Towards the NBA trading deadline, the Boston Celtics continue to look to luxury taxes

There’s a rumor calling the Celtics here in the last few days before the NBA trading deadline, and it’s a rumor calling quite a few other teams.

The rumor says this: $ 13 million.

There are 13. Millions. Dollars. Thanks, luxury tax.

It is anticipated across the league that when the NBA and the players union sit down to do the math at the end of the year, the payment that the league will have to authorize to be made to non-tax teams will be substantial – $ 13 million. If you are among the NBA’s spendthrift teams (Brooklyn, Golden State, Lakers, or Clippers), then this season is sure to grab your attention. You won’t get that $ 13 million. Your competitors are and you are funding that payment.

Despite the fact that the Celtics have been playing well lately, going 8-4 in their last 12 games, and may show more promise in the coming days (starting with their showdown against the East Heat leaders on Monday), the feeling around the ‘NBA is still Boston wants to be the receiving end of those tax payments this summer. This will be the first thought in the next 10 days.

This means that, even with exceptions of traded players worth $ 17 million and $ 10 million, the Celtics won’t be making big moves to add salary to the books. In fact, they’re going the other way no matter what the latest breathless report on the rumor mill says. Boston is looking to lose around $ 3 million between now and the end of the season (most likely through a Dennis Schroder trade), and that won’t change even if their current winning streak (one game) grows to four or more before the trade. Expiration.

The Celtics will play in Miami on Monday, then take the Orlando and Detroit wineries on the road before wrapping up their shortlist before the deadline with a game in Brooklyn against the struggling (but headache-ridden) Nets. It is conceivable that the Celtics, finally with all their rotation ready for the first time in two seasons, will win all the aforementioned games and move on to 30-25.

Don’t expect this to move them from their luxury tax position, though.

“No, they are pretty well set on how this team is viewed,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “Brad Stevens, that front office, they know what they are, and that’s the Top 5-6 in the east, at best, maybe you win a playoff round, maybe you can make it to round two. But this is the ceiling. If they’re going to build around Jaylen Brown and (Jayson) Tatum, they’re going to need another major piece. They have the resources and that piece will be available to them, but not in the next 10 days. For now it is, cut your salary, save money, get that tax allowance. “

In any case, it is a considerable tax allowance. Never in league history has there been such a close-knit group so willing to shell out hefty taxes, and the Celtics are in one of the league’s worst positions – they’re not so blessed with talent that they’re willing to go above and beyond the tax. But they are not so economically built that they are well below taxes. Being 2.5 million dollars over the threshold is the worst place a team can be, because it means you have some stupid contracts on your books and, at the same time, it means that you are not above the threshold enough to really compete for a championship.

“They have two young boys in Tatum and Brown,” said another staff man. “What else do you like about the roster there? (Robert) Williams is a talent. (Payton) Pritchard could be the best sixth man in the league if he had a chance. But it shouldn’t start. (Aaron) Nesmith needs more chances. But who on that roster scares you besides Tatum and Brown? They shouldn’t go around picking up mediocre players to support the cast they have. Finish with 42 wins and we’ll talk about it again in the summer ”.

This is the position they most see the Celtics take. Even with their recent spate and several potential adaptations available on the market, making a minor move or two remains the most obvious way forward.