Celtics 2024-2025 Discussion

[bresna]

Until the Celtics max'ed out Brown, I wasn't aware of the onerous CBA's restrictions. It's ludicrous that a team that is lucky enough to develop two or three young players to the point where they're eligible for a max contract puts them in salary cap hell. The worst thing is that these max contracts are guaranteed for 4 to 5 years and often these players can't carry the team for so long.

Look at the Warriors. They have Curry, Butler & Green, aged 37, 36 & 35, under contract for two more years at 38.54/36.79%, 35/33.41% & 16.74/16.27% of their cap. I think it's safe to say that these three aren't carrying that team to another championship but the Warriors don't have many options since they're over $50 Million onto the second apron. They're being penalized for having great players 3 years ago. (no tears being shed here )

 

[1960Pats]

The NBA parity rules suck.
Like the NFL, that's what they want:
No dynasties.
The NFL rules suck as well but the NBA has just carried it to an extreme.
MLB is much better on this than both of the above.
But it is what it is and having a very sharp guy in charge is even more important now. Thank God for Stevens.
What the Patriots did from 2001- 2018 is just incredible and will likely never be duplicated. The fact they achieved it during the salary cap era is even more incredible. That's why it's the greatest dynasty in NFL history by a long shot.
C's will be a playoff team in 2026 just because of DWhite and JB.
We'll see about 2027. Achilles is no joke.
But KD returned from it better than ever and JT is younger than Durant was.
Also a better athlete. So there's hope.

I think you spelled parody wrong.

There may be teams that won more than the Pats but none that won for 20 years.

I'm friends with two people who had a torn achilles. One screwed around with his cast on while drunk and hobbles around now. The other (who passed out when it happened) has never had problems at all.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Also......................"Can't score.......but great intangibles"

Well, hey, Ben Simmons and Lonzo Ball made a lot of money with that draft profile.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Until the Celtics max'ed out Brown, I wasn't aware of the onerous CBA's restrictions. It's ludicrous that a team that is lucky enough to develop two or three young players to the point where they're eligible for a max contract puts them in salary cap hell. The worst thing is that these max contracts are guaranteed for 4 to 5 years and often these players can't carry the team for so long.

Look at the Warriors. They have Curry, Butler & Green, aged 37, 36 & 35, under contract for two more years at 38.54/36.79%, 35/33.41% & 16.74/16.27% of their cap. I think it's safe to say that these three aren't carrying that team to another championship but the Warriors don't have many options since they're over $50 Million onto the second apron. They're being penalized for having great players 3 years ago. (no tears being shed here )

If the Thunder win more championships, that will be the two most recent dynasties separating from the league only due to the fortunate timing of CBA clauses taking effect. That’s a pathetic way to build a professional sports league.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If the Thunder win more championships, that will be the two most recent dynasties separating from the league only due to the fortunate timing of CBA clauses taking effect. That’s a pathetic way to build a professional sports league.

They won't.

OKC is at $178m w/ a $187m tax threashold for the 2025-26 season. After this year they'll need to decide who to pay (or neither) between FAs Holmgren and Jalen Williams. They can't keep both as they are in the bottom 1/3rd in revenue whereas we are top 4 in revenue. Also, SGA is a supermax waiting to happen in 2027.

Additionally, they absolutely do not have the 2nd apron tax tolerance the Celtics did this past year as their revenues are $320m vs $457m for us

They better repeat next year as they'll eventually be in the same situation as we are now.

 

[captain stone]

To go from the franchise that gave us Russell, Cowens, Silas, Parish, McHale, Perkins, Garnett et al to whatever the **** this is, is, in the words of JD Clampett himself, pitiful. Pi-tee-full.

 

[Boston Boxer]

To go from the franchise that gave us Russell, Cowens, Silas, Parish, McHale, Perkins, Garnett et al to whatever the **** this is, is, in the words of JD Clampett himself, pitiful. Pi-tee-full.

it certainly seems like our championship window was very small and slammed shut.

 

[borg]

it certainly seems like our championship window was very small and slammed shut.

Wyc & Brad spent Irv's money with impunity, and they successfully BOUGHT a championship.
This cannot be argued.
The roster was stacked with a surplus of high-priced pieces.
In each of the last 2 seasons, the combined salaries of just the Celtics' 4 top earners pushed the team over the "league cap limit".

The window was small, and it was always going to be small given the composition of the roster.
Spending with such impunity has consequences.
Operate beyond cap limits in excess and duration; get financially punished.

Green Teamers bemoaning this reality are delusional............................................................and it's priceless.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Regardless, hats off to the organization for securing their most recent title.
Being the biggest spender is no guarantee for success.

Unfortunately, the piper always has to get paid, ring or no ring.
Look at the wreckage free spending Dave Dombrowski left for the Red Sox.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Wyc & Brad spent Irv's money with impunity, and they successfully BOUGHT a championship.
This cannot be argued.
The roster was stacked with a surplus of high-priced pieces.
In each of the last 2 seasons, the combined salaries of just the Celtics' 4 top earners pushed the team over the "league cap limit".

