What will it take to sign Sully this summer, is it worth it?

[CelticPride2016]

If we don't plan on re-signing him, doesn't Danny pretty much have to deal him this season? It's not like there are a lot of teams that would sign-and-trade with us because most teams are going to have cap space to sign him outright. Besides, it would be for a late draft pick anyway and we're not exactly short on those. The question is what could we really even get for him?

I think what happens will boil down to his conditioning over the next couple months. Or maybe there's simply no way to know what is going on.

You are correct, though. If Danny is consistent, then Sullinger is likely to be traded. Yet it depends on the unknown factor of how Sully develops right now.

A savvy GM might have similar concerns as a lot of us about Sully's weight and insist on Olynyk or Jordan Mickey instead of Sullinger.

There's just no way to know how this Sullinger story will unfold.

Same with Evan Turner.

We need Jackie MacMullan to give us the Sullinger scoop during an Around the Horn commercial break like she did with Rondo.

[chambers]

If we don't plan on re-signing him, doesn't Danny pretty much have to deal him this season? It's not like there are a lot of teams that would sign-and-trade with us because most teams are going to have cap space to sign him outright. Besides, it would be for a late draft pick anyway and we're not exactly short on those. The question is what could we really even get for him?

keep in mind if teams do trade for him, they can then re-sign him without affecting their salary cap.

I think what happens will boil down to his conditioning over the next couple months. Or maybe there's simply no way to know what is going on.

You are correct, though. If Danny is consistent, then Sullinger is likely to be traded. Yet it depends on the unknown factor of how Sully develops right now.

A savvy GM might have similar concerns as a lot of us about Sully's weight and insist on Olynyk or Jordan Mickey instead of Sullinger.

There's just no way to know how this Sullinger story will unfold.

Same with Evan Turner.

We need Jackie MacMullan to give us the Sullinger scoop during an Around the Horn commercial break like she did with Rondo.

Keep in mind the benefit of trading for Sully is that you can sign him over the cap without affecting your cap.

[mahcus smaht]

If we don't plan on re-signing him, doesn't Danny pretty much have to deal him this season? It's not like there are a lot of teams that would sign-and-trade with us because most teams are going to have cap space to sign him outright. Besides, it would be for a late draft pick anyway and we're not exactly short on those. The question is what could we really even get for him?

keep in mind if teams do trade for him, they can then re-sign him without affecting their salary cap.

I think what happens will boil down to his conditioning over the next couple months. Or maybe there's simply no way to know what is going on.

You are correct, though. If Danny is consistent, then Sullinger is likely to be traded. Yet it depends on the unknown factor of how Sully develops right now.

A savvy GM might have similar concerns as a lot of us about Sully's weight and insist on Olynyk or Jordan Mickey instead of Sullinger.

There's just no way to know how this Sullinger story will unfold.

Same with Evan Turner.

We need Jackie MacMullan to give us the Sullinger scoop during an Around the Horn commercial break like she did with Rondo.

Keep in mind the benefit of trading for Sully is that you can sign him over the cap without affecting your cap.

So long as we are on pace to be a ~50 win team trading our best big man will be a hard sell. That being said idk if we can trust sully with a long contract and I'd hate to see us lose a 23 year old all of a sudden 2-way top rebounding PF for nothing.

[Kuberski33]

If you want to go back a bit in Celtics history, Mark Blount played great his contract year, got his extension and the Celtics immediately regretted it.  Dino Radja, same deal.  Got a nice extension, and stunk after that. Sully gives me the same vibes.

He's playing great right now, but the weight history would have me worried.  Glad I'm not Danny having to make the call on this, but if I had to guess they'll let him test the market and then try to extend him shorter term for a figure that they feel is his market value. It's possible that they could offer more money for a lesser term. 

He could leave but I bet he ultimately stays for 2 years + a team option for year 3 at a number many on these boards will say is way too much.  However Danny is able to include language in there to protect the C's somewhat from Sully going Oliver Miller on them. That language costs them extra money short term but makes it a deal all can live with.

