Karalis: Danny Ainge talks the talk about Evan Fournier, but future still uncertain

Danny Ainge did what he had to do Friday morning, facing reporters and a barrage of questions about a trade deadline that didn't go to plan.

For instance, after weeks of setting expectations that getting a player on an expiring contract or using the traded player exception at the deadline wasn't his preference, he said doing exactly both of those things was "just the opportunity to get a good player that we think can with us longer than just this year, potentially. We feel like he was a good enough player to add."

That's true. Evan Fournier is a good player. And to be fair to Ainge he never said he was 100% against a move like this. In fact, two weeks ago he said "I'm not saying that I wouldn't do a trade for a player in the last year of his contract ... unless I thought I could re-sign him."

Which brings us back to this morning.

"We hope to have Evan around, just like other players we acquire," Ainge said of potentially re-signing Fournier this summer. "We hope to have him around for longer than just the remaining part of this year."

Again, this is something that is technically true. If this was a court of law, this quote would be submitted as evidence on Ainge's behalf that he intends to keep Fournier moving forward.

But in the court of public opinion, or at least the court of Karalis, the argument glosses over exactly how Ainge intends to keep Fournier.

I know he can't publicly say "hey, if he gets expensive I'll just get another TPE for him," but that's part of the equation here.

The Celtics have committed $104 million to Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart next season. They have $132 million in guaranteed deals on the books already for 11 players, so next year's team is already going to be expensive.

How much the Celtics are willing to pay Fournier depends on how good the team thinks they can be with him, Tatum, and Brown. It also depends on Walker's health, and whether his performance can live up to his contract. Even then, the Celtics may feel the need to explore a trade partner for Walker willing to take his salary.

All of which means that re-signing Fournier is hardly a fait accompli. When you hear Ainge describe how Fournier fits the Celtics, it's hard to imagine keeping him on a low-ball offer.

"His versatility ... a 6-foot-7 guy who can handle the ball, he could play some 1, he could play some 2, he could play some 3, he can play in lineups that switch 1-4 or 1-5, I think he brings a lot of versatility." Ainge said. "He's an added weapon, offensive weapon for Brad to use. It alleviates some of the pressure on Jaylen and Jayson and Kemba to have to create so much."

Fournier is going to be very helpful. The Celtics might even get a boost from Mo Wagner and make a run, which would in turn make Fournier even more valuable and expensive on the open market. "The guy who helped turn Boston's season around" would certainly see bump in his paycheck.

Even if we take Ainge at his word that Boston wants Fournier long-term, there will be financial pressures at play that make that difficult. Resetting the repeater clock this year was important, but paying the tax next season isn't a given because of it.

The tax will be paid in Boston for a contender, and unless Fournier provides some real, pardon the pun, magic for the Celtics, taxes won't just be accepted for a good team with real question marks. Even if the Celtics do end up as taxpayers next season, there will certainly be an effort to minimize that bill if Ainge can't build a true contender.

Those are the dynamics at play here. Other teams may be more willing to pay tax bills, but the Celtics don't own their building, which means they have to pay rent and they don't get the same kind of game-day revenue other teams do. Unless the Celtics want to borrow against the value of their franchise, which has exploded since the team was bought, they operate a little differently.

So Ainge may, actually, want to keep Fournier, but the price has to be perfect and there is still more work to be done. It's not impossible to keep him. Circumstances change all the time in the NBA. Maybe Wyc Grousbeck will be OK with the tax bill knowing another huge TV deal is a few years away that could triple what teams bring in.

Fournier will help the Celtics this year. Whether he exists in uniform or as "the Evan Fournier traded player exception" is something that remains to be seen.