Do you guys think our ownership will pay the luxury tax necessary to compete with the Warriors and Cavs? They have seem reluctant to do so in the past. It has me worried as a fan.
It depends what you mean by "luxury tax" and "reluctant". They were one of the top taxpayers during the KG era, when they won a title and made a second finals. So they've shown themselves willing to pay the luxury tax to put forth a true championship contender.
At the same time, I think the Warriors are going to show themselves as being willing to cross the $200 million cap+tax amount for multiple years in a row, which is a level I don't expect the Celtics to hit. So pay the tax, yes, beginning in 2018 I think they'll do that for a couple of seasons. Have the hugest salary in the league? No, probably not that.
Why would they pay the tax if we're not actually a true contender? We should be a playoff team regardless.
It depends on your definition of "true title contender". They paid the tax for six straight seasons, during which we won one title, went to another finals, went to a conference finals, and had some early exits. Were we a title contender that entire six-season stretch?
But essentially, if ownership is still talking about adding a max player this summer, and they are, that means they are willing to be a taxpaying team in 2018, even if you personally don't think adding Hayward or Griffin, or trading for George, brings us to "true contender." They're going to tell Hayward, or Griffin, or George if he's traded for, that they will go into the luxury tax to keep their core players next year, particularly Isaiah.
