Stop hoarding TP(E) - the what should the Celtics do with the TPE thread

What should the Celtics do with their TPE

  • Use it before the current season starts

    Votes: 6 4.6%
  • See what is available around the NBA trade deadline and level up for the playoffs

    Votes: 55 42.3%
  • Save it for next summer's free agent bonanza

    Votes: 69 53.1%

  • Total voters
    130

128

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Then maybe use a little more evidence than one box score.
Is Bjelica really a mystery for whom a case needs to be made in this forum? He's a career 39 percent shooter from 3-point range, though he's been below that this season, when the Kings, for whatever reason, didn't start playing him until recently.

I don't think it's a stretch to believe he'd provide some much-needed offense off the bench for Boston. You may disagree. But thanks for the advice on posting.

This is from today's Sacramento Bee:

Bjelica, 32, is making $7.15 million in the final year of a three-year deal with the Kings, a figure the Heat can absorb with its $7.6 million trade exception.

Bjelica started 137 games for the Kings over the past two seasons, but he had a reduced role this season and eventually dropped out of the rotation. After sitting out 14 consecutive games, Bjelica demonstrated his professionalism and readiness when coach Luke Walton called on him a week ago due to injuries.

Over the past four games — his first action since Jan. 9 — Bjelica averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game.

“To be honest with you, I work my a-- off,” Bjelica said. “That’s what everybody’s supposed to do when you’re out of the rotation or you don’t play or you play less.”

Teammates have seen Bjelica putting in that work.

“You always talk about what being a pro is and one of the things about being a pro is always being ready,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “Even during that stretch where he wasn’t paying, he’s always here. He’s one of the first guys in. He’s working out. He’s shooting the ball. He’s still working on his body. Even after games, he’d come upstairs and he’d condition after all games.

“He’s always ready. That’s what being a pro is and he’s one of those guys. He’s been a pro for a long time whether he was in Europe or here in the states. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what’s being asked of him and he was ready.”
 

chilidawg

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Is Bjelica really a mystery for whom a case needs to be made in this forum? He's a career 39 percent shooter from 3-point range, though he's been below that this season, when the Kings, for whatever reason, didn't start playing him until recently.

I don't think it's a stretch to believe he'd provide some much-needed offense off the bench for Boston. You may disagree. But thanks for the advice on posting.

This is from today's Sacramento Bee:

Bjelica, 32, is making $7.15 million in the final year of a three-year deal with the Kings, a figure the Heat can absorb with its $7.6 million trade exception.

Bjelica started 137 games for the Kings over the past two seasons, but he had a reduced role this season and eventually dropped out of the rotation. After sitting out 14 consecutive games, Bjelica demonstrated his professionalism and readiness when coach Luke Walton called on him a week ago due to injuries.

Over the past four games — his first action since Jan. 9 — Bjelica averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game.

“To be honest with you, I work my a-- off,” Bjelica said. “That’s what everybody’s supposed to do when you’re out of the rotation or you don’t play or you play less.”

Teammates have seen Bjelica putting in that work.

“You always talk about what being a pro is and one of the things about being a pro is always being ready,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “Even during that stretch where he wasn’t paying, he’s always here. He’s one of the first guys in. He’s working out. He’s shooting the ball. He’s still working on his body. Even after games, he’d come upstairs and he’d condition after all games.

“He’s always ready. That’s what being a pro is and he’s one of those guys. He’s been a pro for a long time whether he was in Europe or here in the states. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what’s being asked of him and he was ready.”
Thanks for this.
 

RedOctober3829

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The Celtics need to make some bigger moves than this, but what would it take to get Andre Igoudala out of Miami? I think this team desperately needs some veteran championship leadership. I honestly don't really care that he can't play much anymore. I think his value in the locker room would more than be worth it.
 

bankshot1

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The Celtics need to make some bigger moves than this, but what would it take to get Andre Igoudala out of Miami? I think this team desperately needs some veteran championship leadership. I honestly don't really care that he can't play much anymore. I think his value in the locker room would more than be worth it.
I was hoping TT was going to be that guy. With Smart sidelined, this team needs someone with the gravitas and resume to wake up the sleeperwalking Cs.

fwiw according to Wyc G the TPE is not going to be used for a major piece this year.
 

