On Thursday night, Kyrie Irving announced to fans at a Celtics event that he plans to re-sign with the club next July when he can become a free agent. Irving’s verbal commitment to the Celtics doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything, since a lot can change between now and July 1. But it was a rare declaration for a star free-agent-to-be — even if a player ultimately intends to re-sign with his current team, he’ll usually hedge his bets this far out, talking about how he wants to “focus on the season” or how he knows the NBA is “a business.”
Irving stating in no uncertain terms that he intends to remain a Celtic going forward is great news for the franchise, but it also casts some uncertainty on Terry Rozier‘s future with the team. If Irving receives a maximum-salary contract from Boston next summer, the club would be committing an estimated $45MM to Irving and Marcus Smart in 2019/20, with that number projected to increase to $52MM+ by 2021/22.
That’s already a lot of money to invest in a pair of point guards, and adding a lucrative new deal for Rozier on top of that would probably be financially irresponsible. After all, based on what he showed down the stretch last season, Rozier should have a great chance to match – if not exceed – Smart’s four-year, $52MM contract as a restricted free agent in 2019. By re-signing him, Boston would be looking at using well over half of its cap room on point guards.
We don’t know for sure that Irving will get the full max from the Celtics. And it’s possible that the team could consider moving Smart to create additional cap flexibility. It’s even conceivable that the C’s could bite the bullet and re-sign Rozier without cutting costs elsewhere, since no cap rules prevent them from doing so — it would simply result in a big tax bill.
Still, it seems like something’s got to give.
Trading Rozier in advance of the 2019 deadline might allow the team to maximize his value, but that seems unlikely as long as the Celtics are vying for a title. Waiting until free agency in 2019 and hoping to negotiate a trade at that point is another option, but it’s a risky one, since there would be nothing stopping Rozier from signing an offer sheet outright with a rival suitor. Matching an offer sheet for Rozier with the intent to cut costs later would also be dangerous, since potential trade partners could drive a harder bargain knowing that the C’s are anxious to reduce their tax bill.
What do you think? What path will the Celtics take with Rozier, with Irving now on track to re-sign? What should the team do with him?
Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
The best option would be to capitalize on Scary Terry’s value right now and try to squeeze out a first round pick from somebody. If they wait until the regular season his stock will go down since he’ll have a diminished role with Irving back. There’s also 0 chance that Ainge will be willing to pay him and Rozier will probably ask for Smart’s deal
Celtics don’t need more first round picks. It’s better to include Rozier in a pick-heavy package for an established star.
I am still wanting to say he’ll be back. I’m still not sold on Kyrie coming back to Boston. There’s still a great chance he comes back as the team’s starting PG.
They aren’t going to trade him until Kyrie signs. There’s too much risk otherwise. Smart is a terrific player off the bench but he’s not a starting point guard so of Kyrie leaves and they have already traded Rozier they’re screwed.
I think the way of the new NBA will see more and more teams playing two+ pg lineups to maximize ball-handling and play-making.
It used to be you needed 2 good pg, and a 3rd backup that would never play. Now I think you need to be at least 3 deep, with a 4th who can actually play minutes.
I’m not sure what the Celtics will do… but they should keep Rozier.
Is this even a discussion? Y’all thought kyrie was leaving now your worried about rozier? Rozier is a bum back up at best. This article makes it sound like its sad kyrie is coming back, i am sure celtics would disagree lol. Rozier is at best a back up pg, i am sure though however that danny ainge can finesse someone for a 1st rounder for him, maybe phoenix? The real question is why they paid smart so much when he looks like a bust lol
Do you… do you watch basketball?
I agree though. They overpaid Smart. He’s a defensive stud, but offensively he’s a black hole. I don’t think a good basketball anywhere else would’ve given him that much. This kinda assured that they can’t keep Rozier, if Kyrie stays.
However I kinda think of Rozier as Reggie Jackson 2.0. He’s shown some flashes and played well as a starter in last year’s playoffs surrounded by a lot of good young talent. However, if another team gives him a big deal expecting him to run the show, I can see a lot of mediocrity to follow
Not really. I think its fair to say Rozier is a system player, but I don’t see Rozier turning into a mediocre type of player. His skill set is also way different than Reggie Jackson’s too where Jackson is more of a pass first PG while Rozier can be more of a scorer.
Danny will lowball Kyrie and Knicks will overpay. Rozier resigns with Boston.
