Interesting article here. It highlights that one option for the Celtics to get under the 2nd apron for 2024-25 season would be to trade Pritchard and Springer mid season without taking back salary. The main benefit of this would be to avoid the penalties of the 2nd apron, such as the limitations on trades in the summer of 2025 and the penalty of your draft pick being in the bottom of the first round for teams above the 2nd apron 3 years in a row. The Celtics will almost certainly be above the 2nd apron for 2025-26 and 2026-27 so if they do not do this their 2034 first rounder would be impacted. Obviously losing Pritchard would be a big loss. How much of a priority do you think it will be for the front office to get under the 2nd apron for 2024-25?
by rrp2016
8 Comments
Don’t we have to carry atleast 14?
Springer is one thing, but Pritchard’s a legitimate rotation player and we can’t afford to give him up for nothing.
If the rookie Baylor comes in and shines that would give them more incentive to trade PP.
This team is very intentionally keeping their championship core together. The moves so far have been very clear.
Unless multiple key players have rough injuries early, it seems very improbable that they start cutting salaries this season.
Who’s gonna hit our half court shots?
The easiest way to get under the 2nd apron this year without trading the one of the top 5 is trading Horford alone which will never happen unless it was a Gallinari situation
The option in the article above only happens if Pritchard falls off a cliff and Springer doesn’t become a rotation player.
If we are somehow out of the playoff race by the deadline (which is incredibly unlikely), we would move one of Holiday, Horford, or Zingus. And again easiest option is Horford of the three
That being said, I could see us trading Springer for a min salary guy if he doesn’t become a rotation player. That ~2mil in salary cap savings is like tens of millions in tax money. No brainer as a GM if his contribution is the same as a bench warmer
I think especially if Pags buys out Wyc, that the current ownership seems prepared to pay the luxury tax, for a bit… I do think though in 2-3 years they’ll have to do a mini reset around the Jays where they move on from an older Jrue, KP etc and get younger players and going under the second apron around the Jays/maybe Derrick White just because of the age of some of the core guys and to reset the tax bill
The Springer trade is probably one that Brad would like to have back. $4+ million for a guy who won’t crack the rotation this year was a big mistake. Other than that, I don’t see anything else this guy says actually coming about. It’s HIGHLY unlikely that they trade Pritchard. Also, KP will NOT be extended. Heck, I’m not even sure that he won’t be traded in 2025-26 as an expiring. Jrue’s situation is also a bit shaky. If they want to get under the tax in 2026-27, he might be gone.
They’ll move forward with JT, JB, White, some mid-levels, and the rest minimum contracts. The next year or two is an audition for end of bench guys.