Saints Rest

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The Celtics need to make some bigger moves than this, but what would it take to get Andre Igoudala out of Miami? I think this team desperately needs some veteran championship leadership. I honestly don't really care that he can't play much anymore. I think his value in the locker room would more than be worth it.
I can't say if Drummond is the right peg to fill it, but I agree that this might be the right hole to fill. An under-performing team always strikes me as lacking leadership. And the youth of this roster, aside from Kemba, Thompson and Teague, also suggests this might be the case. Smart is, almost inarguably, the leader of this team, and their play in his absence suggests they miss that a lot, especially on the defensive end.
 

PedroKsBambino

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fwiw according to Wyc G the TPE is not going to be used for a major piece this year.
It is pretty easy to get comfortable with this given the tax situation and the way the team is playing. You hate to give up a year of Tatum/Brown control but the better decision may well be to hope that the right significant piece (or two pieces, which seems more likely to me) becomes available
 

Cellar-Door

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The Celtics need to make some bigger moves than this, but what would it take to get Andre Igoudala out of Miami? I think this team desperately needs some veteran championship leadership. I honestly don't really care that he can't play much anymore. I think his value in the locker room would more than be worth it.
Not sure I see the reason for Miami. They're no further out than us and he's playing 22 MPG for them
 

BigSoxFan

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It is pretty easy to get comfortable with this given the tax situation and the way the team is playing. You hate to give up a year of Tatum/Brown control but the better decision may well be to hope that the right significant piece (or two pieces, which seems more likely to me) becomes available
Yup. If this team were playing better maybe you open it up and there probably aren’t that many attractive options as it is.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I was of the belief that the optimal plan was to use roughly half this year (adding a rotation piece and staying under tax line) and the rest in offseason. But the first part of that now really requires a guy you think you can resign/have multiple years of control over or else it isn't worth giving up the asset to acquire them.
 

Cellar-Door

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Yeah, I'm coming around on the idea of not using the TPE this year.
Short season, extended playoffs and bunched up standings mean almost no sellers, so you're truly picking over the scrap heap.

I mean I see the clear seller as:
DET- they have nothing we would want
CLE- No impact players
MIN- They aren't trading Towns and we don't want Russell
HOU- They won't move Wood, I want no part of Oladipo's next contract
OKC- We didn't want that Horford contract when he signed it, still don't.

SAC might pack it in, and Barnes might make some sense if we were playing a lot better and thought he was the difference, but we aren't and he isn't.
WAS- Nothing we want but Beal and he's not moving (also doesn't fit the TPE)
ORL- can't see a deal (maybe Vuc, but C isn't a real need and they don't seem motivated to trade him)
NOP- they'd love us to eat Redick but we should have no interest

I think the Summer brings more opportunities. First, more teams willing to make moves, second you can more easily stagger moves (whether that means Kemba, or if say you use the TPE on a big, you can swap TT out for a wing or guard more easily). Also the less likely, but possible S&T (not full TPE obviously because of hard cap)
 

BigSoxFan

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It's definitely a thin list. Here are the guys making $10-15M. Most of those guys aren't worth giving up assets for and/or aren't available. Lonzo Ball is the only one who really intrigues me and he probably isn't available either. Like, I'd take Terence Ross on this team but I'm not giving up Romeo Langford or a 1st to do so along with the giving up on summer options. It's easy to say, "do something, Ainge!" but when you see the list...what exactly is he supposed to do?

