Houston free agent Corey Brewer had phone conversations with the Rockets, Celtics and Knicks tonight, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2015
Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
[insert fireworks joke here]
I bet if Wyc Grouseback could take back anything he’s said over the years, it’s that goddam fireworks line. That’s going to keep haunting him until the Celtics make a big splash somehow.
And despite Ainge’s assertion that that’s what the Celtics would try to do, their first reported call wasn’t necessarily big and splashy.
In Corey Brewer, the Celtics are showing that they’re more inclined to pursue a second and third tier free agent plan. Brewer is a nice piece that would probably come at a nice value. He’s still 29 years-old, but he’s a solid player who can play multiple positions, defend, and play hard.He’s a great piece off the bench and would definitely help the Celtics get better.
It’s just… he’s… y’know… Corey Brewer. He feels like a guy we can sign in three weeks rather than the name that comes up when I search through Woj’s Twitter timeline for what happened as I dozed off with my face on the keyboard at 12:02 am (that scrolling Twitter feed is quite hypnotic). To be fair, the Celtics aren’t sitting idly by and watching big-name free agents just sign wherever. No big names have changed teams yet, and the Celtics are patiently waiting for at least one big name to grant them an audience.
The Boston Celtics are still awaiting word on whether they’ll get a meeting with Cleveland free agent Kevin Love, league source tells Yahoo. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2015
That seems to be a Lakers or Cavs thing, so I’m betting the Celtics are going to be waiting for that word for a long time.
As far as other potential targets…
Greg Monroe met with the Knicks and Bucks. This follows the Bucks locking up Khris Middleton for 5-years, $70 million. Watch out for them this coming season if they get Monroe, a couple of other supporting pieces, plus Parker back healthy and the Greek Freak one year better. The Bucks are making moves.
Another thing to watch:
Brooklyn is moving rapidly toward extensions with free agents Brook Lopez and Thad Young, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2015
So the Nets aren’t completely blowing it up, which sucks for Boston because we’re hoping they go completely into the tank and give us a chance at a top 5 pick over the next three years.
Related links: CSNNE: Mannix: Johnson, Green, & Lopez on Celtics radar | Source: Celtics not out of running for Monroe | ESPNBoston: Ainge: Free agents will come to Boston
And there’s one other agreement that affects us….
Page 2: Does Aminu’s deal affect Jae Crowder’s offer?
Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a four-year, $30 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Aminu, 24, averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 74 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season. Blazers general manager Neil Olshey was GM of the Los Angeles Clippers when they made Aminu the eighth overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft. Aminu also played with New Orleans for three seasons
the forward’s contract might have established a market for Celtics restricted free agent Jae Crowder. The two versatile defenders aren’t identical players, but they’re close enough this deal could be similar to what Crowder receives. The Celtics will have the opportunity to match any offer he gets, and, for what it’s worth, have consistently labeled him a part of their future. If his contract ends up around the same as Aminu’s, it would feel like fair value.
Four years at an average of just more than $7 million per year is a lot, but it’s also the high-end of what I’d be willing to pay Crowder. It’s a good thing the salary cap is probably going to be a couple of million dollars higher than expected.
I don’t know that Crowder gets THAT much, but it won’t be that far off. If the Celtics announced a 4-year, $2o-something million deal, I’d be happy with that. We’d be talking about a contract that begins in the low $6 million range with raises over the next few years that become a lot easier to deal with as the cap blows up.
If Ainge can keep that first year of Crowder’s deal somewhere around there, it’d be a great signing for an important role player.
And Finally…
Let’s play “look who current Celtics just followed on Twitter OMG this must mean something right?” (that’s a working title)
Well then, look who Isaiah Thomas is following now…@ByJayKing @RedsArmy_John @CSL_Duke @Jimmy_Toscano pic.twitter.com/uvc74JxdZ8 — Anthony DiBona (@Anthony_DiBona) July 1, 2015
Well, that IS interesting. The fact that Thomas is continuing his Twitter recruiting for the Celtics is a fun thing to follow. If that’s what it takes to get this guy, then that’s what it takes.
A couple of other free agency notes:
- New Orleans made Anthony Davis a very rich man. 5-years, $145 million... and that’s still a bargain for him.
- Kawhi Leonard will get his maximum 5-year, $90 million deal from the Spurs.
Not that we expected anything less from those teams, but there it is.
The rest of the links:
Yahoo: Pacers, Monta Ellis, closing in on 3-year deal | Globe: Summer jobs await Celtics draft picks | What are Celtics options when free agency begins? | Herald: Ainge couldn’t wait for Rozier | Hunter finds his way to Celtics | Ainge readies patient approach | CSNNE: Mannix: This could be a rough week for Celtics | ESPN Boston: Celtics introduce rookies to history
