Celtics trade Cassell & $$ for 2nd Round from Kings

[Al-Haqq]

The Sacramento Kings agreed in principle to a deal with the Boston CelticsSam Cassell and cash to the Kings for a future second-round pick. on Monday night, a league source told ESPN.com. The Celtics will send

Barring any changes overnight, the deal is expected to be finalized Tuesday afternoon with the league office.

The deal helps the Celtics by removing Cassell's salary from the team's luxury-tax computations. The Kings give up virtually nothing to do it as the pick is heavily protected. Furthermore, another league source says the deal could pave the way for the Celtics to add another player to their roster prior to the playoffs. The Celtics had a maximum of 15 players on their current roster.

Cassell hasn't played a game for the Celtics this season, but he's been an important veteran voice in the locker room. While it's unclear what the Kings will do with Cassell, most likely they'll waive him.

[Draino]

ehh the trade is w/e really, it will help the celts get someone later on for the playoffs, and the kings won't really get much *not that it matters for them* but he is stil better than BENO lol even if he is liek 126 years old in basketball years

[RIPskaterdude]

I don't get it...how much money would have the Celtics lost with Cassell on the roster (since he pushed them into the tax)...that being said, I wonder how much $$$ they sent to the Kings?

[Three34]

^ Enough to pay the remainder of Cassell's salary, plus a little bonus amount to make it worth their while.

[Three34]

Oh and the title's wrong. You're giving up the cash, not getting it.

[Spin Move]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3912402


heres the link strange move.....maybe this is a sign Marbury is getting bought out.

[Al-Haqq]

Kings waive him, we sign him in a coaching role?

No doubt Ainge has someone in mind to fill in roster spot #15, otherwise this move would not have been made.

Marbury maybe?

[Avalanche]

For a minute i thought the cash would be so the Kings could buy him out... but then there would be no point in them doing the trade at all, plus the contract is so small they can just waive him

surely this is to make space for someone else... if they traded sam to get under the tax, wouldnt that mean bringing someone else in would put them right back over?

so... trade possibly?

[campybatman]

Okay, now I've seen everything. Why the hell was he resigned this season, again? Insurance?

I don't understand... Boston needed to resign Cassell in the off season so that they could trade him before the deadline to free up a roster spot. A roster spot that he never would've occupied had he never been resigned to begin with. Also, I was under the impression that he would play this season (eventually) and presumingly be named an assistant coach for next season. I suppose Cassell could still hypothetically join Rivers' staff...



The Kings give up virtually nothing to do it as the pick is heavily protected. Furthermore, another league source says the deal could pave the way for the Celtics to add another player to their roster prior to the playoffs. The Celtics had a maximum of 15 players on their current roster.

[AlCelticFan]

They're getting rid of him to make room for someone they are picking up. It is better than dumping him for nothing.

[Three34]

Why the hell was he resigned this season, again?

You answer your own question:

Also, I was under the impression that he would play this season (eventually)

So did the Celtics.

I suppose Cassell could still hypothetically join Rivers' staff...

If anything, this will speed up the process.

[BillessuR6]

So, why did we sign Cassell? Makes no sense...

I understand the trade, we want to open up a roster spot but if we can`t sign a veteran PG I don`t like it...

[Avalanche]

I really hope the lakers, cavs etc dont make a play for Sam if he does get waived, not necissarily because of his play, but he would know the celtics inside and out by know.. especially Rondo

Be very interested to see whos bought out or released over the next day or 2 if a trade isnt made

[return2glory]

The move is mainly to clear up a roster spot. I guess we wont be doing a 2 for 1 or a 3 for 1 trade because that would have accomplished the same thing. I don't see Sacramento keeping Cassell. Cassell most likely gets waived and comes back to us a a coach.

Pruitt IMO isn't ready to contribute in the playoffs. Danny must have seen a PG that he wants more than Cassell. Maybe he knows Marbury will be bought out or maybe Pargo could be what he likes. Could be someone else. It sould be interesting with the deadline about 2 days away.

[GreenGrizz]

It sounds like Ainge is going to make a 2 for 1 or 3 for 2 trade but I always have known him comfortable leaving a 15th spot open before the deadline. We obtained Sacramento's future second-rounder. It is a very high pick almost a first rounder. I don't think Sacramento will improve for a few years. It will give AInge some ability to use for any trade.

[Avalanche]

^ highly protected pick.. arent likely to even see the pick from what i can tell

purely a roster clearing move

[Mahoney_jr]

Thanks to Wyc & Co for paying the price to be contender. I'm curious which player we will sign. Cassell might be back next month as a coach.

[BadWolf]

Why couldn't we just waive him? it would free a roster spot and the money is really small, was this necessary?

[Jammer]

By trading Sam Cassell,

the Celtics remove his entire $797,500 team portion from their books,
for lux tax calculations,
and place it on Sacramento's books (Sac is under the tax, it doesn't matter).

Cassell actually makes about $1,262,275 this year, with the league paying the difference.

Sacramento will only owe Cassell 1/2 of $797,500,
since there are 8 paychecks remaining of the 16 paychecks
that an NBA player gets from November THRU June (1rst and 15th every month).

So, the Celtics gain a roster spot,
and save $797,500 luxury tax + 0.5 x $797,500 salary = $1,196,250 savings to Celtics.

My guess is Celtics never get the pick,
and the Celtics probably paid Sacramento something like $500,000
(which is a NET profit to Sacramento of $101,250
since they will probably just waive Sammy).

Now, if Sacramento is actually considering Sam for a
future head coaching position,
then maybe they keep him around for the rest of the season.

If the Celtics did say, pay Sacramento $500,000 cash to cover remaining salary + profit,
that would reduce the Celtics actual savings
to $1,196,250 minus $500,000 = $696,250 actual savings.

Again, it wasn't done to save Wyc the $696,250
it was done to create a roster spot,
for Steph I suspect,

since New Orleans is seriously considering sending Tyson Chandler to OKC
for the expiring contracts of Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox.

[Jammer]

Everyone say thank you to Sam Cassell,

because like Devean George being able to nix the Jason Kidd trade,

Sam had to agree to this trade (Eddie House has that "power" also).
Actually, it all has to do with Bird Rights and Early Bird Rights,
but at the end of the day,

Sammy had to agree to allow this trade for it to go thru.