Satoransky (10)
Hood (10)
Powell (10.2)
Lamb (10.5)
Richardson (10.8)
Ingles (10.9)
Ball (11)
Brooks (11.4)
Clarkson (11.5)
Nance (11.7)
Warren (11.7)
Caldwell-Pope (12.1)
Covington (12.1)
Snell (12.2)
Joseph (12.6)
Waiters (12.7)
Ariza (12.8)
Winslow (13)
Redick (13)
Mills (13.3)
Beasley (13.3)
Ross (13.3)
Young (13.5)
Barton (13.9)
Prince (13.9)
Gay (14)
Murray (14.3)
Oubre(14.4)
 

128

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It's definitely a thin list. Here are the guys making $10-15M. Most of those guys aren't worth giving up assets for and/or aren't available. Lonzo Ball is the only one who really intrigues me and he probably isn't available either. Like, I'd take Terence Ross on this team but I'm not giving up Romeo Langford or a 1st to do so along with the giving up on summer options. It's easy to say, "do something, Ainge!" but when you see the list...what exactly is he supposed to do?

Satoransky (10)
Hood (10)
Powell (10.2)
Lamb (10.5)
Richardson (10.8)
Ingles (10.9)
Ball (11)
Brooks (11.4)
Clarkson (11.5)
Nance (11.7)
Warren (11.7)
Caldwell-Pope (12.1)
Covington (12.1)
Snell (12.2)
Joseph (12.6)
Waiters (12.7)
Ariza (12.8)
Winslow (13)
Redick (13)
Mills (13.3)
Beasley (13.3)
Ross (13.3)
Young (13.5)
Barton (13.9)
Prince (13.9)
Gay (14)
Murray (14.3)
Oubre(14.4)
Satoransky, whom others here have mentioned, is intriguing. Is he a free agent after this season?

Barton is an instant-offense guy off the bench, but the price tag might be too dear.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Heh, I'd love Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench. I'd love Beasley and Murray too.

Murray I'm not sure is a fit alongside Smart though. Why wouldn't anyone want Beasley though? I'd gladly give up a first and Romeo for him. He's locked up for another 3 years too.

There is no way we would be able to get him or Minnesota is trading him.

I'd love TJ Warren too but I'm not sure what his injury status is.
 

nighthob

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It's definitely a thin list. Here are the guys making $10-15M. Most of those guys aren't worth giving up assets for and/or aren't available. Lonzo Ball is the only one who really intrigues me and he probably isn't available either.
NOP- they'd love us to eat Redick but we should have no interest
I mean I wouldn't mind Boston eating Redick's contract for Ball, but the Pelicants just want someone to relieve them of JJ's contract. Is New Orleans willing to trade a first this year for Boston's 2022 first in order to unload him?
 

benhogan

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Heh, I'd love Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench. I'd love Beasley and Murray too.

Murray I'm not sure is a fit alongside Smart though. Why wouldn't anyone want Beasley though? I'd gladly give up a first and Romeo for him. He's locked up for another 3 years too.

There is no way we would be able to get him or Minnesota is trading him.

I'd love TJ Warren too but I'm not sure what his injury status is.
Beasley comes with luggage

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30576749/minnesota-timberwolves-malik-beasley-pleads-guilty-felony-charge
 

benhogan

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Yeah, I'm coming around on the idea of not using the TPE this year.
Summer TPE? One option is to add 1 or 2 RFA that are young, ascending and fit JayCrew timeline.

See if a S&T works for a team that doesn't want to pay up.

RFAs available:
Norman Powell
Gary Trent Jr
Malik Monk
Lonzo Ball
John Collins- probably too expensive
Lauri Markkenan
Jarrett Allen
Duncan Robinson
Terence Davis
Josh Hart
Svi Mykhailiuk
Frankie Smokes
Devonte Graham
Kendrick Nunn
 
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DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Their target should be Vucevic. The rest of the names being brought up, ex Beal who is almost certainly going to draw a better package from another team, might get them a few more wins but Vucevic is, on paper, the best fit with the biggest upside.

He is reportedly not available but he is the one player who kind of ticks all the boxes. Multiple elite skills, plays a position of scarcity but also one most contenders have covered and is signed for two more seasons beyond this year so the presumably steep price to acquire him isn't too levered. And Orlando, despite saying everything to the contrary which is exactly how they should operate, has strong incentives to trade him if they decide to go the rebuild route. He clearly fits better with Boston's narrow window versus Orlando's almost invisible one. And its hard not to fantasize about a really skilled big working with Tatum, Brown, Walker and Smart. That five becomes very interesting if still short of talent overall to compete with the contenders.

