Where is there any evidence to indicate that the Celtics can not get an expensive FA? There is none. None. Not one bit. Boston has not had money to spend on FA's in well, ever. Garnett did not want to come here because he was loyal. To a fault.
Watch a Celtics game. They are packed. Even now. Other teams say we have the best, most knowledgeable fans. No fan base salutes ex players like we do. I live in Houston where the team is one of the 4 or 5 best in the NBA and the folks here act like they barely exist. Sure the taxes and weather is great but if you are not JJ Watt they could care less.
You play well in Boston for the C's and you are a God for all time. You don't think that is not a draw? You win in Boston and you are put on the Rushmore of Rushmores. That matters as well. Trust me, next season with all that money we will snag somebody. If not you can rub my nose in it then.
I will never understand where the "nobody will come here" is coming from. We have no evidence to support the argument.
I hope you're right, but I'll take the "don't pass" line on this one. It's about the money, championships and location. We'll have the first, just no possibility at #2 (the Celtics' history is a great PR talking point that means nothing to most of the free agents we're after; the oldest of them was barely out of diapers on the day Larry Bird retired.) and no ability to change #3. I love Boston; I couldn't live anywhere else. But it's not an easy city to move to, and it still has a reputation for being racist, valid or not.
Your post, though, does convince me of one thing: This is a great city in which to be a fan. Other fans are smart, passionate about the teams and love to talk sports. We have four teams with great histories and we pass it along through the generations. Even when the teams suck, the games are better than any other cities'.
Two other things:
For those of you who are saying that Dominique was the best free agent we've ever signed, how can you forget about X-Man? That guy was pure gold.
We're going to get a chance to test the geography theory in 2016, when the cap space frees up in LA, New York and, possibly, Brooklyn, if they can dump a salary or two this year.
Mike