One of the big things to come out of the trade deadline for the Celtics was getting under the first luxury tax apron (and eventually all the way under the tax), which allows them to sign any player who gets bought out, regardless of their prior salary. Conversely, when over an apron, teams can only sign players on the buyout market if their salary before being waived was the league’s midlevel exception (roughly $14.1 million) or below.
It’s a nice bonus tool for Boston to work with, as many players who hit that market end up being bought out because their exorbitant salaries had become a trade casualty, and the player no longer makes sense on their new team.Â
The Cs should absolutely be all over this and look into every possible option - it would be negligent not to. But ultimately, the likelihood of an impact player becoming available is low, and banking on that would be a mistake.
There are a lot of big-name players who may get waived, and many of them, at one time, could have helped this team. But those days are over. Players like Lonzo Ball, Russell Westbrook, Cole Anthony, and D’Angelo Russell are some guys who quickly come to mind as possible candidates.
There won't be a needle-moving player available
If that’s the level of player we’re talking about, the Celtics would be better suited to not even bother. Instead, use the roster spots and salary to convert Ron Harper Jr. and either Max Shulga or the newly acquired Jon Tonje from their two-way contracts.
Ball can't stay on the court, Westbrook is leading a team that has lost 14 games in a row, Anthony got dumped by a Bucks team desperate for talent, and Russell has been passed around like a hot potato. There will be other names. They will also come with warts. If there's a guy that Brad Stevens believes in and takes a low-risk flier on, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. But it's not something I'm expecting to happen.
Getting below the luxury tax line was a bit of brilliant maneuvering by Brad Stevens and the front office, and they should strive to stay there for the rest of this season. They could wait until enough games have passed and sign a vet to a minimum deal while remaining under, but barring something unexpected, it certainly doesn’t look like there’s a player who would be worth spending over the tax on.
These guys are more name than game, and they would not be available as free agents in February if their teams had wanted them. The Celtics have already massively overachieved this season, and they’ve done it by trusting young guys that they’ve developed and having them thrive in larger roles.
There’s no reason to change that formula now, especially for some questionable, washed-up veteran who may have his own agenda, anyway. The Cs already made their deadline move by adding Nikola Vucevic into the mix, and if they get another meaningful upgrade this season, it’s going to come from inside the building in the form of one Jayson Tatum.