I don't know if Boston has enough to shake him loose but they should be open to offering anyone not named Tatum, Brown and Smart in some combination with picks to pry him loose.
 

moondog80

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Their target should be Vucevic. The rest of the names being brought up, ex Beal who is almost certainly going to draw a better package from another team, might get them a few more wins but Vucevic is, on paper, the best fit with the biggest upside.

He is reportedly not available but he is the one player who kind of ticks all the boxes. Multiple elite skills, plays a position of scarcity but also one most contenders have covered and is signed for two more seasons beyond this year so the presumably steep price to acquire him isn't too levered. And Orlando, despite saying everything to the contrary which is exactly how they should operate, has strong incentives to trade him if they decide to go the rebuild route. He clearly fits better with Boston's narrow window versus Orlando's almost invisible one. And its hard not to fantasize about a really skilled big working with Tatum, Brown, Walker and Smart. That five becomes very interesting if still short of talent overall to compete with the contenders.

I don't know if Boston has enough to shake him loose but they should be open to offering anyone not named Tatum, Brown and Smart in some combination with picks to pry him loose.
I like Vucevic quite a bit. What kind of odds could you have gotten that he would end up being the most productive player out of the Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum trade?
 

Cellar-Door

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I mean I wouldn't mind Boston eating Redick's contract for Ball, but the Pelicants just want someone to relieve them of JJ's contract. Is New Orleans willing to trade a first this year for Boston's 2022 first in order to unload him?
Nope, they want a 2nd for Redick, they aren't paying to unload him he's a $13M expiring, no need to pay to get off that, just they'd like to move him to save money and pick up a negligible asset.

Ball they want real things for (also I wouldn't want him considering he's about to get overpaid and based on his agent and list of destinations is not looking to be the 4th banana here.)
 

peritas

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Their target should be Vucevic. The rest of the names being brought up, ex Beal who is almost certainly going to draw a better package from another team, might get them a few more wins but Vucevic is, on paper, the best fit with the biggest upside.

He is reportedly not available but he is the one player who kind of ticks all the boxes. Multiple elite skills, plays a position of scarcity but also one most contenders have covered and is signed for two more seasons beyond this year so the presumably steep price to acquire him isn't too levered. And Orlando, despite saying everything to the contrary which is exactly how they should operate, has strong incentives to trade him if they decide to go the rebuild route. He clearly fits better with Boston's narrow window versus Orlando's almost invisible one. And its hard not to fantasize about a really skilled big working with Tatum, Brown, Walker and Smart. That five becomes very interesting if still short of talent overall to compete with the contenders.

I don't know if Boston has enough to shake him loose but they should be open to offering anyone not named Tatum, Brown and Smart in some combination with picks to pry him loose.

I think the smart move is to stay the course and not do anything. Our window is open for multiple years.
 

benhogan

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Vucevic is more of a GFIN move and I'm getting a sense that they are waiting until the Summer to do something big.

Adding Vuc probably means subtracting Kemba, any ideas around that conundrum?

if Danny could staple assets to Kemba and turn it into Vucevic god bless
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Orlando is unlikely to want any part of Walker or his contract. That is a sunk cost and if he is as cooked as some here think, they should be GFIN. If his knee is degenerating but slowly enough that he can operate at ~75%-80% of what he was, they absolutely should go for it now. The thing about Vucevic is that they have him for two more years beyond now so even a trade for him really isn't a GFIN move in the truest sense. Adding him also may increase the chance of attracting a buyout candidate.
 

bankshot1

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Wyc was on with Felger today and said that the opportunities over the summer will be much greater to utilize the TPE than at the deadline.
He was more specific than that. He said as the Celts were hard-capped, they could not go over the apron, ($138m) making it all but impossible to use the TPE on a significant player this season, but he expeced to use it next year and go over the apron.
 