[TheSundanceKid]

If we resign him (which I hope we do) then it'll be on a 2 or 3 year deal with a team option (yr3 or 4) The advantage of keeping him into restricted free agency is that if we get an upgrade such as Horford then we can let him go, maybe get a sign and trade for a trade exception. But if we miss out on our targets then signing Sully to a $16-18m deal for 3 years isn't that bad an option. Even overweight Sully produced for us and this Sully is a big upgrade over that. He's proved he can step up against the best bigs in the game, he's really improved his defence and he's taking less 3 pointers!!!!
Even if he regressed next year, he's shown the potential growth and that would be an attractive trade piece

[Celtics4ever]

If we resign him, I think a weight clause is a must.

[BornReady]

If we resign him, I think a weight clause is a must.

sullys agent is David falk
David falk generally negotiates the upper hand of contract negotiations
There's no way he gets a weight clause except if it was for more money

If I was ainge
I'd let sully test free agency to see his value
Then resign him for over his value but on a short term contract
That way the risk is mitigated by a shorter deal that can be moved
or expire without longer commitment

[JumpingJudkins]

Even in this "breakout" year when everyone is fawning over Sully, he's shooting .435, right around his career average from the field, and his "much-improved" 3-point shot has slipped back down to .304 and sliding (though at least he's not taking as many as the past). He's a really low-percentage scorer for a PF/C. 8th on the team in True Shooting %.

He is a great rebounder and a useful piece -- and a better player than Tristan Thompson -- but he's not a max contract guy.

[otherdave]

keep in mind if teams do trade for him, they can then re-sign him without affecting their salary cap.

Keep in mind the benefit of trading for Sully is that you can sign him over the cap without affecting your cap.

Please explain.

[jambr380]

I am still thinking an Amir-type deal, but two years guaranteed with an option for a third. I know everybody throws out Thompson's contract and that Faulk is his agent, but with the new salary cap, $12M/yr seems about the right price given the uncertainty of his weight and his lack of a post game / height.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I would trade him now to a team like Indy or someone else. Its a contract year and that means its 50/50 with him. He has the ability to be a very good player for his whole career but we can not judge him when its a contract year and he didn't really get into awesome shape like I thought he would before the season.
If we could get Myles Turner out of a Sullinger package I would be thrilled.

[BDeCosta26]

keep in mind if teams do trade for him, they can then re-sign him without affecting their salary cap.

Keep in mind the benefit of trading for Sully is that you can sign him over the cap without affecting your cap.

Please explain.

If you trade for him, you get his RFA rights, which not only enables you to match any contract offer for him, but also to exceed the cap to resign him because he's your own player, like bird rights.

[Rosco917]

I like Sully, he's a special rebounder, a good passer, and has a solid basketball IQ, but he is not a max player. I would be in favor of signing him to a team friendly 3 year contract. Mostly because of his weight, injury and conditioning issues.

Sully has yet to prove he is able to cover most of the leagues power forwards on defense, he is covering the opposing teams center, using his bulk to control them from setting up in the paint. That would label him a center. Is he a starting center on a seriously contending team? That's the question the Celtics need to answer going forward. If Sully is your center, you should look for a stud power forward, with length, rim protecting ability, and solid scoring to pair with him.

If you say no, Sully isn't my choice as the starting center, then why give max money to what will end up a backup center. 

[sofutomygaha]

I agree that the long term value play is to trade him if possible. I don't think there will be an opportunity to do so of any interest. Sullinger's likely contract demand will already be a high price for his next team-- do they also need to pay in trade assets?

NOT trading Sullinger will be the best move for the 2015-16 Celtics morale and ultimate performance. I'm ok with that.

Of course extend him the qualifying offer. Best thing for us fans is for him to put off free agency one more year and reboot on the failed contract-year fitness campaign. If he finally gets in good shape, we can get psyched about giving him the max.

It might be the best thing for him, too, of course. He's playing well right now, but max bigs don't have .435 field goal percentages. A career year and good health would make him a max candidate. Right now, I don't think anyone will offer it to him.

[PhoSita]

I don't think anybody is gonna offer him a max, but with the cap environment next summer, at least one team will offer him a 3 or 4 year deal for $10-14 million a year.  Somebody will do it, even if all they're getting is a rebounding specialist who can pass and shoot a little bit.