If you see Danny Ainge walking around town in one of those popular “NOT DONE” shirts, it may have more meaning than just the Patriots’ postseason slogan.
Even with the planned signing of Greg Monroe today, the Celtics are still in business until next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline and beyond.
According to two Western Conference sources, the Celts are still in pursuit of Lou Williams and Tyreke Evans. They have had discussions regarding others, but those two appear to be the main targets as the C’s look to add scoring off the bench.
The key in each of these cases is how much will be required to make a deal. The Celts are said to be willing to part with assets, but Ainge seems to be again holding the line on what he believes is proper value. The strategy has frustrated other clubs and a percentage of the fan base, but it doesn’t appear to be changing.
Memphis has been asking for a first-round pick for Evans, but the Celts haven’t yet been willing to go there. Denver has reportedly offered Emmanuel Mudiay and a second-round pick, and while the C’s could propose something similar, the second -round pick (or picks) they could send would not be very high.
Also, sources say the Celts are being careful with their pursuit of wings. As much as they might be able to gain some level of help at the position, they have told people they do not want to do something that would too greatly impede the progress of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who, they believe, will be even better by the postseason because of the minutes they have been getting all year.
But the Celts are still said to be very active in talks. There is a reason behind the fact the Celts will be giving Monroe $5 million instead of the full $8.4 million disabled player exception.
They cannot use the remaining money to sign another player, but by keeping Monroe at $5 million, the C’s have maintained a measure of flexibility as they look at trades in the next five days. As it stands, with tax and cap considerations taken into account, they will be able to take back some $4 million more than they send out in a move.
From the time the Celtics got the DPE approved for the loss of Gordon Hayward, it was thought it would be best used on a bought-out player rather than one who was still on the free agent market early in the season. That proved to be the case with Monroe, but it’s important to note that this signing does not take the Celts out of the buyout game.
They could still sign such a player to a veteran minimum contract, and though they may have lost the more-money-to-offer edge, most players who sign after reaching a deal to leave their team do wind up getting the minimum. That was the case when Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut joined the Cavaliers last season. And if you want to go back a few years, that’s how the Celts solidified their 2008 title run by adding P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell.
The important factor then, as was the case with Monroe, is that the C’s were a team in contention. That group obviously had better title hopes than this one, but the path to the 2018 Finals from the Eastern Conference has to look good to potential signees.
It’s also important to add, as we did at the time the Celtics were granted the DPE, that there will be no penalty or other ramification for the club if Hayward is able to come back and play this season, other than the fact it would have to clear a roster spot.
It remains to be seen how Brad Stevens will fit Monroe into the Celtics rotation, but, even though he will be looking to test the unrestricted free agent market this summer after he turns 28 in June, he is not necessarily a short-timer here.
The Celts could offer him some $6 million without making a corollary move, and that would seem low for his worth. But it will be interesting to see how the market for big men is this year.
Then again, it’s also possible that one of the reasons the 6-foot-11 Monroe is choosing the C’s is because Stevens always seems to raise the value of the players he coaches.
But even if Monroe winds up staying, the Celtics will still have a number of important decisions to make in the offseason, just as they will this week.
