The Celtics aren’t planning to agree to a buyout with Keith Bogans, tweets Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. A source recently told Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald that Bogans intended to “stick it out” with the team the year, presumably an indication that he didn’t want out of his contract, which pays him more than $5MM this season. The 33-year-old has been away from the team since early January, when he and management agreed to informally part ways over Bogans’ frustration with a lack of playing time.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge last month deemed Bogans a trade chip, suggesting that a swap was more likely in the summer than at the deadline. That was another hint that a buyout was unlikely, since retaining him allows the Celtics to offer him up to other teams as a de facto expiring contract. Bogans’ deal runs through 2015/16 with salaries in excess of $5MM each year, but the only guaranteed salary is for this season. The Dan Fegan client scored the over-market contract as part of the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce blockbuster. The Nets needed to add to the swap to make the salaries match, prompting them to throw Bogans in via sign-and-trade. Sign-and-trade deals must cover three seasons, but only the first year needs to be guaranteed.
Bogans and the Celtics have until the end of Saturday to have a change of heart in time for the 11th-year veteran to be eligible to play for a team in the postseason. The shooting guard is one year removed from starting 23 games for a Nets team that made the playoffs, but he’s only appeared in six games this season.