benhogan

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Orlando is unlikely to want any part of Walker or his contract. That is a sunk cost and if he is as cooked as some here think, they should be GFIN. If his knee is degenerating but slowly enough that he can operate at ~75%-80% of what he was, they absolutely should go for it now. The thing about Vucevic is that they have him for two more years beyond now so even a trade for him really isn't a GFIN move in the truest sense. Adding him also may increase the chance of attracting a buyout candidate.
what would you be willing to give up to get Vucevic?
 

lexrageorge

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He was more specific than that. He said as the Celts were hard-capped, they could not go over the apron, ($138m) making it all but impossible to use the TPE on a significant player this season, but he expeced to use it next year and go over the apron.
Correct. The Celtics have $19.8M of room under the apron, which they cannot exceed. Hard to see who would fit in there. Unsaid by Wyc is that the team has $13.5M left under the tax threshold, which they are unlikely to want to exceed this season barring something unforseen.

Their ability to use the TPE in a sign-and-trade during the offseason could be limited somewhat. The team will only be about $10M under the apron next year. But it's easier to exchange contracts during the offseason if needed, and they may not even need to do a S&T for the player they want. They will be paying the tax anyway, so the tax threshold will not be a factor.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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what would you be willing to give up to get Vucevic?
His cost, if he goes on the market is likely to be very high. My guess is they ask for both Pritchard and Nesmith - and would get one of two. Then maybe something like Theis and a lot of pick assets. But that is just a guess.

As a side note, the fact that Orlando is making a point to say to NBA media types that they love 30 year old Vuvevic and plan to build around him is amusing given their record as well as their roster. They may well be sincere but public comments like that and those from Wyc may also be posturing. Each Boston loss gives trade partners some leverage so appearing to bow out makes sense at this point. And it is true that the off-season is more ideal for large roster moves. However if a player like that becomes available to a team like Boston at this point in their development curve, they should pursue it aggressively, regardless of what their record is at the halfway point of the season.
 

Saints Rest

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Correct. The Celtics have $19.8M of room under the apron, which they cannot exceed. Hard to see who would fit in there. Unsaid by Wyc is that the team has $13.5M left under the tax threshold, which they are unlikely to want to exceed this season barring something unforseen.

Their ability to use the TPE in a sign-and-trade during the offseason could be limited somewhat. The team will only be about $10M under the apron next year. But it's easier to exchange contracts during the offseason if needed, and they may not even need to do a S&T for the player they want. They will be paying the tax anyway, so the tax threshold will not be a factor.
I started this season on the "Use the TPE mid-season to fill a hole" but am now moving to the "save it for the off-season when they can use it all on one guy." That said, can someone clarify some cap rules for me, if they were to use it this season?

If I understand correctly, unlike other sports, the NBA cap is all predicated on how a team ENDS it's season, not how it starts, nor is there any pro-rating of salaries. So if the Celt's made a trade today of someone like Romeo for a future draft pick, then Romeo's salary for this season (roughly $3.6Mil) would come off the cap, and thus both numbers listed by lexrageorge above would increase by that amount (roughly $3.6Mil in the case of Romeo). Is that correct?
 

lexrageorge

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I started this season on the "Use the TPE mid-season to fill a hole" but am now moving to the "save it for the off-season when they can use it all on one guy." That said, can someone clarify some cap rules for me, if they were to use it this season?

If I understand correctly, unlike other sports, the NBA cap is all predicated on how a team ENDS it's season, not how it starts, nor is there any pro-rating of salaries. So if the Celt's made a trade today of someone like Romeo for a future draft pick, then Romeo's salary for this season (roughly $3.6Mil) would come off the cap, and thus both numbers listed by lexrageorge above would increase by that amount (roughly $3.6Mil in the case of Romeo). Is that correct?
The short answer was given by @nighthob , so I will just add some detail.

