The Celtics have three more days to decide whether to pick up the third-year-option on Guerschon Yabusele, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.
The team’s other option decisions are easy, with Jayson Tatum sure to get $7.83MM in his third season and Jaylen Brown $6,534,829 in his fourth. Committing $3,117,240 to Yabusele, who isn’t part of the rotation, is a tougher call, especially with the team projected to be well into luxury tax territory if Kyrie Irving and Al Horford both opt out and re-sign as expected.
Adding in tax payments, the final cost for Yabusele would be in excess of $6MM, which is a high price tag for a player who is only playing 3.8 minutes per night and got into just 33 games as a rookie.
Yabusele said he hasn’t heard anything from team officials about their plans, but his preference is to remain with the franchise.
“I would love to be back here with the team,” he said. “The Celtics are a great organization, so if I have a chance to be back here, I would love to do that.”
The Celtics’ other choice is to decline the option now and take their chances on re-signing Yabusele as an unrestricted free agent in July. There’s risk involved because Yabusele could become much more expensive if he has a productive season. Other teams would also have an advantage because Boston would be limited to the $3,117,240 figure as a starting point for any new offer.
Bulpett notes that if the Celtics decide to pick up his option, they will face the same decision again next fall when he will have a fourth-year option of $4,781,846.
Didn’t draft experts tab him to be the next Draymond?
French Draymond
Just like Hezonja was the Croatian Kobe….
Watch Ainge trade him for two first rounders.
Boston should consider giving that 6 million to theis. He is a very solid backup and doesn’t do anything outside his comfort Zone.
I like Yabusele. Celtics should hold onto him as a small 5
You have to be able to guard every position & be a good roller or pick & pop. Yabusele is neither of what I just mentioned.
I agree and still don’t understand the hype coming out of Europe. Thought at worst that he would be a Big Baby Davis type but it seems like his biggest talent is cheering and yucking it up on the bench. I know some GM’s were intrigued by him last year, so hopefully Ainge can still get something for him.
I’d pick it up because he should be tradable at 3 million even if he doesn’t find his way into the rotation. I know there isn’t a ton of free cap space but he’d fit into small trade exceptions and surely they could get a future second rounder projected to be in the 50’s at least.
Potentially 3 first round picks next year. Can’t tie that money up. Teams will low ball you on offers.
If you can find a trade with that contract or if you know for sure Marcus Morris isn’t coming back, then maybe you exercise it. Otherwise, take your chances in free agency. Yabusele isn’t going to see enough significant time to be a truly productive player this season.
Need to try and trade for a cheap Big… RoWill and Yab for a WCS type contract.
With Baynes and Al you need to keep RoWill. I think he will be better than WCS in another year or two anyway and cheaper. Yabu could probably get bench minutes for one of these garbage teams out there. Can’t do anything big till Kyrie resigns and Al takes a paycut.
Demetris Nichols a sharpshooter in the Italy league lead the Euro league in 3 point field goal is ready to get back in the league
Demetris Nichols a sharpshooter in the Italy league lead the Euro league in 3 point field goal is ready to get back in the league he’s from Boston
ainge knew yabs was a long-term investment. similar to pennystock there’s a chance his stock rockets to the moon, unfortunately he’s buried in a deep rotation. yabs is a year a-way from being a year a-way.