The Boston Celtics are flourishing despite having their two top talents out of commission, making the most of their veteran core and the young pieces put around them. Yet they will cost some good money to stick around after this postseason.
Owner Wyc Grousbeck recently said he's willing to “pay for performance” and “we are prepared to do whatever it takes to win again,” according to Adam Kaufman of WBZ News.
Celtics president Danny Ainge has expressed desire to keep Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier during free agency, but the team will likely need to pay deep into the luxury tax for that to take place, with both commanding more succulent offers after their rookie deals expire.
Second-year guard Jaylen Brown is likely destined for a max offer sheet in 2020 and Rozier is bound to get some significant offers in 2019.
Due to the trade for Kyrie Irving and the four-year, $128 million deal for Gordon Hayward, the team now has very little room for re-shuffling, unless some trades are made.
Ainge could make some moves this summer or at the next trade deadline to give the a backcourt-heavy roster some balance and maybe sell a high-ticket player (like Hayward) who will be on the books for nearly $100 million over the next three years.
The cost to keep this core together by 2020 and beyond will be through the roof, and the only justification for it is likely competing for a championship year in and year out.
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