Now that Draymond Green is off the 2020 free agent market, demand could be higher for a pair of Celtics next summer, writes Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Green’s four-year extension with the Warriors could bring more attention to Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward if they both opt for free agency in 11 months.
Brown is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, but Forsberg doesn’t expect that to happen before the October deadline. If there’s no deal, Brown will become a restricted free agent and Boston will be able to match any offer he receives. Forsberg notes that Jamal Murray and Ben Simmons, two other players from Brown’s draft class, have already agreed to max extensions. However, Brown’s uneven production and the absence of teams with significant cap room next year take away the incentive for the Celtics to offer Brown a similar deal.
Hayward, who is trying to rediscover his game after a severe ankle injury at the start of the 2017/18 season, has a $34.2MM player option on the final year of his contract. He is about to complete his 10th NBA season, which will make him eligible for a deal at 35% of the estimated $117MM salary cap. Of course, he would need an All-Star type of season for a team to make that kind of offer.
There’s more tonight from Boston:
- Jayson Tatum is claiming some of the credit for convincing Kemba Walker to sign with the Celtics, relays Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Tatum spent time recruiting Walker while they were in Paris together for a Jordan Brand event. “I never told him to come, but I told him I would love for him to join the team and told him how it was,” Tatum said. “Obviously everybody has to do what’s best for themselves, and I’m happy for him.”
- Lottery pick Romeo Langford tells Tom Westerholm of MassLive that the thumb injury that began bothering him in college is almost fully healed. Langford was held out of Summer League play, but spent 10 days with the team and ran through drills with new assistant coach Joe Mazzulla. “I haven’t done any contact still, but I’m going against coaches and stuff like that,” Langford said. “But I haven’t gone live against defenders.”
- In an interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, rookie Grant Williams admits being a “geek” in his cerebral approach to life and basketball.
Who cares? The Golden State Warrior’s 2022 lineup is going to be Curry, LeBron, Kawhi, Zion, and Harden.
Such a troll comment.
You say that, but I think it could be partially true. Lakers miss playoffs again AD leaves LeBron demands out GSW swap him for Druss. LOLLSLSLS
Think Boston blew it a little with Kyrie, Horford and Rozier all leaving and Kemba coming in. Haywood was a really unfortunate mistake but he’s obviously not worth his deal but he’s not totally unplayable which means he has some value still. I think the Celtics need to stay young with Brown and Tatum but need to add at the 4 and 5 and really need players than can play D.
Frank Ntilikina and Kris Dunn are both really available on the cheap. Jarrett Allen and Mo Bamba both kinda have players in their way blocking their career which means they could be available. I think they should target Aaron Gordan and Mo Bamba and use Haywood and a pick.
That’s an interesting proposal. It would also give the Magic another wing scoring option, and if they believe he can get back to his pre-injury form it would work well for everyone.
Unfortunately the trade of Gordon+Bamba for Hayward and a pick won’t fly, Hayward makes too much money. The Magic are over the luxury tax threshold with this trade and the incoming aggregate salaries exceeded what’s allowed via the 125% plus $100,000 rule. Hayward is about $650,000 too expensive.
The trade also fails on this CBA requirement – The Magic used the Non Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception or Non Taxpayer Bi-Annual Exception to sign a free agent(s) and therefore their owed tax cannot exceed $6 million at any time during the season, which it would after this trade. Solve the first point and this one goes away, as it’s a lesser infraction.
I don’t see the Celtics needing Ntilikina or Dunn, espeically with Marcus Smart either starting or coming off the bench as a defensively oriented PG/SG. But I do agree they probably need help at the 4/5 though they do have a handful of guys who will be interesting to see how they progress including last year’s first round pick Williams as well as the so far, solid Theis. Not that any of the guys Kanter, etc. are stars but as a group I think it will be see if one or two of them emerge as a legit weapon for the club.
Yeah Williams looks like a solid prospect and Kanter has shown he can be a force in the playoffs but with the rest of the players around him Walker, Brown, Tatum, Haywood, it lacks a defensive anchor. Obviously Horford done that role for them for a few years but they also have Aaron Baynes that gave his 110% and Marcus Morris who would play bully ball if needed. Marcus Smart is still an elite defender but he’s going to have to share time at SG with Jaylen Brown. Bamba and Gordan would be improvements on defence especially in their position and offence. Plus both players are still young enough to go with the likes on Tatum, Brown and Smart to give you a young core. Thinking from the Magic’s perspective (who often make weird decisions around trades and free agency) they would get Haywood and a pick. Giving them a line up of Augustine, Fournier, Haywood, Issacs and Vuce with Fultz, Ross, Aminu, and others off the bench. The now have 3 go to scorers and a more balanced line up, with potentially 2 all stars. Haywood still gives them good length and switching on defence. Think they would approve
you do know it’s Hayward, not Haywood, right?
lol of course
Celtics will be more fun to watch. Chemistry counts with rozier and kyrie…the “dig me” tribe should be gone. Tacko!
lol of course.