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Well, it’s time to talk about the Celtics’ commercial exception for the millionth time.
Boston’s last offseason earned an NBA record of $ 28.5 million in traded player exception (TPE) thanks to his signing and trade with the Hornets who landed Gordon Hayward in Charlotte. Since then, there has been rampant speculation about when and who the Celtics might use the TPE.
Business exceptions can get a little confusing, and we don’t want to bog you down with NBA salary cap / luxury tax lingo. All you really need to know is that the TPE gives the Celtics an additional cap of $ 28.5 million to work with until it expires on the anniversary of the Hayward deal.
Teams are not limited to using their trading exceptions when acquiring a single player. Boston could use the $ 28.5 million to sign / trade for multiple players, rather than using it all for a single high-priced acquisition. So they could use part of the TPE to execute this supposed deal between Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier, and still have money to work with the next offseason.
So far, Danny Ainge has indicated that he will likely wait until summer to use TPE. But, with rumors linking Boston to both Gordon and Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins, it’s fair to question whether the Celtics will use the exception before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
But should do they use the TPE before the deadline? (And by “use” we mean really use it – not just a few million.)
Let’s go.
The case for
It might sound like a cop, but if the Celtics think they’ve hit the right deal, they should definitely use it.
(Whether a Gordon-centric or Collins-centric deal would be the ‘right’ deal is a conversation for another column. But, for now and for the sake of argument, let’s say swapping Marcus Smart for Gordon and Fournier is a good game.)
In that scenario, the Celtics could enter the next offseason as a much more attractive destination for NBA players unhappy with their current environment. Of course, it doesn’t look like many high-end players are available through trade or free agency this summer, but that could change overnight. The NBA is crazy.
The Celtics should free up space to add another star player, but it could be accomplished simply by letting Fournier walk in free agency. It’s entirely possible that Boston could have Gordon, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen, and Kemba Walker on their roster and still have over $ 20 million to work with.
But forget all that for now. There is no guarantee the Celtics will find a better option this offseason than they do before the deadline. Most, if not all, of the players expected to hit free agency this summer are not realistic goals for Boston. Kawhi Leonard, for example, is not backing down and joining the Celtics.
Plus, if the Celtics wait until summer, business partners will know Ainge is desperate and could lead a more difficult case. Boston would already have a really hard to swing a rally for a max level player without including Tatum or Brown.
So use it now. Do the swing.
The case against
There is something to be said for not making a move just to make one.
The Celtics might indeed have better options available this summer, especially if they aren’t. this high on Gordon or Collins. Maybe Ainge can do some magic and find the perfect shot for a team that, despite all their talent, keeps the wheels spinning.
If the Celtics find a trade before the deadline that seriously improves their long-term outlook, that’s one thing. But it’s hard to imagine they’ll find anything before Thursday that will improve their fortunes this season. If you’ve watched Brad Stevens’ squad for the past couple of months, you’re an imperfect group that probably doesn’t have a chance in the playoffs, if they even qualify for the playoffs.
Ultimately, Ainge and the rest of the Celtics front office may want to come to terms with the fact that this season is irreparable. Wait until summer and rebuild the roster.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper / USA TODAY Sports Images
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