How Josh Richardson extension changes Celtics free agent possibilities for 2022

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/08/how-josh-richardson-extension-changes-celtics-free-agent-possibilities-for-2022.html



How Josh Richardson extension changes Celtics free agent possibilities for 2022



Updated: Aug. 25, 2021, 4:53 p.m. | Published: Aug. 25, 2021, 4:53 p.m.




Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Richardson goes up for two against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



The Celtics created some additional certainty in their backcourt officially on Tuesday when Josh Richardson signed a one-year extension with the team. Multiple league sources told MassLive that the new year on Richardson’s deal will be worth $12.2 million for the 2022-23 season, which is a five percent raise on his 2021-22 salary. That’s the maximum raise Boston could have offered Richardson under NBA CBA rules for next season after acquiring him so recently in a trade. Richardson will be eligible to be dealt again in a trade on January 29th.


The extension was the third new deal Brad Stevens handed out in the past week, after he also came to terms with Marcus Smart and Robert Williams on four-year extensions that kick in next season. Richardson’s new contract is a much shorter commitment but it still will have a significant impact on Boston’s potential options heading into 2022 free agency. Let’s take a look at the team’s payroll heading into the summer of 2022 to have a better idea of what long-term planning lies ahead.


2022-23 Celtics payroll

Jayson Tatum: $30.5 million

Jaylen Brown: $28.7 million


Al Horford: $26.5 million ($14.5 million guaranteed)


Marcus Smart: $17.2 million

Robert Williams: $10.7 million

*Romeo Langford: $5.6 million

*Grant Williams: $4.3 million

*Aaron Nesmith: $3.8 million

*Payton Pritchard: $2.2 million

(* indicates team option)


Total salary: $141.7 million to 10 players

Total guaranteed money: $129.7 million (if Horford is waived)

Expected salary cap for 2022-23: $119 million

Expected luxury tax line for 2022-23: $145 million

The Celtics had already adjusted their outlook for 2022 after handing out extensions to two key members of their core in Smart and Williams. However, there is one other crucial adjustment that Richardson’s contract does for Boston’s upcoming offseason.

Celtics unlikely to use full mid-level exception in 2022 unless Al Horford is waived


Richardson’s commitment for next season pushes Boston far closer to the luxury tax line ($145 million) for the 2022-23 season. Boston’s $141 million commitment to 10 players will make using the full mid-level exception ($10 million) very tough to do while still staying under the hard cap ($151 million) with the roster’s current construction. For that reason, Boston will be much more likely to just have the taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal instead, which will be worth just over $6 million next summer.

The one wildcard in this scenario will be Al Horford’s partially guaranteed contract. If the Celtics elected to waive him outright or stretch the remainder of his deal next offseason, they could clear anywhere from $12 million to $18 million (if guaranteed money is stretched) in additional cap room for the 2022 offseason.


Moving on from Horford would open the door to Boston using the full MLE again or acquiring a player via a sign-and-trade into a traded player exception (up to $17 million) while also staying under the hard cap ($151 million).

The question the Celtics will need to answer this year is whether they still value Horford enough as a player to hold onto despite his high salary or whether the additional free agent or trade options that would be created by moving him off the roster in 2022 would be worth losing him.

Richardson’s new deal does put the Celtics in a little tighter spot for their finances for next year but Horford’s unique deal provides them with some greater flexibility. That reality and Richardson looking like a potential good value deal for Boston internally or as a trade chip at $12.2 million for next season was enough for Brad Stevens to pull the trigger now on an extension for his new addition.


Bob


.