We're Going to Have a lot of Cap Space

[dreamgreen]

This would be the best case scenario:

1. The youngsters improve and the C's make good run in the playoffs (either making the 2nd round or just winning 2-3 games in the first round against a quality opponent) wherein Marcus Smart establishes himself as a PG players want to play with.

2. Brooklyn is awful and we wind up with a top 3 draft choice, which lands us a star.

3. Over the course of the season, an established player starts looking for an out, either through a trade or FA and sees that this young team, about to add a young star, as a good place to come and complete a sort-of-big-3 with Smart and this draft pick.

Then we make a run at the Finals in 2017. Best case scenario.

TP

[cman88]

I think what ainge is doing is trying to put together a team that players can look at and say "I can win there" and look at it as an option.

as much as people here talk about the 76ers, and NYC as places players would like to go. the biggest star FA's on the move spurned them for teams with a more certain future.

[saltlover]

Does it matter if no one wants to come here, Ainge has to build some more and we need some young guys to step it up.

The problem is that we could be looking at $55 million under the FLOOR. We have to add a ton of salary.

You don't have to add salary.  If you are under the floor, you just get charged the difference and the money gets distributed to the players on your roster.

I'm aware. I don't think ownership I'd going to want to divvy up $55 million between its players and get nothing in return.

I think they'd be disappointed, but I don't think they'll make stupid moves to spend money.  If anything they'll trade for some expiring contracts that other teams want to get rid of and get more draft picks for doing so, and just cut the players if they're not worth keeping.  And they won't be $55 million under the floor.  Maybe $40 million or so, but not $55 million.

[Hemingway]

I think we are going to need to look at the trade market.

Hotdog we have a wiener!

Getting 2 stars to join up and come here is a very very long shot. We really need to trade for a star. No one will sign here until we have a star and our chances of developing one soon are not great, so we will have to try to trade for one. I bet Ainge will make offer right up till the deadlin one Cousins, Melo and Durant. Probably half a dozen other guys too.

Our best asset right now is that the team has a really really good everything except that first second and maybe third option guys. So time is not on our side. We need to make big offers on stars to have any shot.

If we really really over pay on Player A but then can get another star in Player B by just signing him (costing us no assets) it's a win.

[Evantime34]

I wouldn't be surprised if the C's next offseason is like a bette version of this year.

The C's will try to trade up to grab a top prospect. Next year we will have better picks so we are more likely to succeed.

The C's will talk to the top free agents but not be able to get any. They will go after guys at high money upfront on short term contracts, setting up their asset to make a trade.

Next year our trade prospects could be much better considering we should have better picks and other teams will see our young players continue to develop.

[PutItInTheAir]

60 million in cap to overspend on someone similar to amir is my recent thought process, but i would immediately throw max money to beal and drummond and offer up bradley and olynyk as sign and trade options, letting lee and johnson walk as soon as the ink dries

[action781]

I think Ty Lawson is the most attainable high-level player we should be going after.  At 27, he's right in the middle of his prime and is capable of taking over a game.  That's the kind of "star"-level attribute that other stars will be looking for.

If we can land Ty Lawson, then perhaps we can overpay Joakim Noah to come here and play center (stingy Chicago might not want to pay).  Those two players in place along with our other role players (keep AB) and stockpile of draft picks might be the kind of situation enticing enough to get Durant.

[LooseCannon]

I think Ty Lawson is the most attainable high-level player we should be going after.  At 27, he's right in the middle of his prime and is capable of taking over a game.  That's the kind of "star"-level attribute that other stars will be looking for.

Given his likely role in a possible locker room mutiny against Brian Shaw, I don't think he fits the high character mold that the Celtics are looking for.