Wesley

[Michael Joseph Byrnes <mbyrnes@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

The reason I am opposed to re-signing Wesley is not the amount of money it
would cost to sign him, but the overall length of the contract.  Wesley,
while playing for just about the minimum for the last two years, has been
one of the few bright spots on a truly dismal Celtic team.  Now he
deserves to be paid.

I would be happy to give him a one year deal at whatever he deserves. This
could be done without having any effect on the C's flexibility under the
cap.  However, Wesley is likely to want (and deserve) a longer-term deal.
If the C's sign him to a two year deal, that will put them very close to
the cap limit next year, when Williams is a free agent.  Of course, they
could sign him anyway, but that would keep them above the cap for the NEXT
year, when Antoine Walker is a free agent.  The year after that, their two
1997 draft pick would be ready to renegotiate.

So, ask yourself this: Can the Celtics rebuild without signing any star
free agents?  In other words, can the C's rebuild through the draft alone.
While it *could* be possible, I think that they would have a better chance
of building a winner if they leave themselves enough flexibility under the
cap to sign an All-Star free agent or two.  

So, if Wesley and Fox want to come back at FAR below market value, or they
want to come back for one year only, I say re-sign them.  

But both players will likely receive long-term offers at more than it
would be wise for the Celtics to pay.  

The Celtics are not going to hoist banner #17 next year, with or without
david Wesley.  I am not convinced that it makes any sense at all for the
Celtics to commit their future to him now.  

Michael Byrnes
mbyrnes@stanford.edu