Report: Daniels to Sign for Biannual Exception

Posted by Zach Lowe on Aug 31, 2009 31707 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F08%2F31%2Freport-daniels-to-sign-for-biannual-exception%2FReport%3A+Daniels+to+Sign+for+Biannual+Exception2009-08-31+21%3A13%3A09Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D3170

Via the Herald:

The long wait for Marquis Daniels is nearing its end. According to sources, the Celtics expect to sign the 6-foot-6 swingman tomorrow to a contract for the biannual exception.

The delay in getting Daniels officially into Green was caused by the team trying to work out a sign-and-trade that would benefit both the Celts and Indiana, the club Daniels is leaving.

Two things of note here:

1) This means, as we’ve noted before, that the Celtics now have 14 players guaranteed money for next season. As you know, that leaves one free roster spot—a spot many teams are opting not to fill given concerns about the bottom line. Of course, when you’ve already committed about $97 million to luxury taxes and player salaries, what’s another $2 million for Lester Hudson or Carlos Arroyo or whomever else you’d like to see in that spot?

The bright side: All of those expiring deals–Giddens, Scalabrine, Tony Allen–remain appealing trade bait for a team looking to unload someone under contract through 2011 or longer.

2) One thing to keep in mind that seems so obvious I’ve (wrongly) neglected to say it before: The Celtics will not be able to use a bi-annual exception next season if they indeed use it on Daniels now. They’ll still have the mid-level and vet’s minimum exceptions, but not the bi-annual.

More proof this is the year to go for it all.