SQ14 #6 Keith Bogans--Disgruntled Multimillionaire

Keith Bogans’ sign-and-trade contract in the Brooklyn Nets deal for the Celtics’ aging stars was a perfect storm for trouble.  Bogans was a player in decline, given a totally exorbitant salary, and coming to a rebuilding team who already had better or developing players at his wing position.  With his unguaranteed second and third years (three years minimum required for an S&T deal) he was a walking trade chip.  The problem was that Keith still wanted to have his cake and eat it too--he still wanted to play basketball but he had just accepted his salary being tripled knowing he was going into a rebuilding situation.  He bit his lip and stifled through the early season but sometime after the new year he blew up and Ainge quickly invited him to stay at home and cash his checks. 

Bogans was, and still is, an interesting chip--$5M in “matching salary” that could be cut and the salary obligation would evaporate.  Problem is that Danny has been unable to find that “consolidation” trade for the star or near-star.  Now as the second season approaches, the Celtics have a full roster and a salary over the Luxury Cap; and Bogans continues to languish away from the game that is all he has known for his entire adult life.  Well paid, sure, but watching the last of his career vanish into the wind. 

It seems unlikely that this awkward relationship will continue into the season.  Bogans’ problem is that the Celtics have no motivation to cut him until the eve of the regular season when the roster has to be pared to 15 players.  After all they have paid good money, and a lot of it, for the trading possibilities that his contract-chip provides.  If Bogans’ hope is to resume playing this is a real problem.  It is totally unclear whether he would even be welcome in camp and if he is cut October 28th he will be looking for a job when teams already have their rosters set, he hasn’t played (or practiced) in 10 months, and he likely will not have auditioned in the preseason games.  Aging fringe players coming off a year of inactivity are hardly a highly sought commodity.

Danny will continue to search for that magical trade that will upgrade the roster, clear cap space, and open up slots for developing youth.  Bogans will fervently hope that Ainge can pull off the move before teams open camp at the end of September so Keith can try-out before rosters are set.  Stay tuned, news at 11.

Just 58 days to camp.
[Discuss on CG Forums!]