Bulpett: For Celtics, it might be ‘wait ’til next year’

BOSTON HERALD

Steve Bulpett Wednesday, June 22, 2016

If the Celtics have their way, they’ll be using up most, if not all, of the new, exploded NBA salary cap.

To do so would mean they are able to make a trade around tomorrow night’s draft that nets them the kind of higher-priced veteran talent they so badly need. Or it could signal the successful recruitment of a major free agent early next month.

But because both scenarios require another party willing to make a deal that would so obviously jump-start the Celts, it remains more likely that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge will not be able to thread either needle.

And that might not be such a bad thing for the Celtics in the long run.

So what does the new cap figure mean for them? With teams getting a recent memo that, largely because of the new television rights deals kicking in, the cap is expected to rise from some $70 million this past season by more than 34 percent to $94 million, the C’s are in one of the best positions with more than $50 million to spend.

But — again, if they cannot make the deals they want — the Celtics might be very wise to sit back and let others make some financial mistakes this summer.

The definition of a “maximum contract player” could be stretched badly, with several players of questionable credential being so touted.

Reports are that the deal for a player with 10-plus years of experience will start at more than $30 million, while Kevin Durant would be eligible for a contract that begins at more than $26 million. But Durant wouldn’t be a problem signing.

There is one quote that has been uttered in various forms by numerous league executives regarding this year’s free agent class and the cap circumstances surrounding it. To wit: “There’s more money than there are players.”

The latest update from the league to teams added $2 million to the cap number offered in the April memo for planning purposes. That means more teams will be in the free agent marketplace and, with reference to the above quote, this might not be a bad thing.

Though it would require essentially sacrificing another season to the development of younger players with no real expectation of contending for the Eastern Conference championship, a quiet summer while others overpay could put the Celtics in even better position against a weakened field of spenders in what is expected to be a better free agent class in 2017. For example, many league types still expect Durant to remain with Oklahoma City on a one-year deal with an option, putting him back in the market next year.

And the Celtics might have no choice anyway.

The key will be to maintain future options while spending to the new expected salary floor of $84.6 million.

Just as the Celtics kept themselves in good position this summer by not extending Jared Sullinger or Tyler Zeller and by giving Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko two-year deals with the second season at the team’s option, they must be careful not to enter into arrangements that will weigh them down next year — unless it is for a player worthy of a long-term relationship.

If the C’s are left to make all three of their first-round picks and give those players the accepted 20 percent above the rookie scale, the club will be on the hook for a little more than $8 million next season. And, unless one or more is traded or stashed, these guys will be on the payroll for at least another season after that.

In trying to move quantity for quality, the Celtics are obviously keeping an eye on factors like this.

If the goal is to create a roster that can compete for banners, then the better shopping is a year from now. Keep in mind that, in addition to salary cap space if it is not used now, the Celts also will be able to exchange first-round draft positions with the Brooklyn Nets, who again figure to struggle in 2016-17. And, by all accounts, next year’s draft will be far richer than the one that will be held tomorrow night. The idea is to have the cap space and assets when desirable players become available.

As Ainge puts it now, “We have flexibility, and we have room to do some things.”

But making deals is about more than just pouncing on the best opportunities. It’s playing chess while continually checking spreadsheets.

“We all know the rules,” Ainge said, “and we’ve always dealt with a cap. . . . It’s no different now; it’s just higher numbers. I think this is the first time, as Celtics, that we have had cap space, so we’ll look forward to trying to put a team together with the flexibility that we have.”

Even if it means using that flexibility at next February’s trade deadline or in the summer that follows.

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