A Celtics Core Commitment
The number one this extension tells me is Ownership is committed to this starting 5 for the next 3 - 4 season in spite of the luxury and repeating taxes. In a town where we are dealing with John Henry scraping nerds off the basement bin and the Kraft’s being exposed as cheap sons of bitches this should thrill you. Wic has always said he will pay the tax for as long as the team is championship worthy. He’s put his money where is mouth is.
When the luxury tax was implemented the Celtics paid it 7 out of the 10 first years. That was of course the Garnett - Pierce teams. Now, with Tatum and Brown getting their massive deals and Brad building the best roster in the league they are faced with another tax bill for the foreseeable future.
Stevens has tried to model this franchise after the Golden State Warriors going all the way back to when he was on the bench. Well, financially they are on their way. But, still have long way to get there. Since the Tax was implemented the Celtics rank 12th in taxes paid
Celtics 12th - 8 seasons $50.6 million
The Warriors come in first on this list with a whopping $337.8 million paid
Warriors 1st - 5 seasons $337.8 million
The Hornets and Pelicans are the only two teams to never pay the tax. The funniest team on this list is the Nets. They come in 2nd with $297.8 million paid. The Warriors have paid through the nose, but they have 4 championships to show for it and one of the greatest of all time who will retire in a Warriors jersey in Steph Curry. The Nets have ZERO Championships and had to deal with Kyrie fucking Irving and still are paying Ben Simmons to to play.
Tatum should get his extension this summer. Brown, Porzingus, and now Holiday are signed through 2025. The last guy to get his deal would be Derrick White. It would be very surprising and stupid if the Celtics give 34 year Jrue Holiday $135 million and do not pay Derrick White. I just don’t see it. So, that means they are committed to a starting 5 of White, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Porzingus for a 3-4 year run. For a team like this, lead by Jayson Tatum it may take just the first championship break through to open the flood gates to a multiple championship run with these guys. If they fall short again, they can run it all back in 2024 even with Horford, Pritchard, Hauser who are signed next year. If they will then have flexibility to shake it up again if need be. If they do feel the need, things would have gone very wrong.