Roster Reset: Barbosa takes a spot

ESPNBOSTON.COM

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com


The Celtics' 15-man roster seems to be coming into focus after the addition of Leandro Barbosa.
Resetting the Boston roster after the team inked Leandro Barbosa to a one-year, veteran-minimum contract on Wednesday:

GUARANTEED CONTRACTS (14)
Guards: Rajon Rondo ($11 million), Avery Bradley ($1.6 million), Jason Terry ($5 million), Courtney Lee ($5 million); Leandro Barbosa ($854,389**)
Forwards: Paul Pierce ($16.8 million), Brandon Bass ($6 million), Jeff Green ($8.4 million), Jared Sullinger ($1.3 million*)
Center: Kevin Garnett ($11.6 million), Chris Wilcox ($854,389**), Jason Collins ($854,389**), Darko Milicic ($854,839**), Fab Melo ($1.3 million*)

NON-GUARANTEED CONTRACTS (1)
Kris Joseph ($473,604)

MONEY ON THE BOOKS (3)
Keyon Dooling ($854,389**), Jamar Smith ($25,000), Dionte Christmas ($236,800)

TRAINING CAMP INVITES (2)
Rob Kurz, Micah Downs

FREE AGENTS FROM 2011-12 SEASON (1)
Mickael Pietrus, Sean Williams (Waived by Rockets)

THE DEPARTED (9)
Ray Allen (Heat), Greg Stiemsma (Timberwolves), Jermaine O'Neal (Suns), JaJuan Johnson (Rockets), E'Twaun Moore (Magic; Waived by Rockets), Sasha Pavlovic (Trail Blazers), Ryan Hollins (Clippers), Marquis Daniels (Bucks)

Estimated total salary committed (guaranteed/partial deals): $72.5 million
(* = 120% of rookie scale; ** = League pays portion of veteran-minimum deal)


A handful of thoughts on Boston's roster status less than two weeks before the regular season tips off in Miami:

* Assuming that Joseph secures the final roster spot, the Celtics are looking at a total salary commitment of roughly $73 million.

* Unless Dooling facilitated a buyout, the Celtics are on the hook for his minimum contract and, combined with the partial deals for Christmas and Smith, that's about $1.1 million in extra salary (which is factored into our 15-man cost commitment above). Keep in mind that Boston is hard-capped at the $74.3 million tax apron after utilizing the full value of the mid-level exception this offseason (obviously, they have limited wiggle room moving forward).

* One benefit of carrying Joseph out of camp is that his contract would not be fully guaranteed until a couple of months into the season. If Boston was suddenly desperate to create a roster spot, it could still cut ties with Joseph at a low cost. That said, coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that the Celtics like his potential and since a team rarely needs to run 15 deep (you can only dress 13 guys for games), it's not a bad thing to keep a younger player or two stashed at the end of the roster.

* With that in mind, it seems likely that -- barring injuries that deplete depth -- both Joseph and Melo will spend extended time with the Maine Red Claws of the D-League this season. Given Boston's increased role with the Claws, it'll provide the younger players a chance for game reps while still learning the Celtics' system.

* Rivers suggested final cuts will come at the end of Boston's exhibition slate, which wraps Sunday with a visit from the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Unless Downs or Kurz makes a sudden surge for final consideration, the Celtics can trim to 15 before diving into eight days of practice leading up to the season opener in Miami on Oct. 30.

112288

Son of a Bitch!

So Dooling DID sign a contract and then walk away, leaving us with his entire contract on the books. I knew he signed and walked, but I was hoping that it came off the books (at least partially) when he announced his retirement.

Asshole.


bob


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