We’re running a weekly mailbag during the Celtics offseason. If you have questions about the Celtics or NBA, email [email protected] or tweet @briantrobb. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
Any possible package that could be created for a Lonzo ball sign and trade? — @JHP3405
Ball would certainly be a nice fit as a ball distributor whose age lines up well with Boston’s young core. Unfortunately, a sign-and-trade does not look feasible for him this offseason even after the Kemba Walker deal. He’s a restricted free agent so the Pelicans have matching rights on his next contract (and would likely demand good compensation to let him sign with another team barring a huge offer sheet). However, the bigger problem for Boston is their current payroll for next season. It’s already close to the apron (aka: the hard cap) even without any free agent signings. Receiving a player in a sign-and-trade forces a team to stay under the hard salary cap for the entire season and that wouldn’t be feasible for Boston given their current payroll commitments if they want to stay competitive next year in the East.
The only way a Ball sign-and-trade becomes viable is if the Celtics manage to move a lot of salary (Horford or multiple other players) elsewhere without taking much back to open up some breathing room under a potential hard cap. The odds of that happening seem quite remote since the team is acting like Horford is in their plans for next season.
Kemba for Kevin Love? Also, it looks as though Ben (Simmons) could be available this summer any chance the c’s could get him… And what a package could look like? — @nocapping757
Love makes only $60 million total over the next two years, about $13 million less than Walker so that proposal would have helped reduce payroll costs for Boston but the Celtics certainly liked the Horford on-court and financial fit more than Love, as we saw by them pulling the trigger on that deal Friday morning.
Simmons will surely be on the trade market this summer after the Sixers were upset by the Hawks in Round 2. However, what price would Boston be willing to pay for a guy in Simmons who has shown consistent flaws in the postseason time and time again with his lack of floor spacing and subpar free throw shooting. The Celtics certainly aren’t offering their All-Stars for him and would need to include a big contract to make the money work…making Al Horford the piece probably needed in the deal to make the money matching work. Philadelphia could probably field better offers than that, even if Boston sweetened the deal with other young players. However, I doubt the Celtics would be eager to include much other young talent since the remaining four years and $140 million on Simmons’ deal suddenly looks like an albatross. Avoiding that deal altogether is probably Boston’s best bet since adding him would keep them from having cap room or the ability to add a key piece to their young core anytime soon.
What does the tax bill look like if we keep everyone and is Wyc willing to pay up? — @Truthfastino
The NBA’s luxury tax for next season is projected to be at $136 million. Boston’s current payroll (12 players) is already at $127 million with key free agent Evan Fournier unsigned. If we estimate a $15 million salary for Fournier next season while the team brings everyone else back and signs a couple free agents, ownership will be paying an estimated $15 million in luxury tax penalties on top of the $145-150 million payroll itself.
1) What are your top 5 favorites for head coach of Celtics? 2) Would you trade Tatum for Luka? 3) More likely, Marcus smart at starting point guard for the Celtics next year or playing somewhere else? — Greg C
Let’s finish up with a three-parter.
1) In no particular order, Ime Udoka, Darvin Ham, Becky Hammon, Kara Lawson, Willie Green
2) That’s a coin flip between those two guys for me. Both guys are proven playoff performers already but I think Tatum’s size and defense are the tiebreaker for now. Doncic is the better regular season player but give me Tatum’s two-way play in the postseason.
3) Starting at point guard especially after the Walker deal.
