IT: "I'm for signing free agents over contract extension"

[CelticsElite]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19473272/isaiah-thomas-okay-boston-celtics-spending-money-free-agency-extension

[hpantazo]

That's awesome, and answers a question a lot of people had here about IT and our off-season plans

[SparzWizard]

AKA I don't need a max contract I want to win so put the team ahead of me first.

Class act. Keep this man.

[j804]

I love it and he's betting on himself he'll have another great year with more pieces around him.

[CelticsElite]

He wants to be a Celtic legend

[A Future of Stevens]

I love this man.

[Roy H.]

I wouldn't expect anything else from him.

[tazzmaniac]

All he said was that he's willing to wait for free agency to get his money.  I'd be surprised if there is serious talk of giving him an extension. 

[trickybilly]

What extension is he eligible for?

Makes sense to keep fanbase happy, then be rewarded with the 5 year max

[86MaxwellSmart]

It's common sense--we can't sign anyone, if we give IT the money now--But we can go over the cap to give him big money next year.

[saltlover]

What extension is he eligible for?

Makes sense to keep fanbase happy, then be rewarded with the 5 year max

He could get 5 years, $146 million this summer.

[Ilikesports17]

What extension is he eligible for?

Makes sense to keep fanbase happy, then be rewarded with the 5 year max

He could get 5 years, $146 million this summer.

Could you break down the structure of that for me?

TP in advance to the resident cap guru

[hpantazo]

What extension is he eligible for?

Makes sense to keep fanbase happy, then be rewarded with the 5 year max

He could get 5 years, $146 million this summer.

Which is huge for a guy who has been underpaid , never made the big pay day yet, is hitting his prime, and has to come off a significant injury. Many players in that position would push for the extension or demand a trade.

[mmmmm]

It's common sense--we can't sign anyone, if we give IT the money now--But we can go over the cap to give him big money next year.

Well, it's a bit more nuanced than just common sense (larger money if he waits for a free agency contract).  It's also risk for Thomas.  An extension now locks in big money for him.  If he were to suffer a career-ending injury before next summer, then he gets nothing past his current cheap contract.

So he's betting on his recovery and staying healthy.

[NHCelticsFan]

My dream scenario is the Celtics keep this years and next years Brooklyn picks.  Sign a big free agent this, and get Isaiah on a shorter 3 year deal (big money, of course) when his time comes.  This would allow the free agent, Horford, and IT to all be on one timeframe, and the young group to be on another.

Could also set IT up for another big contract in his early 30's so he might go for it.  Not sure what year he would be in at that point, but I know you are eligible for larger contracts after X amount of years.

Short term and long term.