That's a different formulation than you stated before, and as I said I'm open to hearing the trades that generate both cost-savings and similar talent. What are they?
The flexibility you imagine may or may not be real---that's the challenge here. We don't know the tax line or repeater provisions going forward, and we don't know ownership's willingness to spend. The payroll will rise as guys get extensions (or, they'll have issues with talent if picks don't merit extensions) so the flexibility is pretty limited either way. They are looking at mostly over the cap choices and managing tax bills for years.
The other takeaway on this discussion is that there's a lot of logic to Hayward opting out for purpose of signing a several-year extension if he's interested. Which he very well might be, but we can't know for sure. That's a mechanism to get under now (combined with other moves) but impacts you in future years too....while preserving his salary slot.
Everything the Celtics do should be balanced around Tatum/Brown peak timeline, that's obvious, been saying that since last summer. I'll add that disclaimer from now on.
The trade market is fluid from now until the trade deadline next season. I'm not about to guess which teams will be buyers/sellers in the next 6-7mths. But I'm guessing the CAP and salary will be an even bigger issue going forward. Talent will be available outside of MLE players during the course of next season.
The Celtics should be stocked with cheap, young, controlled players unless of course, you start packaging them away now with Kanter, Poirier, etc. Which is short term thinking IMO. What does that accomplish? Saving the owners a bit of $$$ in 2021 but still, live in repeater hell.
GH will be on a 1yr deal, on the other side of 30, has trouble staying healthy and whose role will continue to diminish with the emergence of Tatum/Brown. Extending him for big money($20MM +++) is even more silly. 32yr old Gordon costing us 28yr old Marcus Smart in 2 seasons is again, short-sighted. Right when Jaylen and Tatum will start peaking.
I get that trading Gordon before next season isn't exactly selling high. And agree that the present class of MLE is next to useless. BUT I value the CAP flexibility to add talent over the next 6 months over GH's expected contributions in 2021. I also value Romeo/Grants' development curves more than most so I'm probably guilty of thinking they can step into larger roles next season.
As far as GH trade ideas, the
Nighthob suggestion of a 3-team GS/Knicks/C's has always intrigued me and makes some sense for all involved.