public demands for a 5 year max extension, I'm hoping the Blazers balk at his price and trade him to us for a huge offer.

I don't think Lillard's in a position to demand anything after that dreadful series he just had against Memphis. He averaged 21.6 points, but shot only 40.6% overall, only 16.1% on threes, and had only 4.6 apg—at a time when his team desperately needed him to bring his A game.

[manl_lui]

I know Danny will be working his ass of this summer. I trust Danny to make the right decisions, and trades. Summer cannot be more exciting this year

[jambr380]

With Lillard making public demands for a 5 year max extension, I'm hoping the Blazers balk at his price and trade him to us for a huge offer.

I don't think Lillard's in a position to demand anything after that dreadful series he just had against Memphis. He averaged 21.6 points, but shot only 40.6% overall, only 16.1% on threes, and had only 4.6 apg—at a time when his team desperately needed him to bring his A game.

He may not have had an amazing series, but Lillard is a star in this league and is totally deserving of max. If the Blazers want to take Bradley and any combination of picks for Lillard, then we will be in really good shape moving forward.

Seriously, would you rather give the max to Middleton, Harris, or Lillard? It's just not even close.

[Evantime34]

With Lillard making public demands for a 5 year max extension, I'm hoping the Blazers balk at his price and trade him to us for a huge offer.

I don't think Lillard's in a position to demand anything after that dreadful series he just had against Memphis. He averaged 21.6 points, but shot only 40.6% overall, only 16.1% on threes, and had only 4.6 apg—at a time when his team desperately needed him to bring his A game.

He may not have had an amazing series, but Lillard is a star in this league and is totally deserving of max. If the Blazers want to take Bradley and any combination of picks for Lillard, then we will be in really good shape moving forward.

Seriously, would you rather give the max to Middleton, Harris, or Lillard? It's just not even close.

I believe it would be a whole different type of max for Lillard.

In his exit interview Thursday, Lillard told reporters he’s confident in extension talks with the Blazers, which could reach a possible $90 million-plus.

I could be wrong but I think the Harris/Middleton max would be closer to $60 MM over 4 years than 90 over 5.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/237643/Damian-Lillard-To-Seek-Designated-Five-Year-Max-Deal-With-Blazers

[Lucky17]

It's a "designated max" contract. Like the one Derrick Rose signed.

The others aren't eligible for such a contract. Lillard met certain performance/accolades to earn the designated max.

[Vox_Populi]

It's a "designated max" contract. Like the one Derrick Rose signed.

The others aren't eligible for such a contract. Lillard met certain performance/accolades to earn the designated max.

I don't think he should qualify given these parameters, right?

However, a player may receive up to the 7-9 year maximum, which is based on 30% of the cap, if he meets any of the following criteria (called the "5th Year 30% Max criteria"):

Named to the All-NBA First, Second or Third team at least twice
Voted as a starter in the All-Star game at least twice
Named the NBA Most Valuable Player at least once

[cltc5]

We'll have the same team next year with middle of the road rookies.  Fireworks abound!

[Lucky17]

It's a "designated max" contract. Like the one Derrick Rose signed.

The others aren't eligible for such a contract. Lillard met certain performance/accolades to earn the designated max.

I don't think he should qualify given these parameters, right?

However, a player may receive up to the 7-9 year maximum, which is based on 30% of the cap, if he meets any of the following criteria (called the "5th Year 30% Max criteria"):

Named to the All-NBA First, Second or Third team at least twice
Voted as a starter in the All-Star game at least twice
Named the NBA Most Valuable Player at least once

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q60

Rookie scale contract extensions:

Rookie scale contracts may be extended for up to four seasons beyond the last option season in the contract, bringing the total contract length to five seasons. Teams can also select one player (called their "Designated Player") who can receive a five-year extension, bringing the total contract length to six seasons. A team can have at most one player on its roster whom they have designated for a longer extension, plus at most one player designated by another team whom they acquired in trade.

Lillard would be in the 0-6 year camp, but gets a fifth year as a designated player. I don't know the exact year-by-year breakdowns, but assuming a first year of around $15 mil, I suspect it's five years, $90 mil with yearly increases.

[Snakehead]

I'm all aboard the get Cousins train.  He is an underrated player who doesn't get his credit.  I know he acts like a baby some but he's turned it around enough and he's the best center in the league. 

He would improve playing for us.  I always root for Sac to turn it around but they're a joke.

The one player I really don't want to move for him for is Smart... I think we could offer without him.  Or can soon I'm hoping when some of our players develop and improve their value.  I'm just hoping he gets to the point where he asks to be traded.  But I'm willing to give up a lot otherwise.

I hope the c's go after paul George.. his value is down and possibly they can match salaries using one of there larger TPE's a few players and 3 firsts.. We'll see......

 

If he was available I'd be all for it but I don't see it happening.  I think he will get back into shape next season and Indiana will commit to him and get better.   I think Bird does a pretty good job.