Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
The Celtics are nearing an agreement on a guaranteed contract with point guard Demetrius Jackson, the 45th overall pick of last month’s draft. Final details, including the length of the contract, are still being finalized, but it will be a guaranteed deal, league sources said. Lastly, Boston is close to signing former Providence forward Ben Bentil, the 51st overall pick of the draft, to a partially guaranteed deal. The contracts for Jackson and Bentil should be finalized this coming week, sources said.
A league source cautioned that these moves hardly mean that the Celtics are done for the summer. The team continues to aggressively seek trade opportunities.
[…] These moves will put Boston’s roster at 18 players, including the non-guaranteed contract of John Holland and the guaranteed deal of No. 3 overall pick Jaylen Brown. The group will have to be trimmed to 15 players by the start of the season.
Globe: Celtics add Green, re-sign Zeller, and might not be done making moves
Well when you put it like that… of course they’re not done…
There are a couple of surprises here… starting with Demetrius Jackson. Giving him a guaranteed deal makes things a bit interesting because he’s not a guy they need, per se. They may well want him, and maybe they see him as more valuable that James Young and RJ Hunter, but their backcourt is still pretty full… which means this could be a trade insurance type of signing.
If the Celtics make a move that costs them a couple of their guards, then suddenly Jackson becomes a guy they might need in an emergency (like the role Terry Rozier played last season). So beyond the “they have 18 guys and need to get to 15” dynamic, the Celtics are still preparing for the possibility of a big trade.
According to league sources, Danny Ainge is still very much open to making deals, but the process on anything larger than today’s transactions may not begin in earnest for weeks, if not months.
The Celts would obviously love to get their hands on Russell Westbrook or Blake Griffin, but, as reported here earlier, such negotiations have been non-starters. In each case, Oklahoma City and the Clippers would need major assets from the Celtics or any other team to pry loose the star, and with each potentially an unrestricted free agent next summer, the risk would be too great to seriously consider.
Whether they pull something huge off or not, the Celtics are in a position to either bring in a big time player or cut certain guys without tying up any real cap space. The Celtics could eat Young and Hunter’s salaries if it came to that and only be on the hook for $3 million for this year. They could even stretch those out over three years if necessary to minimize the hit. So if it just came down to cutting players, they could do it.
I’m a bit surprised they are seemingly ready to cut bait on Hunter, but if they feel like other guys can be more help, then that’s the way it goes. One way or another, they have to get to 15 players. The Celtics will get there somehow… eventually.
Related links:
CSNNE: After flurry of moves, C’s still aren’t done | Report: C’s agree to deal with Zeller, Bentil, and Jackson | Report: C’s bring Gerald Green back on 1-year deal
ESPN Boston: C’s sign Green, bring back Zeller
WEEI: Resetting roster, Abel Nader, Boston a no-go for 2017 All Star game
MassLive: No big deal on horizon, per report
The rest of the links
Herald: Given new reality, Pat Riley longs for old days
Globe: Sean Rooks’ death has heightened health awareness in NBA
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
