With Ray Allen exercising the player option to return to the Celtics for another year at $10 million dollars, it is clear that the Big Three still want another shot at a title. Although many of the key players that will be the cornerstone of the Celtics roster are returning, it is time to begin to search for possible options the team will have in surrounding their stars with the best supporting cast possible. Currently the players that are under contract for the upcoming year are:
Kevin Garnett PF ($21.2 Million)
Paul Pierce SF ($15.3 Million)
Ray Allen SG ($10 Million)
Rajon Rondo PG ($10 Million)
Jermaine O'Neal C ($6.2 Million)
Avery Bradley PG ($1.52 Million)
Assuming the Celtics will attempt to re-sign Jeff Green and Delonte West, the team will be pushing the salary cap restrictions like last year and will most likely be looking for answers in trades or drafting. The Celtics will be looking to sign eight players(including Green and West) this offseason to bring the roster back to 14 players. The starting line up appears to be set with Rondo at point, Ray at SG, Pierce at SF, Garnett at PF, and Jermaine at C if he can be healthy for the following season. West showed that he can be a solid back up for Rondo and Ainge seems to trust in the idea of Green becoming the future replacement for Pierce, leaving holes mainly at the center, power forward, and shooting guard positions. With the current collective bargaining agreement expiring on June 30 it is hard to tell what the new salary cap may look like and what the rules for free agent signings will become, but over the next few weeks different possibilities on the roster for next year will be presented.
Check back daily for posts regarding players the Celtics could add to the roster. The first installment of Presence in the Paint (The Hunt for a Center) will be up later today.
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