Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller are reportedly “unlikely” to agree to a contract extension with Boston Celtics
It appears that the Boston Celtics will not reach extensions with two players eligible for a contract extension before Monday’s midnight deadline.
ESPN’s Marc Stein indicates that it is “unlikely” that Boston’s Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller will finalize a deal. This means that Sullinger and Zeller will become restricted free agents when their rookie contracts expire at the end of the season.
Last month, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported the Celtics were mainly interested in signing the duo if the contracts were team-friendly. However, that does not appear to be the case heading into the extension deadline.
In three games Sullinger is averaging 9.3 points on 56.5% shooting and 6.0 rebounds off the bench. Zeller, Boston’s starting center, has only played 11.3 minutes per game, scoring only 5.3 points per game and gathering .7 rebounds per contest.
If the Celtics let Sullinger and Zeller become restricted free agents, then it would provide the team with significant financial flexibility. Jonas Jerebko’s and Amir Johnson’s contracts are non-guaranteed next year and the team could create $17-million in cap space if they chose to part ways with the pair. In addition, David Lee is an unrestricted free agent.
Sullinger and Zeller join a number of players who will likely become restricted free agents after the season. This list of players includes Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas of the Houston Rockets, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, Festus Ezeli and Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons, and Tony Wroten of the Philadelphia 76ers.