Jae Crowder's interesting contract will give Boston Celtics a bit more flexibility next summer

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/07/jae_crowders_interesting_contr.html




Jae Crowder's interesting contract will give Boston Celtics a bit more flexibility next summer







Jae Crowder (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Print Email Jay King | mjking@masslive.com By Jay King | mjking@masslive.com

on July 29, 2015 at 8:00 PM, updated July 30, 2015 at 1:48 AM



Anybody who has paid attention to the Boston Celtics knows flexibility currently counts as one of Danny Ainge's top priorities. His offseason acquisitions were intended to upgrade the Celtics talent level, yes, but also to keep the team in position to capitalize on any future opportunities.

Though Jae Crowder signed for five years, the design of his $35-million contract will give Boston -- you guessed it -- a bit more flexibility next summer. Interestingly, the amount the forward will earn dips in the second season of his deal before rising again during the following years. Basketball Insiders shared the details for all five seasons of Crowder's contract:

Season 1: $6,796,117
Season 2: $6,286,408
Season 3: $6,796,117
Season 4: $7,305,825
Season 5: $7,815,533

In addition to Crowder's neat pact, David Lee and Perry Jones are both on expiring contracts. Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson signed deals that each contain one guaranteed season and a team option for a second year. All of it is meant to give Ainge more options and room to maneuver as he plans for the summer of 2016. Even in a market that should feature a slew of teams with spending money, the Celtics could have a heap of cap space to consider using.

After a handful of stars that could all stay put, the 2016 free agency class is actually considered weak, and Boston will need to make decisions on Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones, who will all be due for new contracts. Still, with the new TV money boosting the cap to unprecedented levels, the Celtics could have a mountain of salary cap space, with only three guys (Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas) already committed on non-rookie deals. Add Boston's stash of 2016 draft picks -- which could reasonably result in two lottery picks, another first-rounder and five second-rounders -- and the Celtics should have an important summer next year.

During Monday's press conference to introduce the offseason acquisitions, Ainge said of Jerebko, "We're excited to have Jonas back for a year." After a quick pause, Ainge hastily added, "Or two. We'll see." It almost came off as an unintended jab at Jerebko, but in reality the forward must understand his future beyond this season isn't known. A lot could shift for the Celtics by this time next year. Flexibility doesn't necessarily mean big changes are coming, but every bit of space could help Ainge if the right possibility comes along.



bob
MY NOTE:  We've heard the promise of 'fireworks' before.  It takes two to tango and so Danny and Wyc need some help there but it's reassuring to see that, by having that dip after this coming year, Danny is positioning himself for 'sooner rather than later'.  It's these little things, these subtleties, the "oh, you're having a luxury tax problem?  Well, let me take a player's contract off your hands for you, for the money to buy him out and a 2nd round pick, of course!" that put me in awe of Danny.  NOBODY gets them all right, NOBODY drafts winners with every pick every time (especially when you're usually drafting out of the lottery) but this type of stuff, to me, elevates his canniness to a level above every other GM's (that's 'canniness' not 'canines').  Danny sees angles others don't, and then they play follow the leader but he's already looking for the loophole created by the new way of doing business he pioneered rather than just milking it. One of the things I'm going to enjoy watching is to see how Danny deals with having a system in place for years, because he has Brad under longterm contract. We saw him backfill on the 3 Amigos until they were quite long in the tooth. Can he keep Brad happy in Boston beyond the term of this contract so he can manage like R.C. Buford of the Spurs, or like Red did, and just keep plugging holes in high quality teams as they appear because the system is already in place?


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Nice play on words, Bob (canniness, canines). While it may sometimes seem as though Danny is simply jumping at certain players mainly because they're available, one factor seldom considered by many fans is the proportion of his decisions that have implications for the system of the team going forward. Evaluating trades primarily on the basis of the value of one player vs. another is a short-sighted approach.

Sam

sam wrote:Nice play on words, Bob (canniness, canines).  While it may sometimes seem as though Danny is simply jumping at certain players mainly because they're available, one factor seldom considered by many fans is the proportion of his decisions that have implications for the system of the team going forward.  Evaluating trades primarily on the basis of the value of one player vs. another is a short-sighted approach.

Sam

sam,

Thanks (he says with a toothy grin).


bob


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