Utah can't offer Hayward a supermax contract. He doesn't qualify. Utah can offer him a 5/148 deal, but we can offer a 4/109 deal which works out to just ~$5 million less over four years
A couple of things have impacted Ainge's decision on whether there will be "fireworks." First, the Brooklyn Nets' record has given the Celtics a fairly good chance at a top 1-2 pick in the draft. This is the best way to get a transcendent player without having to trade for them and mortgage your entire franchise. If the Nets had possibly the 5-6th worst record in the league right now Danny may very well have traded for Boogie. But a top two pick plus prominent young players is too valuable to give up for Cousins. Basically the Nets' futility this year has changed the game for the Celtics.
Secondly, Danny loves the deal. Loves getting All Star players in exchange for expiring contracts and a second round pick (ex. IT). And the best deals ever in the NBA are free agents. You give up nothing and get an all star in return (ex. KD, Al Horford, etc.). And Ainge has been so patient with new contracts the past four years, and not taking on excess salary, so that for the first time in forever they can sign two "max-ish" players in free agency (Horford being one). While nothing is guaranteed in terms of free agents signing with the Celts this summer (Blake Griffin or Gordon Hayward) Danny will sign someone and they will be at the very least a valuable player (ex. Ilyasova, JJ Redick, Patrick Patterson, Nerlens Noel, Zaza Paculia) for a few years. Not necessarily an All Star but a potential starter or 6th/7th man. And he will have given up nothing in return for them, keeping the potential top 1-2-3 pick in the next two drafts.
And if we have an embarrassment of riches and not enough minutes to go around? Well then you trade some of those riches for future picks in 2019 or 2020 and expiring contracts.
While Ainge might pull the trigger for Butler I think he knows that this wouldn't result in a championship this year, or even the next two years. But by using that cap space to sign another high quality player this year, and developing the talent already on the roster, and drafting well for three straight years (2016, 2017, 2018) he could build a dynasty that lasts for a decade.
Yes, but I would suggest that what really changed the game for the Celtics, based on this argument, is the failure to sign KD last off-season, most people knew the Nets would be bad this season. IMO, the plan was to for the Horford signing to be enough to lure KD here. Now DA has a chance once again this summer in free agency with the advantages you laid out.
