Ripple effects from the collective bargaining agreement not good for the Celtics, or the NBA

Boston Globe

3 days ago

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Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is running this beta test for the rest of the league. Even if Tatum hadn't crumpled to the court at Madison Square Garden in May, the Celtics were entering belt-tightening/breakup mode this summer. They faced a potential $500 million bill between player salaries and luxury tax payments for being north of the second apron, which in NBA parlance is like being north of the Arctic. In addition, the team's 2032 first-round pick is frozen; it can't be traded because Boston exceeded
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Like a certain Marvel villain who culled half the universe with a snap of his fingers, this NBA CBA, approved in 2023, is inevitable — as are the changes it compels.
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The Celtics are caught square in its cross-hairs. Thus, their championship window with this crew was a porthole. It could get worse. Ultimately, the Celtics could be compelled to part with Brown, who is due salaries of $53.1, $57, $61, and $64.95 million over the next four seasons of his five-year, $304 million deal. Those run concurrent to Tatum's NBA-record five-year, $314 million supermax extension, which kicks in next season.
The best version of the Celtics features the Jays. They're the best duo in the league, ideal complements. It's anathema that the Celtics even have to ponder breaking them up a mere season-plus after they broke through as champions.
Rather than punishing teams such as the Celtics, who drafted two All-NBA players with the No. 3 pick in back-to-back drafts in 2016 and 2017, the NBA should be celebrating them — the teams that construct winners organically, through adept drafting and shrewd trades, and retain their homegrown stars.
Instead, the Celtics are being punished for putting together a roster that's too talented and having ownership that was willing to foot the bill in pursuit of banners. Wyc Grousbeck and his family
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Not all of his NBA owner brethren view it that way. That's one of the reasons the tax penalties in this CBA are so restrictive. Saving $4.7 million in salary by moving on from glue guy Holiday netted the Celtics $40.1 million in savings on their potential 2025-26 luxury tax bill. The team has paid the tax in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The Celtics likely
Blame the NBA for financial speculation more suited to CNBC than the C's.
Sam Hauser may be the next Celtics player to go as the team tries to avoid the second apron in the salary cap.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
This punitive CBA was a miscalculation blooming from an overreaction planted in the minds of owners. NBA nabobs were dismayed by the player empowerment era, where players dictated trades or abandoned teams via free agency. They also desired to tamp down teams such as the Golden State Warriors, who spent $170.3 million in luxury tax payments alone for the 2022 championship club that defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
However, what got lost in applying a governor to spending is that both the Celtics and the Warriors laid their championship foundations the right way, through the draft. There should be some recourse and reward for teams that assemble championship contenders in this manner and pony up to keep them together.
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The paradox of the supermax is that it's designed to help teams retain their drafted stars and counter free agent alliances. But now, it's contributing to teams facing dissolution under this CBA.
NBA power brokers harbor an irrational fear of super teams. For those that are like the LeBron James Miami Heat, there are more that flame out.
These unions should come with a label that says some assembly and chemistry required.
The Phoenix Suns super team venture with Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal was a disaster. The Brooklyn alliance of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden was a total dud. Uniting Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo has resulted in not a single playoff series win for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Philadelphia 76ers were an injury-filled debacle this season with Paul George joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
It turns out this CBA blowback to super teams and owners who prioritize championships over profit is hurting a model franchise such as the Celtics, who did everything right, by leveling the playing field for less proficient and intelligent franchises.
Ugh.
The potential ripple effects from this CBA are what engineering predetermined parity looks like. Not only is this not good for the Celtics. It's not good for the NBA product.
Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at