C's open wallet

August 4, 2007

Think back to the reign of former Celtics owner Paul Gaston for a moment.

In the name of the bottom line, he let Rodney Rogers sign a free agent contract with New Jersey mere months after the Celtics reached the 2002 Eastern Conference finals.

The following season, despite injuries, Gaston refused to let the team exceed the NBA roster minimum of 12 players. The reason? He was selling the team and didn't want the additional expense, however much another body was needed.

In comparison, current Celtics ownership has gone on a spree. As a result of Tuesday's trade for Kevin Garnett and the three-year extension that will pay the 10-time All-Star $60 million after he earns $46 million over the next two seasons, the Celtics will pay at least $6 million in luxury taxes on a payroll that currently stands at $69,446,087 - fourth highest in the NBA.

This impending investment marks a significant - and continued - leap of faith in the Celtics' oft-maligned director of basketball operations, Danny Ainge.

But co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who was unable to attend Tuesday's Garnett press conference because of a family commitment, believes the only way ownership could sign off on the deal was by allowing Ainge to make a purely basketball decision.

``I think our logic was that we really wanted to support Paul (Pierce) with some quality players,'' said Pagliuca. ``We decided that we had to get (Garnett). And we think he will be a great player for the full length (five years) of his contract.

``Look at Reggie Miller. He was in this league until he was 39. Ray Allen is only 32. We think he has a long way to go. So I don't think we could be in a better position.''

Pagliuca said this despite mention of that dreaded two-word phrase, ``luxury tax.''

But at a time when most teams - even Dallas - are moving to cut costs, Celtics ownership has accepted the realities of a $66 million-plus payroll.

For the moment, anyway, management doesn't intend to make its brimming base of season ticket-holders help float Garnett's deal in the form of a price increase.

Pagliuca said he understands that there will be skeptics when he insists that plans for an increase have not been discussed.

``We haven't thought about that,'' he said. ``Right now we're just trying to put the best team we can on the floor. One thing we can look forward to right now is that we've had a great run on season tickets since the trade was made.

``Ticket demand is through the roof, which is one thing that will help. And then there are the playoffs, and more revenue comes that way. But this was a basketball decision.''

Though it would be a stretch to say that Garnett could almost pay for himself by virtue of greater ticket sales, playoff revenue and increased merchandising, there is more of a financially secure feeling on Causeway Street these days.

``This is obviously a superstar-driven league,'' said Celtics president Rich Gotham. ``The effect of the Kevin Garnett deal is that people are opening their eyes to what we now have with (Garnett) and Ray Allen being added to Paul.

``It comes down to hoping that you are spending money for the right guys, and we certainly believe that we've done that.'' -