Because the Celtics are over the soft cap, they would normally have a full $28.5M with which to add a player. Basically, the incoming salaries could be up to $28.6M ($28.5 + $100K) greater than any outgoing salary. Except there are 2 limitations that apply this season:

a.) The Celtics have $13.5M of space under the luxury tax threshold. If they cross it, they pay a repeater tax because they were over it last season, and will also have to pay repeater next season, as their committed salaries are essentially at the tax threshold already.

b.) Because the Celtics used the full MLE to sign Tristan Thompson, they have a hard cap at the apron, which is $139M, giving them $19.8M of usable TPE space. So if the salaries they receive in a trade exceed this, they will have to send out additional salary to stay under the apron.

Once the new league year starts this summer, the Celtics will no longer be hard-capped at the apron, so they would have the full $28.5M available. The same salary matching rules still apply. There are some potential gotchas, however:

1.) The team will be in luxury tax territory, so it will be Wyc's decision as to how much tax dollars they want to pay to bring a player in. I don't believe it will be much of a consideration if the team appears to be on the threshold of contention, but I'm not Joe from accounting either

2.) If the Celtics acquire an RFA or UFA via a sign-and-trade, they will be hard-capped at the apron once again, which gives them only $10M or so available. So they would need to send out the appropriate matching salaries in any such trade.

3.) The Celtics could try to sign RFA or UFA outright, but they would only have the taxpayer MLE available.

4.) The Celtics could try to trade for a player under contract, in which case they have the full TPE available (assuming #1 is not an issue). They just need to find a willing trade partner.

I wouldn't rule out the Celtics making a move this season, but it seems unlikely barring something unforseen.

EDIT: Thank you @DGreenwood
 
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peritas

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The short answer was given by @nighthob , so I will just add some detail.

Because the Celtics are over the soft cap, they would normally have a full $28.5M with which to add a player. Basically, the incoming salaries could be up to $28.6M ($28.5 + $100K) greater than any outgoing salary. Except there are 2 limitations that apply this season:

a.) The Celtics have $13.5M of space under the luxury tax threshold. If they cross it, they pay a repeater tax because they were over it last season, and will also have to pay repeater next season, as their committed salaries are essentially at the tax threshold already.

b.) Because the Celtics used the full MLE to sign Tristan Thompson, they have a hard cap at the apron, which is $139M, giving them $19.8M of usable TPE space. So if the salaries they receive in a trade exceed this, they will have to send out additional salary to stay under the apron.

Once the new league year starts this summer, the Celtics will no longer be hard-capped at the apron, so they would have the full $28.5M available. The same salary matching rules still apply. There are some potential gotchas, however:

1.) The team will be in luxury tax territory, so it will be Wyc's decision as to how much tax dollars they want to pay to bring a player in. I don't believe it will be much of a consideration if the team appears to be on the threshold of contention, but I'm not Joe from accounting either

2.) If the Celtics acquire an RFA or UFA via a sign-and-trade, they will be hard-capped at the apron once again, which gives them only $10M or so available. So they would need to send out the appropriate matching salaries in any such trade.

3.) The Celtics could try to sign RFA or UFA outright, but they would only have the taxpayer MLE available.

4.) The Celtics could try to trade for a player under contract, in which case they have the full TPE available (assuming #1 is not an issue). They just need to find a willing trade partner.

I wouldn't rule out the Celtics making a move this season, but it seems unlikely barring something unforseen.
Thanks. This is a great explanation. I also think the Celtics should try to figure out which bench guys they like long term and give them a lot of playing time. Perhaps even play themselves into the lottery.
 

DGreenwood

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Because the Celtics are over the soft cap, they would normally have a full $28.5M with which to add a player. Basically, the incoming salaries could be up to $28.6M ($28.5 + $100K) greater than any outgoing salary.
Thanks for a good summary but I think there's a mistake in the portion above. 100% of the salary acquired while using the TPE has to fit within the TPE. You don't get to combine outgoing salary with the TPE to acquire a player(s) making more than the TPE.

This is why people have been perplexed that the Cs didn't ask Charlotte to structure Hayward's contract so that the TPE was $100k higher, allowing Bradley Beal to fit into the TPE. If they could combine the TPE with outgoing salary they could fit Beal by including any single player on the roster.
 