Since Marcus Smart is playing shooting guard, Rozier is Boston’s only backup point guard unless you count Brad Wanamaker. They wouldn’t deal him unless they could get a point guard in return, and it would have to be at what he is making now. With 4 potential 1st round picks next summer, Boston will have options.
With max and supermax contracts, I wonder what percent of the players who signed at or near the max, have remained with their home team in the last 5 years? I’ll bet it’s very high. Cousins had to leave because of his achilles. LeBron left because of his desire to be a billionaire. I think most are staying where they are at. Like Brad Stevens said, “I’ll let our season speak for itself.” That’s why Kyrie announced he’s staying.
Roziers best story is that his dad gets to watch him play for the first time in his life Saturday night. His dad has spent 23 of the last 25 years in prison and just got out. Terry just bought him clothes, a house, and got him a good job where they grew up in Youngstown, Ohio.
“It’s even conceivable that the C’s could bite the bullet and re-sign Rozier without cutting costs elsewhere, since no cap rules prevent them from doing so…”
But wouldn’t those cap rules in turn prevent the Celtics from signing anyone else?
They’d probably be in the tax either way, so not really.
Unless you mean would the cap rules prevent them from signing anyone else in the same price range as Rozier to replace him. In which case, yes.
The core for the future celtics should be Tatum-Brown-Rozier-Smart. The question is whether the win the championship this year or not, but as of next year they should work towards winning with that core. Irving-Horford-Hayward would be great for the next 2-3 years, but not more than that.
The Celtics paid Smart because of his =/- on the floor. They played a lot better with him on the floor last season than when he was injured.
With up to 4 1st round picks next year the Celtics can do several things. Like the Warriors and Rockets, they just need to be creative. With 5 potential All Stars in the starting line up, they just need to concentrate on improving the bench.
All those picks mean nothing when there isnt enough play time to go around. Tatum is gonna be wasted playing behind hayward who has his limitations offensively and defensively. Same goes for horford, the next couple years are gonna be intresting to see how they make it work. I forsee that hayward deal looking really bad in a year or so. Celtics were really hanging their hat on getting ad and now with him signing with rich paul that doesnt look like a possiblity.
Horford, Tatum, Hayward, Stevens, Thiel, and Smart can all play multiple positions. Where the picks and all the Celtics talent comes in will come into play if Anthony Davis declines his extension, the Celtics will be the primary trade target with the most assets. All teams use 8-9 players, and the Celtics will too. It’s the guys 10-12, the g leaguers that won’t play. Stevens is the best coach in the NBA at figuring out rotations. That’s why his players love him.
Meant Brown not Stevens. The Athletic has an article now saying Boston and Los Angeles would be the leaders for Davis and Boston has by far the most to offer. L.A. would have to sign Davis. They’d have to trade Ingram, Kuzma, and Hart to get him.
The Athletic article says Kyrie and Anthony Davis have already spoken to each other about playing in Boston. With Kyrie securely now in Boston, he can try to recruit his superteam.
Yeah but davis just bought a house in los angeles and is represented by rich paul lebrons best friend. Dont see them dealing with celtics sorry to burst your bubble. Also lakers pieces outside of tatum are much much better. Hart, kuzma, ingram all look like what would building blocks for this team or another. Honestly though i think kuzma is the one to be delt either at deadline this year or next offseason along with picks for anthony davis.
This couldn’t happen for 2 more years when Davis can opt out of his contract. To have the money the Lakers would have to sign players to one year contracts like last summer, and hope they have cap space to sign him 2 years from now.
Like I said when Popovich was dealing with the Lakers, he asked for Ingram, Kuzma, Hart, and the right to swap 2 1st round picks. New Orleans would do the same. The Lakers core would be gone. I know you’re a Lakers fan. You have them getting DeRozan, George, Butler, Kawhi, Durant, Thompson, etc. LOL. Bill Simmons knows sports. He said LeBron won’t win a championship in L.A. You are mindbogling.
I think the play of Marcus smart this year is what determines the future for terry rozier
Trade Rozier???
So, Kyrie’s statement about re-signing just made everybody totally forget the one thing they DO know about him…. that at some point this season he’ll get hurt and they’ll need Rozier to finish the season and the Playoffs for them
scary terry = kyrie’s knee insurance. he’s a great fit on the celtics, similar to klay thomas and the warriors. don’t be shocked if danny makes a trade