The Cuts Are Coming But Not Quite Yet

http://celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-cuts-are-coming-but-not-quite-yet.html

The Cuts are Coming But Not Quite Yet
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
by FLCeltsFan   8:28 AM

It's a part of every preseason. Teams invite players to camp for extra bodies and to take a look at players they have interest in. This season, the Celtics invited 4 players to camp, Chris Babb, DeShawn Sims, Damen Bell-Holter, and Kammron Taylor. Of these players, Babb played the most minutes, but none have been used extensively. Chris Babb is a 6'5" guard with a nice shooting touch and good range. DeShawn Sims is a 6'8" small forward who has played for the Red Claws and is on his second camp with the Celtics. Damen Bell Holter is a 6'9" power forward from a small town in Alaska who has a great attitude but hasn't seen much playing time in this preseason. Kammron Taylor is a point guard who also hasn't seen much playing time. From the Herald:

“We’re not going to make any cuts until after our exhibition season’s over,” said coach Brad Stevens. “Then we’ll go from there. I’ll sit down with Mike (Zarren, assistant GM) and Danny (Ainge), and we’ll figure that out.”

The Celtics have 18 players on the roster with 14 of those having guaranteed contracts. They can carry 15 contracts into the season, but they also have to stay below the luxury tax threshold. Currently, the guaranteed contracts add up to $69.671 million. The luxury tax threshold is set at $71.748 million They could keep one of the camp invites, who each have a contract for $490,180. The numbers are against keeping a shooting guard or a power forward because the team has a log jam at both positions. We haven't seen much of Kammron Taylor, even though he plays point guard, a position that is currently under staffed. DeShawn Sims played well with the Red Claws and would give the Celtics another small forward behind Gerald Wallace and Jeff Green.

It's possible that the decision will be made to cut all 4 and go into the season with just 14 players. They also could decide to keep one of the players to fill that 15th spot. We will know sometime after Wednesday's preseason finale against the Nets. We may see a lot of those 4 players in that game if they are still evaluating, or we may not see them at all, if the coach wants to see his regular season rotation in this game. As with everything else this preseason, we have no way of knowing. One thing we know for certain, whatever they do, it will be under the tax threshold.




bob



.

Babb is my vote to keep.


KJ

None of the above. Any that want to can catch the Downeaster up to Portland. Let them eat lobstah!!

I'd leave the spot open. Go with the 14 we have,
gives us wiggle room for moves if the proverbial godfather deal we can't refuse comes along.

beat

I don't know if the team is currently in a position to make any trades. There's very little, if any cap flexibility.


KJ

KJ,

Trades don't have to change the cap situation as long as they come very close to value for value.

Sam

Sam,

True. I just don't know if the more expendable guys on the team are desirable in a trade.


KJ

KJ,

Right you are. I'm finding it ironic that the guy with the worst contract (Wallace) may currently be the most desirable commodity. Whether another team would pay the price for that commodity (especially considering his age) is problematic. And, right now, if the Celtics were to trade him away, it would be tacit proof that they're in it only for the future. Frankly, especially after his recent outburst, I like the idea of having him around for both his game and his ability to be a leader by word and deed.

Sam