Celtics 2026-2027 Discussion

JoeSixPat said:

As we're talking about growing players who can be major contributors on contracts far less than the max, Peyton Pritchard is a case in point.

While the main issue was paying JB and Tatum back to back, the notion that Pritchard is also eligible for an extension in October is on the frontburner for the Celtics. He's certainly been one of the most underpaid Celtics, and the game plan is to have guys like Hugo, Cenac, Queta and others fill those affordable salary slots.

The most a team can offer these guys in an extension is set by CBA rules and that's 140% of the NBA average in Peyton's case, which has most ballparking the extension the Celtics hope he accepts at 3 years/$67 million. He had similar constraints which lead to him getting his 4 year $30 mil contract extension last time, which he'll finish here, but he can also reject the extension and opt for Free Agency

Queta's 4 year $57 million contract will hopefully look like a bargain in a few years too, but there's also a bunch of other, younger guys who they will be trying to lock into contracts similar to what Pritchard is getting now.

I think Stevens knows that for long term success, you have to get into a player extension resonance to be able to keep your key all stars and mix them in with all-stars of the future who you've locked into the affordable contracts to afford two top tier guys, maybe 3 depending on how they are staggered... but it's the staggering of contracts that becomes a key factor into creating a team that's a contender every year.

So yes, this is going to be a gap year, but hopefully an exciting gap year like last year's was, but that's effectively the tradeoff for being a sustainable contender. That's of course the financial side of things - players need to play and you need the right players and the right scheme - but this approach also provides some quality depth as there will be players that just don't pan out and players who get injured.

So we've got a LOT of players who have tremendous potential but are on really affordable contracts now, and even their initial extensions will remain affordable. The upside to a gap year I guess is that they actually might get some playing time with guys like Walsh, Gonazales, Schierman etc getting a chance to show they can be part of the future. Heck, we might even see some Cenac time this season, but better to let him develop in G league most of the year.

Celtics roster reset: Depth chart, contracts and more after Jaylen trade

The new-look Celtics roster will take some getting used to. Here's the updated depth chart with contracts and more after the Jaylen Brown trade.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Honest question though would you rather be locked into Paul George for two years, 105M, possibly getting out after one year, or locked into Jaylen Brown for five years, 270M?

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One-If-By-Sea said:

Paul George three years ago, 74 games played, 22/5/3 on 47/41% splits and a 61% TS%. If George can magically duplicate that three years later, the Celts will be more efficient at scoring.

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

PG at 37 is still better than peak Jaylen.
Too bad he can’t stay healthy or be relied upon for anything important.

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LightSkinSmurf said:

I'm really trying hard to not dump on Jaylen. I do appreciate everything he has done for us......But my god is he beyond overrated by the fans. IMO.

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

PG at 37 is still better than peak Jaylen.
Too bad he can’t stay healthy or be relied upon for anything important.

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One-If-By-Sea said:

Jaylen is 30 this upcoming season. Paul is 36 this upcoming season. Some people like to say Jaylen is 29 and Paul is 37.

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rochrist said:

George is 36 and will turn 37 this upcoming season.

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Honest question though would you rather be locked into Paul George for two years, 105M, possibly getting out after one year, or locked into Jaylen Brown for five years, 270M?

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One-If-By-Sea said:

Jaylen is 30 this upcoming season. Paul is 36 this upcoming season. Some people like to say Jaylen is 29 and Paul is 37.

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Yeah, and that’s another problem with this. PG is old and unreliable. Brown is very durable and you can expect him to give a lot of minutes and production.

I stand by this opinion that PG even now is better than Brown if he can actually play. But that’s been the story of PG forever.

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One-If-By-Sea said:

I am not sure "better" is the word I would use, but offensively George is more efficient than Brown. George is a more efficient scorer, but not a high volume scorer, and that is what the Celtics want to compliment Tatum. Defensively George is weaker than Brown IMO.

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I get that he’s older now, but he was all defensive team four times. As a player when healthy and playing at a high level, George is really good like probably one of the top 10 players of the 2010s and as of a few years ago, top 15. We saw in the playoffs against us he still has something left in the tank.

I’m not saying I’m excited about him because again he’s been so unreliable especially when it matters and yeah he’s 37, but of the two players, I would take George over Brown.

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borisman said:

You’re not going to convince ro of anything, as you already know. It’ll register for him someday. Likely in 12 months. Paul George will be 37 and 3 months old then, not 38.

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