FanPost

The Critical 2017 Off-Season, the Celtics last chance at Max Contract Free Agents?

Many are speculating as to what the C's will be willing to offer Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley in the summer of 2018. No doubt they will be looking to get paid. While there are many star players set to be Free Agents in 2018, the focus for the Celtics (and Celtics fans) should be the 2017 Free Agent class.

The Celtics will have enough cap space for a max contract free agent next off season. This is their chance to add another max contract caliber player to their core without losing any assets. I think the most likely scenario is that they sign Gordon Hayward, if they don't trade for him at the deadline. Picture this scenario:

The Celtics add Gordon Hayward, either at the deadline, or in the Summer of 2017. They will have a Big 3 of IT, Horford and Hayward. I'll admit that's not the scariest Big 3. But that would allow them to...

...use Bird Rights to keep as many of their current players (Smart, Thomas, Bradley, etc.) as they want in 2018. This ownership group is beyond supportive and I have no doubt they are willing to go well into luxury tax territory to make this Celtics team a contender.

In this scenario, I think they move on from AB and start Hayward at the 2 guard position. But, they keep IT and Smart. They could keep AB if they wanted to and bring him or Crowder off the bench. Also, keep in mind in this scenario they would still have 2017 and 2018 Nets picks to add to a team that will already be very good.

Hayward may not be the big name Celtics fans seem to want so desperately, but they would not have to give up anything for him as a free agent, and probably not that much if they acquire him at the deadline.

Moving forward that team would look like this:

Starters: IT, Gordon Hayward, Crowder, Olynyk, Horford

Bench: Rozier, Smart, Brown, Mickey, 2017 Nets pick, 2018 Nets pick (plus D-league and Euro stashes)

That would give the Celtics a great balance of veteran players, high upside prospects and solid bench players.

The Celtics are essentially on the clock. They know that if they can acquire players before the 2018 off season, they can go over the cap to keep IT and whoever else they want to keep moving forward. It is very likely that this 2017 off-season is the last off-season the Celtics will have room for a max contract. They need to bring in as much talent as they can before they use the Bird Rule on their impending Free Agents.

I know many are clamoring for a "top 10" player. While I admit that Horford, IT and Hayward are not "top 10" players. I don't see why the Celtics can't land one in the 2017 or 2018 draft. Besides, how many "top 10" players are actually going to be available? Very few, if any.

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