Pierce hints at an extension

[sully00]

There was another thread about the interview with Pierce in Spain but what was missing in that discussion was this quote from the Cetlics Blog (Globe) translation.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... tics_blog/

Q: Celtics fans have suffered a lot these last few years. Does this title signal the end of this black period?

A: I hope so, at least for as long as I am on the team. I will play there for the next five years and I hope to win each year, or at least as much as possible.

To this point Pierce is under contract for 3 more years including a player option. He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason that replaces his player option with a 3 year deal that would have him under contract for for 5 years total. Translations are what they are but there is actually almost no reason for him to say he will be here for 5 more years unless this is the case.

This is significant beyond an additional 3 years of Paul Pierce. Assuming it is a simliar extension to what KG signed for that would be the key to Boston opening up some cap space after Ray's deal expires.

[SuperDeluxe]

This is not same as the one I posted the other day. This one is much better.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I'm of the opinion that Paul would actually leave a lot of money on the table if it meant attracting another prime free agent that would keep the Celts in contention.

[Al-Haqq]

I would like some clarification on this issue.

Paul Pierce signed a contract extension, and within the contract there was a player option.

BUT

For which year?

I read reports it was for the 07/08 year, and others saying it was the 10/11 year.



If it is the 10/11 season, then the Celtics [if Pierce decides to be generous] can let go of $21million he is scheduled to make that season and accept a smaller contract for the good of the Celtics and to bring in a powerhouse name.


Ray Allen's contract comes off the books, and as does Pierce's, IF he turns down a player option for 10/11 - IF he has one for that year, as some reports suggest.

That is $40 million off the books, and if both re-sign for less, we can free up to at least $20 million!

Thoughts?

[BillessuR6]

This is our salary cap situation:
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm

It is not complete but outside of Giddens no contract will go past 2009/2010 season, so it doesn`t really matter.

Now, if Pierce opts out in 2010 his salary still counts against the cap unless we renounce him, right? So, we sign him to an extension for 3 years but for how much? Let`s say he gets 13-15 million in his first year. If we count in Powe`s extension (it is either him or Big baby) plus Giddens, maybe Walker we end up in the same area as it is projected now. Around 45 million.

Salary cap should be around 65 million (it is $58,7 this season). That means we could be $20 million (or at least $15 million if there were some other players under contract or not renounced) under the cap.

But do we have the MLE and LLE in that case? I guess no. So, we couldn`t sign Ray for our MLE after losing his rights by renouncing him...

And there is of course the problem with Rondo`s salary. He has a qualifying offer for 10/11. If he signs an extension when does it start? In 11/12 or in 10/11 instead of QO?

Could someone who has more knowledge of the CBA gives us some more info on this matter. Of course the current CBA expires in 10/11 (unless the league exercises the option for 11/12 season), so there could be a lot of changes by the 11/12 season...

[sully00]

Pierce has 21.5 mil option for the final year of his deal '10/11.

He and the team can tear that up and replace it with a 3 year deal having under contract for a max 5 years. If he took the same deal KG took it would reduce his '10/11 salary to 16.4 mil.

Creating cap space is complicated as there are a lot of salary that has to be added in that isn't player contracts necessarily but if this is the case and Boston adds no more contract for '10/11 season then they could have between 10-12 mil in cap space available.

Cap space can be overrated but not so much when you have two HOF trying to compete for a title.

This would involve saying goodbye to everyone outside of Pierce/KG/Rondo/Perk, at least bird rights wise. Ray would have to be renounced. Rondo would count for 6 mil against the cap. Giddens is a team option if he is signed. Assuming Powe and Davis came back at QO levels the cap hold on their rights would probably be 2 mil a piece.