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nighthob

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I covered this at the time, but it’s not actually perplexing. 2021 and 2022 salaries are imaginary given the modified escrow rules. So even though the Hornets could have paid Hayward $30 million per year, Hayward likely demanded the structuring so that he made more in the ‘23 and ‘24 seasons where the salaries are real (normal escrow rules) rather than the years where the NBA will be escrowing 18% with the option of clawing back more if revenues don’t meet projections.
 

DGreenwood

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I covered this at the time, but it’s not actually perplexing. 2021 and 2022 salaries are imaginary given the modified escrow rules. So even though the Hornets could have paid Hayward $30 million per year, Hayward likely demanded the structuring so that he made more in the ‘23 and ‘24 seasons where the salaries are real (normal escrow rules) rather than the years where the NBA will be escrowing 18% with the option of clawing back more if revenues don’t meet projections.
That makes sense. Now I wish I hadn't edited my original post to add that second paragraph about Beal. But the point still stands that they can't combine the TPE and outgoing salary to fit Beal's salary (or the salary of any player making more than the TPE), which has been updated on the original post, so all is good.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Thanks. This is a great explanation. I also think the Celtics should try to figure out which bench guys they like long term and give them a lot of playing time. Perhaps even play themselves into the lottery.
I think Ainge has a good idea on which bench guys he likes long term by reading between the lines of his comments.....

Ainge: "I think we need to surround (Brown and Tatum) with more scoring. We need more dynamic talent off the bench. We need guys who won't be subservient to them, but guys who will complement them."
 

nighthob

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That makes sense. Now I wish I hadn't edited my original post to add that second paragraph about Beal. But the point still stands that they can't combine the TPE and outgoing salary to fit Beal's salary (or the salary of any player making more than the TPE), which has been updated on the original post, so all is good.
Oh, yeah. People always seem to forget that TPE is shorthand for “non-simultaneous trade” and that you’re bound by the salaries of the original deal. It’s like the NBA version of a 1031 exchange.
 

Auger34

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I think Ainge has a good idea on which bench guys he likes long term by reading between the lines of his comments.....

Ainge: "I think we need to surround (Brown and Tatum) with more scoring. We need more dynamic talent off the bench. We need guys who won't be subservient to them, but guys who will complement them."
Which bench guys do you think he’s referring to here?
I know that they love Pritchard. I Imagine they’re still on board with Langford and Nesmith
 

Cellar-Door

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Which bench guys do you think he’s referring to here?
I know that they love Pritchard. I Imagine they’re still on board with Langford and Nesmith
Grant and Semi seem the obvious ones as non-dynamic. Carsen is probably the flip side of not knowing his role is to be a complementary player and take open shots not dominate the ball
 

Auger34

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Oh, yeah. People always seem to forget that TPE is shorthand for “non-simultaneous trade” and that you’re bound by the salaries of the original deal. It’s like the NBA version of a 1031 exchange.
So, in effect, the TPE wouldn’t help out in any potential Beal acquisition at all?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Which bench guys do you think he’s referring to here?
I know that they love Pritchard. I Imagine they’re still on board with Langford and Nesmith
Most of the bench sans Pritchard and maybe TL. Based on Ainge using those specific adjectives he seems to be pointing toward upgrading the Grant, Nesmith, Teague and Semi minutes. I don’t think Ainge included Romeo in either group as he hasn’t been on the floor. At this point anything out of him is a bonus.
 

Cellar-Door

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Most of the bench sans Pritchard and maybe TL. Based on Ainge using those specific adjectives he seems to be pointing toward upgrading the Grant, Nesmith, Teague and Semi minutes. I don’t think Ainge included Romeo in either group as he hasn’t been on the floor. At this point anything out of him is a bonus.
I don't think Nesmith is in that group, he's a rookie with what should be a complementary skill-set. I do think it's basically saying... yeah the low ceiling wings need to go.
 

Auger34

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I don't think Nesmith is in that group, he's a rookie with what should be a complementary skill-set. I do think it's basically saying... yeah the low ceiling wings need to go.
That’s my read too. I think this is a major vote against Semi, Grant and Teague. Also that the 6th through 8th men in the rotation need to be majorly improved