The New Yorks of the world will still be able to pick Lebron, etc. But I do agree that the C’s could potentially get a typical $10mil / year guy for $8mil/year and inline with their cap.

The issue is that what other teams want, we’re not in a position to really offer. Everyone wants expiring contracts; outside of Ray Allen, what do we have?

What I think might happen to work in the C’s favor is fewer teams stepping up to the plate to offer megadeals to free agents. Guys who might have been able to get $8M or $10M/year under different market conditions could become 3yr/MLE-level guys.

If they’re willing to spend money to rebuild some youth, there may be more and more teams doing the Phoenix thing and selling their draft picks (at what point does Stern ban the sale of draft picks?). Maybe you can pick up a pick in the late lottery for $2M or $3M.

From a bigger-picture perspective, this is the kind of economic climate that could well precede real contraction. If the world does not need Bear Sterns and Lehman Brothers, does it really need the Memphis Grizzlies? Could a team like Memphis just close down – file for bankruptcy, whatever? I can’t imagine a lot of prospective owners waiting in the wings to make a takeover offer.

In the beginning of the post he said the Celtics will for sure win it all this year. i dont think they will. even if they do get by the Cavs they will face a much better and angrier Laker team than last year. the Lake Show has gotten WAY better while the celtics have gotten worse with the loss of james posey. The Lakers will win it all this year. and if you dont like that logic then the celtics have not beaten the Lakers this year. and im not sure but i dont think theyve beaten the Cavs either

the Celtics are the second or third best

There will be a lot of competition just before 2010. There’s what 18 teams that are scheduled to be below the cap that year? That’s a huge number of expiring contracts floating around.

Lots of those teams will be looking at possible trades just as hard as free agency as a possible avenue to improve their team.

The team with the best chance of coming away a winner amidst all that competition, is the team who have quality prospects and are willing to give them up. Is that team Boston? Probably not.

And I heard Thursday that the storied Celtics, they of the 17 championships and top-five in attendance, may nonetheless be one of the teams that partakes from the league’s new $175 million line of credit, which SportsBusiness Journal reported this week would be used by half of the league’s 30 teams to help pay existing and future bills.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/02/19/aldridge.roundup/index.html

This doesn’t surprise me. I was told that the Celtics didn’t turn out a positive net profit last season and the franchise was highly leveraged.

I just hope you got the winning it all is inevitable this year prediction right for a change…

Thinking this over a bit, there is one area where the combination of economic and NBA markey forces could really work to out benefit.

Think about the guys who are going to be unrestricted free agents THIS summer. Talented players, but not guys that you necessarily would make the face of your franchise. Guys that typically might command $8M – $10M per.

How many teams are going to be willing to spend that much money in the face of a terrible recession AND with a premier free agent crop coming up in 2010? You know that teams like the Knicks won’t be spending a dime next summer. Everyone’s geared up for 2010, so there could well be some very talented players available at MLE-level contracts. Guys who might command the full MLE typically might only get part. Players might settle for short-term contracts to get back on the market when things might be better.

Skimming the list real quick, I’m thinkig guys like:

‘Sheed, to play alongside his buddy KG and Perk
McDyess (at less than the MLE)
Mike Bibby (probably not; he’ll be looking to start)
Andre Miller (same deal; probably looking to start)
Ben Gordon (wants to get paid, but he won’t; sign him and MAYBE trade Ray Allen, or have an exceptional 6th man)
Iverson (he might get paid since he should be able to sell tickets; Danny did look to trade for him before; would also likely precipiate a Ray Allen trade)
Varejao; energy guy in the frontcourt
Odom
Trevor Ariza (I doubt LA lets him go, but he’d be great as a defensive-minded 6th man

I’m sure one or two of these guys will get a decent contract offer, but I bet there are very, very few players who get deals much above the MLE next season. That should put us on a fairly level playing field, and if ownership IS willing and able to spend some money, the guys on this list would help fill particular roles on our roster.

A guy like Ben Gordon’s got to be kicking himself more and more each day – turning down so much money (more than he was worth at the time) to become a free agent at a time when the economy is in shambles and nobody wants to blow their chance of getting a superstar in ‘10. And, maybe Danny wagers that brining in someone like Gordon or Iverson (if they’re available at the MLE) lets him do something interesting with Ray Allen’s contract, which I think could be one of the most valuable trade assets of next season (expiring AND he helps you win today).