Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images
With Jeff Green's contract complete, the Celtics' 2012-13 payroll is a bit clearer.Over the holiday weekend, HoopsWorld updated their Celtics' salary page to include a breakdown of the four-year deal that Jeff Green inked last month. The contract escalates over the first three seasons, then contains a fourth-year player option (total value of the expected $36 million). For the 2012-13 Celtics, the important number is an $8.385 million salary. With that nugget of knowledge, we now have a better idea of where Boston's payroll stands as the new season approaches. Let's reset the roster:
SIGNED FOR 2012-13 WITH SALARY ESTIMATES (13)
Guards: Rajon Rondo ($11 million), Avery Bradey ($1.6 million), Jason Terry ($5 million), Courtney Lee ($5 million); Keyon Dooling ($854,389**)
Forwards: Paul Pierce ($16.8 million), Brandon Bass ($6 million), Jeff Green ($8.4 million), Jared Sullinger ($1.3 million*)
Center: Kevin Garnett ($11.6 million), Chris Wilcox ($854,389**), Jason Collins ($854,389**), Fab Melo ($1.3 million*)
NON- OR PARTIALLY GUARANTEED 2012-13 CONTRACTS (3)
Kris Joseph ($473,604); Jamar Smith ($473,604), Dionte Christmas ($473,604)
FREE AGENTS FROM 2011-12 SEASON (2)
Mickael Pietrus, Marquis Daniels
THE DEPARTED (8)
Ray Allen (Heat), Greg Stiemsma (Timberwolves), Jermaine O'Neal (Suns), JaJuan Johnson (Rockets), E'Twaun Moore (Magic; Waived by Rockets), Sean Williams (Waived by Rockets), Sasha Pavlovic (Trail Blazers), Ryan Hollins (Clippers)
Estimated total salary committed to guaranteed contracts: $70.6 million
(* = 120% of rookie scale; ** = League pays portion of veteran-minimum deal)
A few quick thoughts/reminders on Boston's roster status:
* Having utilized the full value of the midlevel exception ($5 million, spent on Terry), the Celtics must remain within a $4 million apron of the luxury tax threshold ($70.3 million), meaning they are hard capped at $74.3 million.
* Let's assume the Celtics elect to carry a full 15 players and Jamar Smith is the final cut (non-guaranteed deal; could still land with Maine of D-League) . Boston would be sitting around $71.5 million committed at the start the 2012-13 season. That leaves roughly $2.8 million in wiggle room, which could be important down the road (including for absorbing additional money in trades).
* The Celtics also have the biannual exception ($1.9 million) available to them if they desire to utilize it this season. That's just another luxury for adding a player that becomes available in the middle of the season, particularly after post-deadline buyouts.