The window was small, and it was always going to be small given the composition of the roster.
Spending with such impunity has consequences.
Operate beyond cap limits in excess and duration; get financially punished.

Green Teamers bemoaning this reality are delusional............................................................and it's priceless.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Regardless, hats off to the organization for securing their most recent title.
Being the biggest spender is no guarantee for success.

Unfortunately, the piper always has to get paid, ring or no ring.
Look at the wreckage free spending Dave Dombrowski left for the Red Sox.

From 2016-17 to 2024-25, the Celtics went to the conference semifinals 8 times, the conference finals 6 times, the NBA finals 2 times.

I have no idea how that’s considered a small window, nor do I think it’s shut. Tatum will return in 2026-27. The Celtics will likely be one of the top contenders again.

Sure they had a small window of fielding somewhat of a super team. But even that team had flaws and yes, it was expected to be short due to age and durability.

This isn’t the 1980s. Teams don’t have four hall of fame players for their primes anymore.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

This isn’t the 1980s. Teams don’t have four hall of fame players for their primes anymore.

Those days were fun. I agree, long gone now.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The NBA parity rules suck.

Just a reminder that the biggest difference is that the NFLPA is an extremely weak union because it is serving two vastly different populations. As a result:

In the NFL, the average salary in 2025 is on the order of $5M, and the median salary is on the order of $2M (excluding PS players). A total of 18 players have contracts averaging at least $40M a year.

In the NBA, the average salary is about $15M, and the median is about $8.5M. 34 players have contracts averaging $40M+ a year. Essentially all contracts are fully guaranteed.

 

[captain stone]

...Look at the wreckage free spending Dave Dombrowski left for the Red Sox.

What wreckage?

DD was the last decent GM the Ded Sux have had.

 

[borg]

What wreckage?

DD was the last decent GM the Ded Sux have had.

For starters..............

Farm System Rankings
2016.....DD's first full year as Sox GM......Farm system rank: #4
2017.....14th
2018.....24th
2019.....year Sox fired DD........30th........aka......LAST PLACE

If you want to argue mortgaging the team's long-term future by trading away the best pieces of a highly ranked farm system to secure some of the highest priced (aging) superstars in order to secure Boston's 4th title of the century, was worth it, I'll mostly agree with you.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of DD's win at all costs methods still haunts this team, and more importantly, ownership.

The team has been a talentless shell ever since, mainly because of a barren farm system that only now is bearing potential fruit thanks in large part to 3 last place AL East finishes in this Post-DD era

John Henry & Co. were left with such a Post-DD hangover and wage bill, they unapologetically aborted their 2 decades modus operandi.

If you don't believe DD left a pile of wreckage on his way out the door, I ask you..............what have we been rubbernecking these past 7 years?

 

[ViperGTS]

Kornet signed with the Spurs. 4/41 million. Good for him.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Kornet signed with the Spurs. 4/41 million. Good for him.

Well deserved.

 

[1960Pats]

Kornet signed with the Spurs. 4/41 million. Good for him.

Bring on Giannis

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Bring on Giannis

really? yuck, I hate his game. haha.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

Kornet signed with the Spurs. 4/41 million. Good for him.

Can't hate on it, good franchise with a promising future and a top 5 player. Thank you Kornet, I will miss Luuuuuuke

 

[borisman]

They won't.

OKC is at $178m w/ a $187m tax threashold for the 2025-26 season. After this year they'll need to decide who to pay (or neither) between FAs Holmgren and Jalen Williams. They can't keep both as they are in the bottom 1/3rd in revenue whereas we are top 4 in revenue. Also, SGA is a supermax waiting to happen in 2027.

Additionally, they absolutely do not have the 2nd apron tax tolerance the Celtics did this past year as their revenues are $320m vs $457m for us

They better repeat next year as they'll eventually be in the same situation as we are now.

While I agree with some of the things you say, as SGA already got paid, they do have a boatload of picks (8 1st rounders and 10 2nd rounders) incoming in the next 5 years. That is no joke. That can keep them in contention for a long time if they hit on just 3 or those picks and/or trade some for expiring contracts of good players or some younger established ones. I think not all of those picks will convey either, like the Utah pick next year if it falls in 1-8 range, which is very possible.

 

[RobertWeathers]

While I agree with some of the things you say, as SGA already got paid, they do have a boatload of picks (8 1st rounders and 10 2nd rounders) incoming in the next 5 years. That is no joke. That can keep them in contention for a long time if they hit on just 3 or those picks and/or trade some for expiring contracts of good players or some younger established ones. I think not all of those picks will convey either, like the Utah pick next year if it falls in 1-8 range, which is very possible.

Tatum got paid as well before his supermax. Once he became eligible for a supermax, he got it. Same will happen w/ SGA.

You bring up good points on the picks but it depends on where they are in the draft. If they are lottery picks, I agree. If they are in the high 20s, meh.