Tough market
Ainge struggling to get value in deals
SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward was in Boston getting a physical, buying a suit and, presumably, practicing his signature so it would look John Hancock cool on a contract for nearly $128 million over four years.
Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens were back in Boston, too, having left here yesterday morning to sit at a table on a stage as soon as today and smile as Hayward is formally introduced as a Celtic.
Meanwhile, amid the preparations for pomp and circumstance and general hoopla, the club was taking on the demeanor of a duck — calm above water, but paddling like hell beneath the surface as it tried to complete the deals to free up the money for their free agent treasure.
At various points through the day and into the evening yesterday, the Celts were alternately close to a sign-and-trade deal with Utah and then slipping away from such a move.
Jae Crowder was wondering whether he’d get a new place of employment for his July 6 birthday, though he might have preferred a card and perhaps a small cake with a shamrock in the frosting.
Kelly Olynyk, already a casualty of Hayward’s agreement to sign with the C’s, was celebrating a fouryear contract with Miami, a proud Canadian accepting a reported $50 million to go to the Great White South (Beach sand).
Terry Rozier was sending out semi-cryptic social media messages that seemed to indicate that he, too, could be on the move.
According to two league sources, the Celtics were having some issues getting deals done in part because teams see them as being in a tight squeeze — needing to clear salary to get Hayward done and get on with the task of completing the roster around him, with maybe another trade or a free agent signing into the room via the mid-level exception of $4.328 million. Opponents were trying to get a bargain, while the Celts were trying to get at least reasonable value in return.
It is almost a lock that Crowder, Avery Bradley or Marcus Smart will have to go, and with the latter two lies another issue. Bradley is entering the last year of his contract at $8,808,989, while Smart is set to make $4,538,020 in the last year of his rookie deal. He can be a restricted free agent next summer for the qualifying offer of $6,053,719, but it is certain he will get more than that in an offer sheet, probably a lot more than that.
In the Bradley and Smart situations, the Celtics will almost be in the position the Pacers found themselves with Paul George. We’re talking different levels of player here, and neither of those Celts has had his agent proclaim that he intends to play out the year and sign with a specific club, as George did through his rep letting it be known he planned to become a Laker in 2018.
“It’s funny,” said one general manager. “Avery Bradley isn’t Paul George, but just like Boston didn’t want to give up the Brooklyn or Laker pick to Indiana, teams are wary about giving up something when Bradley could walk after this year.
“And if you go for Smart, you have to look at your roster and decide how much you’re going to be willing to pay him next summer.”
By all accounts, however, the Celtics are not asking for the moon for either, not that Indiana got that when it received Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis from Oklahoma City for George.
But both Bradley and Smart are highly attractive complementary players.
Said another GM: “Bradley’s a leader, and Marcus just works his tail off. There’s not a team in this league that couldn’t use guys like that. But as usual, it comes down to the cost.”
The case of Crowder is significantly different. He is under an incredibly team favorable contract of $6,796,117, $7,305,825 and $7,815,533 over the next three seasons and, though we’ve heard nothing specific to suggest this, the Jazz can’t be looking at him as simply a Celtic giveaway.
“You know how teams were (upset) at Indiana when they saw what they got for George? That’s how it’ll be if Boston gives up Crowder just to clear space,” said a Western Conference exec. “That guy has a lot of respect around the league for the way he plays the game.”
As of last night, the Celtics were just hoping the affection for Crowder, Bradley and Smart would translate into a workable trade that would get them over the Hayward hurdle. Then the club could know where it stands as it goes after needed rebounding assistance.