What We're Missing: Free Agency

by Jeff Clark on Jul 3, 2011 9:44 PM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

We are at the end of Day 3 of the Lockout and while there wasn't going to be any basketball played today either way, what we are missing out of is the free agency frenzy that happens every year.

July 1 comes, goes without NBA free agency due to lockout - ESPN

The silence of this July 1 was a sad contrast to the dizzying events of exactly one year earlier, when LeBron James welcomed the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets to Cleveland to hear their pitches, and teams crisscrossed the country in pursuit of other stars that were available. Interest in the league surged from there, right on through the NBA finals that drew some of the best TV ratings the event had seen in years.

Granted, last year's sideshow of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh (not to mention Amare and Carlos Boozer) was like no other free agency period before. Still, it is always an interesting time for the league to see who ends up where. Last year we made quick work of signing Jermaine O'Neal and later added the other O'Neal. Who will it be this year? Well, don't bet on any big names.

NBA: Teams like the Lakers, Celtics and Mavericks have the worst salary cap situations - ESPN

The rest of the squad will be signed to minimum contracts if the new collective bargaining agreement eliminates the midlevel and million-dollar exceptions. They can also bring back a player who makes no more than $2.488 million by using the trade exception from Marquis Daniels. In terms of dollars and roster parity, this is a top-heavy situation.

But of course, all that will have to wait. ...and wait, and wait.

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The Celtics are not the bad in terms of salary after next season

The Celtics have Ray and KG off the books in one season. The Lakers have money tied into Pau and Kobe for at least 3 more years. Pau and Kobe will make over the 45 million hard cap that has been mentioned in the last two years. They will make around 45 million next season together.

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by green20 on Jul 3, 2011 9:59 PM EDT reply actions

I miss the buzz of free agency.

P.S. Jeff, edit the title. :D

"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot."

- Bill Russell

by Marjun Raposon on Jul 3, 2011 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

I miss looking forward to the silly summer league.

We’d probably have rosters by now and be about to see our first of the fellas from Purdue, as well as a situation in which Bradley should have dominated. We’d get a look at that undrafted kid too.

by clover on Jul 4, 2011 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I enjoyed watching Luke & Lasme last year

Every year I watch some of the summer league thinking that diamond in the rough will show & make our bench a threat. In the past the Cs just needed a couple of guys more, like PJ & Posey. Now, they need a whole lot more help, & they need Doc to go overboard to develop some young talent. Although, it seems to me, the formula for winning a title involves bringing in vets….like PJ & Posey moreso than young guys.
There is hope for this team. Just look at how the Mavs got it done. That was a team effort with a bench which no one was raving about at the start of the season, but that was the best bench by the end of the season. Look at all the old (aka experienced) players & no name players on that team. They lose one of their stars, & they still keep slugging. What an effort! There was some really great coaching going on there. Guys were thrust into starting roles based on results. One of their best players, Terry, doesn’t mind coming off the bench. He just wants to win. What a great team effort & attitude!!! I hope the Cs can get their mojo & chemistry back, especially on team defense.

by Ibemebe on Jul 4, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

So if we have very little room to do anything then we ain't missing much right?

Sounds like were anxiously awaiting for the frustration and anger to begin watching the wheeling and dealing of other more flexible teams ….. while we can’t do “jack-squat” without huge sacrifice to our “window” remaining open….yeah……….ever feel like you live in van down by the river…

Ok I’ll just shut my big fat yapper