Wyc = Daddy Warbucks - I don't think so

[Ryan, Patrick S Maj RES USAFR 439 MSG]

It is the very absence itself that tells the tale. How many stories do you
see in the off-season papers of the Celtics as players in the real free
agent market outside the exemption (and we some years weren't even players
with the damn exemption!)? You don't. Not one. Ainge may be the worst free
agent signer in the world, but do you really think he'd cut his own throat
by not trying to get another All-Star type to pair with Pierce if he could? 
 
All of the contracts taken on have been at the mid-level or below unless
they were "sign with your own team" exemptions (like Pierce's deal). The AI
deal - one of the sticking points was that we were not willing to take in
additional salary - Philly had to take the cap hit and not us (We were
trying to stick them with both Wally and Ratliff plus the kids which were
what they really wanted). 
 
Ainge also wanted to sign Karl Malone as a free agent, but he couldn't go
above the cap number to do it (not that such a signing was worth anything as
Malone was done, but it's an example). The almost trade with Indiana two
years ago - once again they asked us to take back more salary then we gave
up - so we scuttled the deal. 
 
Oh yeah, and Antoine Walker - the deal we offered him - kept us below the
cap.  Danny didn't want him anyway, but regardless our "low ball offer"
(Walker's agent's words) was the impetus for Ainge to broker the Heat deal.
 
So there are examples you just have to look for them. I believe this
ownership group was over the luxury tax threshold the first year of
ownership - and they've done everything to cut salary ever since (and since
we have not been over the cap that I know of). 
------------------------
And Patrick, you keep talking about our "tightwad
owners unwilling to truly invest in the basketball
product." I'm just curious: can you point to any
instances where Ainge wanted to make a big deal or
sign a splashy FA, and the owners wouldn't let him?
I'm not sure where you're coming from. Yes, Gaston's
refusal to shell out for Rodney Rogers forced Chris
Wallace into the all-time franchise-killing blunder of
trading for Vin Baker. But what moves have Ainge made
(or not made) because of owner-dictated financial
restraints?