The Boston Celtics are trying to maintain a difficult balance moving forward by adding impact talent to the team to help the Celtics win now, while avoiding ending up as a luxury tax-paying team this season.
It’s not an easy balance given most players worth burning assets to trade for will eat up a fair amount of their $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE), which would likely force hard decisions at the end of next season. Important players such as veteran guard Marcus Smart and rising front court talent Robert Williams III are due big raises a season after the franchise added All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum’s hefty extension to the payroll.
Add the fact Kemba Walker’s contract has not looked like a positive value for some time now — though he is showing flashes that could change — and the teambuilding prospects for Boston are fraught with potential pratfalls.
Rockets may have a fire sale at trade deadline; could this be Celtics' focus? https://t.co/hPXY5CueAp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 10, 2021