Re: [Celtics' Stuff ] Blount will cost.-Globe ***IS BLOUNT the C's MLE guy?***

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

Steve, the thing you haven't accounted for is that Mihm's salary counts 
against the cap until he gets renounced which the Cs aren't going to do. So you 
need to add the minimum 4 million that he is going to get paid to that 43 million 
to put the Cs real salary number at 47 million. That is the high salary cap 
number expected for next year. But it could be as low as 44 million. But that 
is why it doesn't do much good to get rid of Raef's, Chucky's and Stewart's 
contracts. But if you could do it collectively, you would be talking. That is why 
Danny isn't looking at free agency as a way to rebuild or necessarily looking 
to dump Raef's contract. Raef is getting paid pretty much the going rate for 
power forward/center with his ability, folks. Gilbert Arenas got a free agent 
contract starting at 8 million and he is a guard. That only thing that makes 
Raef's contract a little undigestible is the length of it....

DJessen33

<< So, knowing he will opt out, there is no need to protect him in the 
expansion 
 draft.  If Charlotte selects him, he'd opt out and they'd have nothing 
except 
 a wasted pick. Regardless of the outcome on Baker's case, as it stands now 
-- 
 absent a salary clearing trade --  the only FA money the C's have to offer 
is 
 their MLE (part or all).   
 
 Given that, do the C's use their MLE money on him??? Up to the full amount 
if 
 that's what it takes?
 
 Or do they shake his hand and say -- "Thanks, Mark. We know we spent 3 - 4 
 years developing you which allowed you to be in this position but we're 
going in 
 a different direction now with Mihm (at $4M next season himself), LaFrentz 
 (at $9M next season), and Yogi Stewart ($4.8M next season)."
 
 Surely if Yogi is a $4.8M player (which we all know he's not and he's 
grossly 
 overpaid), then Blount at least deserves similar money.
 
 What is interesting is that should the C' prevail in arbitration vs. Baker, 
 their salary for next season  is currently pegged at $42.9M per HoopsHype. 
 HoopsHype - NBA Salaries - Boston Celtics 
 
 You have to believe the 1st rounder(s) from Dallas and/or Detroit will come 
 into play come the expansion draft in this context. Charlotte might well be 
 persuaded to take Yogi in the expansion draft in exchange for one (or both?) 
of 
 those  picks. That would drop the C's salary for next year down to the $38M 
 level which if things go as projected, would put them about $6 -- 7M BELOW 
the 
 projected cap threshold of $44 -- $45M.
 
 Thus, they'd have some money to spend in FA as well as their MLE. That might 
 be the best of both worlds. The only other salary to add to that $38M figure 
 would be the slotted amount for the 3rd first rounder -- the one they keep.
     
 CeltsSteve  >>