The record-setting $6.1 billion purchase price for the Celtics is just the beginning of William Chisholm‘s investment in the franchise. As Jay King of The Athletic notes, Chisholm is taking over a team with a massive salary and huge expectations that will become even more expensive if the core of the roster is kept together.
Boston’s payroll is projected to be in the neighborhood of $445MM next season in salaries and luxury tax, per John Hollinger of The Athletic. That’s without free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet, who would push that total higher if they’re both re-signed.
As players waited out the sale process, Jayson Tatum talked about the importance of finding a new owner who understands “the culture” and Jaylen Brown expressed the need to “keep the emphasis on winning.” Both statements reflect the necessity for continued spending for the Celtics to remain at a championship level, as King adds that the fanbase will quickly turn on the new owner if talent is sacrificed to save money.
“That’s something that they’ll have to figure out,” Horford said. “Ultimately, they’ll be the new owners of the team, they’ll have to make those decisions. But this is my 18th season in the league and there are very few times when you get a special group or a certain window of guys that you can do some special things. So I’m sure that they will be aware of that but that’s something that you have to understand what you’re stepping into.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Bobby Marks of ESPN believes the roster is “sustainable” for the near future, even with the giant tax bills (Twitter video link). Marks points out that the Celtics have 11 players under contract for next season — including Tatum and Brown, who are both signed to long-term deals — and they’ll have two picks in the top 32 of this year’s draft. However, he adds that it could be hard to keep complementary players like Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard long-term because of the effect they’ll have on the luxury tax.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla came away encouraged from his first meeting with the new owner, according to Adam Himmeslbach of The Boston Globe. Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and life-long Celtics fan, pledged to build on the team’s recent success. “Just continue to win championships, continue to be a high-level organization on and off the court, and he obviously has a lot of experience doing that in other endeavors,” Mazzulla said. “So just continuing to work to make the Celtics better, and then kind of give us a shot every year to go after a championship. So I’m excited about that.”
- Chisholm expressed similar sentiments to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links). “The team is in a great place right now, and I’m very sensitive to that,” he said. (Current owner) Wyc (Grousbeck), (president of basketball operations) Brad (Stevens) and Joe have done amazing jobs. … My approach is to win and raise banners. That’s in the near term and the long term. I bleed green. I love the Celtics. When opportunity came up, I couldn’t pass it up. Wyc has done an incredible job. So why would you mess that up? I’ve had a couple of sitdowns with Brad and it’s been about aligning our goals and extending the window of this team.”
- Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports examines the record price tag, attributing it to the scarcity of pro sports franchises for sale and the NBA’s new media rights deal.
Celtics being over the luxury isn’t new. These new owners shouldn’t buy and then cheaper when the contracts come up. Pritchard and Hauser seem like key pieces. Harford won’t play much longer. Jrue gave them enough to win a title. They seem near unbeatable whenever KP plays. The organization likely generates enough revenue to make them keep the team together.
Sounds like he is a fan, so unless Celtics fall on their face and he goes into fantasy owner mode you’d think he wouldn’t meddle. Then again these rich guys are built different. Just ask Aristotle lol
I wonder what Kornet could get on the market? He protects the rim, gets boards, makes the right pass, rim runs, sets screens. Does everything right. He might get some scrilla. Not much. But some.
Hartenstein like deal for the right team.
Both Al and Luke are a big part of team. As is Prichard. Hauser easier to replace. Paying extra for a few yrs isn’t a big deal. Al and Luke won’t break the bank. Other two are signed. KP availability seems a bigger issue. I think they are fine for a few yrs.
Kornet, Porzingis… I feel the need to put together a roster of players we drafted and got rid of so I can weep
guards: Quickley, Grimes
wings: Barrett, Hardaway
forwards: Toppin, Knox
bigs: Porzingis, Kornet, Sims
I guess it’s not that bad
Always like Kornet. He’s solid. A true big.
I say this as someone who doesn’t make $20 mill a year. Al should sign for the vets min if he wants to keep playing and keep the band together. He’s made plenty of money in his career and it’s just passion at this point in time.
Except he’s still important to team. He would sign for less. Two yrs 10-12 mill. Is good for Celts. Can’t trust KP, need Al.
In the landscape ahead for high payroll teams like BOS, the luxury tax will be a minor factor compared to the new CBA (Second Apron) operating restrictions. For any team operating normally, or intending to, the Second Apron is going to be a hard cap or its equivalent. Bad for team building, but good for their luxury tax situation, at least based on recent history.
BOS is going to be above the Second Apron again next season, meaning they won’t be able to operate normally again. The issue won’t be paying their current players market salaries (short of a Bird rights restriction) and the appurtenant luxury tax; largely because that’s one of the few things the rules permit them to do. The real issues start when they need to do more than either that or adding a minimum wage player or late draft pick.