The Unwise Will Overpay This Free Agency (And Other Worries)

[meangreenmachine]

There will clearly be too much money chasing too few good players this offseason, so if we are unable to sign Durant or Howard I strongly hope we simply take the options on JJ and Johnson, look at a couple one year contracts for aging role players, perhaps re-sign Turner for a hometeam discount, and look forward to next offseason when far fewer teams will have considerable cap space. I can be patient if things do not align this offseason. How do you feel about this issue?

From my vantage point, three bad things can happen this offseason: we overpay in free agency for talent that marginally upgrades us (Harrison Barnes), we end up selecting eight players in the draft (unable to consolidate), we end up overpaying in a trade for Butler or Love (least likely). Am I missing any other fears (injuries excluded)?

[AngryAndIrritable]

I can't see us going for the status quo re: our draft picks. If no good trade is doable then we try and move up or move a year or two back. A lot of teams will have a bit of cap space this year. Let them make the mistakes if no clear opportunity arises.

[CoachBo]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

[CelticSooner]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

If improving the team means handcuffing your future without being a legit contender no thanks.

[tarheelsxxiii]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

Boom. Someone who sees the situation clearly.

"No, I don't want to sign a guy that just turned 24 and would be our best 2 way player from day 1." Makes a lot of sense, guys.

[Phantom255x]

Here's the thing. Even if the Celtics give out one max contract, they still have about 25M in cap space left and with the cap likely to rise another 10-15M next season they wouldn't be struggling with the cap in future years. 

If you can get a guy like Whiteside for the max, then I'm all for it.

Harrison Barnes? Hell no.

As long as Ainge wisely gives a "'Max Player" a max contract I'm good. Guys like Whiteside are worth max. And I mean guys with a max around 22-26M, not 30+M.

[meangreenmachine]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

Boom. Someone who sees the situation clearly.

"No, I don't want to sign a guy that just turned 24 and would be our best 2 way player from day 1." Makes a lot of sense, guys.

Have you watched the Finals? Barnes is not going to make us contenders. He is barely an upgrade over Crowder and not even an upgrade when you consider he would cost 200-300% more.

[86MaxwellSmart]

If the Warriors had Crowder instead of Barnes---this series was over in 5

[Bucketgetter]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

Boom. Someone who sees the situation clearly.

"No, I don't want to sign a guy that just turned 24 and would be our best 2 way player from day 1." Makes a lot of sense, guys.

Have you watched the Finals? Barnes is not going to make us contenders. He is barely an upgrade over Crowder and not even an upgrade when you consider he would cost 200-300% more.

You can't dictate our free agent signings based on the value deals we already have, otherwise you won't be signing anybody because everything will look like a bad deal compared to Crowder, AB, and IT.

[Beat LA]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

Boom. Someone who sees the situation clearly.

"No, I don't want to sign a guy that just turned 24 and would be our best 2 way player from day 1." Makes a lot of sense, guys.

Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't sign a guy to a max deal just because he'd be our best two way player.  Unless the guy is a star, I'd hope that the standard for such a contract would be higher than that, you know?

[meangreenmachine]

The fear that exists here for improving the Celtics never ceases to amaze me.

Boom. Someone who sees the situation clearly.

"No, I don't want to sign a guy that just turned 24 and would be our best 2 way player from day 1." Makes a lot of sense, guys.

Have you watched the Finals? Barnes is not going to make us contenders. He is barely an upgrade over Crowder and not even an upgrade when you consider he would cost 200-300% more.

You can't dictate our free agent signings based on the value deals we already have, otherwise you won't be signing anybody because everything will look like a bad deal compared to Crowder, AB, and IT.

In my view, we only deal a max contract to a guy if he can possibly upgrade us to the second or third seed next season, and give us a possibility of going all the way (for example, we get hot just as the Cavs are getting cold). The only players I see capable of that are Durant and possibly Howard.

[CoachBo]

This team as currently constituted is quite mediocre. It needs improved athleticism and shooting on the floor, and it needs it now.

I really don't care about Grousbeck's money, or about this bizarre affection some have with the current mediocrity. This is the Boston Celtics. We don't settle for mediocrity. Any veteran that can be obtained who is athletic and can shoot should be. The answer is not to turn this team into an expansion club full of mid-round and 2nd round draft choices.