Source: Celtics 'engaged' in extension talks with Terry Rozier

The Celtics already have two point guards committed to the team for next season but that isn't stopping them from trying to lock up another valuable member of the team's backcourt. A source told BostonSportsJournal.com that the Celtics have been engaged and "active" in extension negotiations with Terry Rozier ahead of the Oct. 15 rookie extension deadline.

Rozier is earning just over $3 million for 2018-19 in the final year of his rookie deal. He's expected to command a contract over $15 million annually according to one league executive after delivering a breakout performance during Boston's postseason run in 2019.

Rozier has carried over last year's strong play during this preseason, standing out as one of the team's few bright spots over the exhibition calendar.

“I just have to figure out how to get him as many minutes as possible,” Brad Stevens said last week. “He’s tremendous. And, not only in the way he plays when you guys all see him in the games, but just the way he goes about his everyday business. He works as hard as anybody on our roster. It’s immediate energy; it’s noticeable when he’s in the game. That’s just one of those things that’s going to be important for our team moving forward. To his credit, all he’s done is come in and work and played. That’s all he usually does.”

The bigger question for Rozier as he makes a big decision about his career over the next few days is whether he is willing to commit to life in Boston as a sixth man for the foreseeable future after Kyrie Irving announced his intentions to re-sign with Boston publicly last Thursday. Rozier has been content backing up the All-Star over the past couple years but he told BSJ last April that he envisions himself as an NBA starter over the long haul. While the Celtics will play him for big minutes off the bench, it's hard to see him ever getting that starting chance in Boston when Irving is healthy.

"That's something I'm really going to have to sit down and think about," Rozier told BSJ on Tuesday when asked about accepting sixth man role in Boston for the next several years.

"That's something that's not on my mind (now). Obviously, who wouldn't want to play 30 minutes for a winning team? It's hard to turn that down. Like I said, every situation has got to be right for me. This is my life. This is more than basketball. People upstairs make their business moves, I'm going to make my business move."

Stevens' comments about expanding Rozier's role is an encouraging sign for the guard, although his bigger worry, for the time being, is making sure the entire team is meshing and playing better.

"It's big," Rozier said of Stevens' comments. "Obviously, it just lets me know to keep working to get as many minutes as I can. I'm pretty sure we're worried about the team now. It's not looking so good. We know it's a fresh start today. We're just going to start things fresh and get it going together. I'm going to find my way, as I said during media day, I'm going to make it hard on Coach. Make him find ways to play me. That's all joking, but at the same time, we have to figure out how to get this whole group right now."

While it likely won't figure into his contract negotiations, it's worth noting that Rozier was not part of the 'core' group that Irving had dinner with on Wednesday night to inform them of his intention to re-sign in Boston.

"I'm pretty sure he pulled a couple guys to the side," Rozier said. "I didn't know nothing about it. I'm happy for him. It's a big move and this is a great place. Who wouldn't want to be here and stay here? I didn't know. I'm happy for him. It's good for him." 

Irving's early decision will eliminate questions for the team all year long surrounding the All-Star's future and Rozier believes that's a positive development for this group.

"One less distraction," Rozier said. "We got a lot of contract (year) guys, guys that are back in Gordon Hayward and Kyrie, we still got the young guys that did a lot last year and are returning and still want to do them great things for this team. That's a lot. The less we can eliminate problems -- I'm not saying it's a problem -- the less we can eliminate things is the best for us. It's just good for him to make that decision and feel comfortable about it."

The Celtics have not signed a player on a rookie contract to an extension since Rajon Rondo in 2009, although they came close last fall with Marcus Smart. League sources indicated that the team was ready to go through with the deal on the night before the regular season opener with the Cavs before Smart decided to pass on it at the last minute and hit restricted free agency. He eventually signed a four-year deal with Boston in July at a lower number than the fall extension offer.

Smart is set to make $12.5 million next season, while Irving will earn $32.7 million assuming he signs a max contract in July. Adding Rozier to that mix at a hefty raise will put a heavy onus on the Celtics' payroll in 2019-20, even though there is no guarantee that Rozier or Smart would both be in Boston beyond this season if they were both under contract. The possibility of trading one will always be in play.

If Rozier agrees to an extension with the Celtics before the Oct. 15 deadline, he would be subject to the "poison pill" provision until the start of the next NBA calendar year, which would make it very tough to trade him between now and July 1st. Under the poison pill provision, Rozier's cap number for the team he's traded to would be an average of his full contract (including the extension) while Rozier's cap number for the Celtics would count as his 2018-19 salary ($3 million). This would make salary matching very tricky and make any trade after an extension unlikely for this year since the average annual value of Rozier's salary following an extension would likely be over $12 million per year

The Celtics would be able to move Rozier (or Smart) without the poison pill restrictions next July at the start of the new NBA calendar year though if Rozier comes to terms on an extension. Still, the C's current payroll situation and Rozier's long-term desire to start put the odds against an extension happening for the time being. However, after seeing an unfriendly restricted free agent market for players over the last few years, Rozier will have to think long and hard about locking in long-term security now.

"It's part of the NBA," Rozier said of the talks. "It's something I'm ready for. I'll make the best decision for me and myself."