Well, it’s time to talk about the Celtics trade exception for the millionth time.
Boston in the last off-season won the NBA record of $ 28.5 million Traded Player Exception (TPE), thanks to its signature and exchange with the Hornets that took Gordon Hayward to Charlotte. Since then, there has been rampant speculation about when and about whom the Celtics could use TPE.
The exceptionally commercial things can get a little confusing, and we don’t want to bog you down with NBA luxury salary / tax cap jargon. All you really need to know is that TPE gives Celtics an extra $ 28.5 million of roof space to work on until it expires on the anniversary of the Hayward deal.
Teams are not limited to using their commercial exceptions when purchasing a single player. Boston could use the $ 28.5 million to sign / negotiate for multiple players, instead of using everything for a high-priced acquisition. Then, they could use a part of the TPE to execute the alleged Aaron Gordon-Evan Fournier agreement and still have some money to work on the next off-season.
Danny Ainge has so far indicated that he will probably wait until summer to use TPE. But with the rumors linking Boston to Gordon and Atlanta Hawks’ great man John Collins, it is fair to wonder if the Celtics will use the exception ahead of the NBA’s negotiation deadline on Thursday.
But he must do they use TPE before the deadline? (And by “using”, we mean same use it – not just a few million.)
Let’s get into that.
The Case For
This may sound like a police officer, but if the Celtics think they’ve found the right deal, they should totally use it.
(Whether a Gordon or Collins-centered business would be the “right” business is a conversation for another column. But for now and for the sake of argument, let’s say that switching Marcus Smart for Gordon and Fournier is a good move.)
In this scenario, the Celtics may enter the next off-season as a much more attractive destination for NBA players dissatisfied with their current environment. Sure, it doesn’t look like many high-end players will be available through free retail or agency this summer, but that could change overnight. The NBA is crazy.
The Celtics would have to free up space to add another star player, but this could be done by simply letting Fournier enter the game. It is entirely possible that Boston could have Gordon, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen and Kemba Walker on their list and still have more than $ 20 million to work.
But forget all that for now. There is no guarantee that the Celtics will find a better option this off-season than before the deadline. Most, if not all, of the players set to target the free agency this summer are not realistic targets for Boston. Kawhi Leonard, for example, is not giving up and joining the Celtics.
In addition, if the Celtics wait until the summer, business partners will know that Ainge is desperate and could make a deal more difficult. Boston would already have one same It is difficult to negotiate for a top level player without including Tatum or Brown.
So use it now. Take a hit.
The Case Against
There is something to be said about not taking a step just to do.
The Celtics may actually have better options available this summer, especially if they are not what high in Gordon or Collins. Perhaps Ainge can do some magic and find the perfect move for a team that, with all its talent, is spinning its wheels.
If the Celtics find an exchange ahead of time that seriously improves their long-term prospects, that’s one thing. But it is hard to imagine that they will find anything before Thursday that will improve their luck this season. If you’ve watched Brad Stevens’ team in the past few months, you’re a flawed group who probably don’t stand a chance in the playoffs, if they qualify for the postseason.
Ultimately, Ainge and the rest of the Celtics front office may want to accept the fact that this season is beyond repair. Wait until summer and redo the list.
Miniature photo via Greg M. Cooper / USA TODAY Sports Images