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And when this run is done, the Celtics will dive head first into an offseason when they could have some major salary cap space to spend. “I’m excited about the summer,” Grousbeck said. “I’m excited about next summer, too. I’m excited about the Celtics really. I think we’ve got a lot of possibilities in our future. Danny said to me that he’s been in front offices for something like 13 years — coach, general manager — and he’s never had cap space once. And I think that’s an angle that’s interesting. I said, ‘Maybe you should try it.’ ” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Wyc Grousbeck 

One of the keys will be, if a major player or two isn’t available to them, resisting the urge to spend money just because it’s there. They may have to be willing to tread water if at first the right talent won’t accept their offer. It may be simply a matter of semantics, but Grousbeck didn’t endorse those words. “I don’t know if I would agree that the phrase ‘tread water’ makes sense,” he said. “When we went on a four-year building process last time, it wasn’t treading water. I would define it as trying to patiently build. So if you’re playing (Rajon) Rondo and E’Twaun (Moore) and JuJuan (Johnson) and Avery (Bradley) and two first-rounders and maybe some of these guys back, that’s not necessarily treading water. “I think treading water is getting a bunch of mid-career vets who aren’t going to get any better.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Wyc Grousbeck 

Grousbeck then left a little tease on the table. “The other thing I would say, without mentioning names, is that there are some marquee players who could be available,” he said. “And I’m not ruling anything out.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Wyc Grousbeck 

Celtics owner and CEO Wycliffe Grousbeck was on “Sports Biz: Game On” with Darren Rovell on the NBC Sports Network Friday and talked about the impact of the lockout, and more importantly to Celtics fans the older team they have this year and their plans. He sounds positive that things will work out this year, although what do you expect him to say? He says they want to make one more run with the “big four,” although don’t be shocked if he has to sing a different tune if things continue to look bleak in a few more weeks. NBCSports.com

Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck 

Among the most vocal players questioning the deal in its aftermath were key members of the Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, sources said. Pierce is represented by agent Jeff Schwartz, who was among a group of seven agents from six of the most powerful agencies who had unsuccessfully pushed for the players to decertify as early as July. All three play for an owner, Wyc Grousbeck, who was an undisputed hawk on the labor relations committee in pushing for a deal that, among other things, all but eliminated the extend-and-trade provision that landed Garnett in Boston in 2007. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, Lockout, NBPA, Kevin Garnett, Jeff Schwartz 

The impact of a lost season wouldn't be limited to those three franchises. With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2012, an 82-game wipeout essentially would assure that the Celtics' Big Three has played its last game together -- odd, since sources say Boston co-owner Wyc Grousbeck has been one of the hardest-line owners during the negotiations. The champion Mavericks wouldn't even make it to the ring ceremony before getting broken up, with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and J.J. Barea all becoming unrestricted on July 1, 2012. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck, Lockout, Owners 

Zach Lowe: In reports over last few days, I've seen Wyc Grousbeck described as a hawk and a dove. Source in talks told me a week ago he'd softened. Twitter

Boston Celtics, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, Lockout, NBPA, Owners 

Zach Lowe: (That was a week ago on Grousbeck. Source told me he had quieted down in meetings, indicated he wanted a deal. Might have shifted since). Twitter

Boston Celtics, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, Lockout, NBPA, Owners 

Allen walked into the St. Regis Hotel, and the hardliners loved that they suddenly had the biggest spender of all firmly on the side of shutdown, of NBA Armageddon. What’s more, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck presented a revenue-sharing plan that, sources said, left some in the room confused and uncertain. There was hardly a united front walking out of the room on how that would work, on how it would benefit the league. Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Alex Kennedy: "Paul Allen, Peter Holt, Wyc Grousbeck, Robert Sarver and Dan Gilbert are all hardliners. They are stopping the progress," said NBPA source. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Paul Allen, CBA, Dan Gilbert, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Robert Sarver, NBPA, Peter Holt 

It’s also interesting to learn from sources that the Celtic leader may not be quite the hardliner portrayed in some accounts. “He’s been pretty quiet,” said someone who’s been involved in the meetings. “Put it this way, he’s certainly not as involved verbally as he was in previous years.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Howard Beck: Eight owners from labor committee here (all but Dolan, Cuban, Grousbeck), plus Micky Arison. Twitter

CBA, Mark Cuban, James Dolan, Wyc Grousbeck, Micky Arison, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

J. Michael Falgoust: Grousbeck, who was here yesterday too, isnt here today. w/owners committee. Cuban not here for 2nd day in a row #nbalockout #knicks #celtics Twitter

CBA, Mark Cuban, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

The owners believe they have more tolerance than the players, believe that pain comes with missed checks in November and December and perhaps, finally, a complete cave with time to rush a shortened 50-game regular season and playoffs. Back in the labor talks of 2005, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck would say over and over in the negotiating sessions: The lockout is an investment. Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

The NBA owners' planning committee is meeting by conference call Monday to tackle one of the most significant sticking points that have kept the league's imperiled labor negotiations from progressing toward any chance of a deal: revenue sharing. The committee, led by chairman Wyc Grousbeck of the Celtics, had been scheduled to meet last Friday in conjunction with a full-blown bargaining session with players, but the session was rescheduled. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, CBA, Wyc Grousbeck, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Today's NBA is filled with owners who paid through the nose for their teams, and have years of red ink in front of them before they ever see a return on their investment. The list includes Joe Lacob and Peter Guber (Golden State, purchased in 2010 for $450 million), Robert Sarver (Phoenix, 2005, $400 million), Dan Gilbert (Cleveland, 2005, $375 million), Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagluica (Boston, 2002, $360 million), Ted Leonsis (Washington, 2010, $300 million -- an estimated price that does not include another $250 million in debt on Verizon Center and the Wizards that Leonsis also has to assume) and Mikhail Prokhorov (New Jersey, 2009, $200 million for 80 percent of the team and 45 percent of the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn in which the Nets will play beginning in 2013). NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Dan Gilbert, Mikhail Prokhorov, Wyc Grousbeck, Robert Sarver, Joe Lacob, Ted Leonsis, Owners, Peter Guber 

Wyc Grousbeck on needs for this upcoming season: "We ought to look to keep these guys together, and add two or three more pieces if we can, aggressively. Whether we can spend more money than other people … that's what we've done before, hit people over the head with the wallet club. The $60M to Pierce, the $100M to Garnett, $40M to Ray Allen, extending Rondo, extending Doc. We basically say, 'come here, we're a big market team. that's the way we run this thing.' If we can hit some people over the head again this summer, we'll do it." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Wyc Grousbeck, Kevin Garnett 

Wyc Grousbeck on breaking up the Big 4: "I love the Big 3, the Big 4. I love those guys. I think the fans love seeing them together. I haven't heard anything from Doc or Danny or anybody else about anything we're planning to do." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Wyc Grousbeck, Kevin Garnett 

Wyc Grousbeck on the Kendrick Perkins trade: "I love Perk, but I don't think our issue was guarding the 5-spot. Our issue was guarding their 2, 3, 4. So not only did we need Jeff Green, we needed about 3 more of him." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Kendrick Perkins, Wyc Grousbeck, Jeff Green 

Grousbeck just mentioned the deal in this owners session, having been asked by ESPN’s Bill Simmons whether he was the brains behind “the Perkins trade.” Grousbeck quickly corrected him. “No, I did the Green acquisition,” he replied. NBA Confidential

Boston Celtics, Trade, Kendrick Perkins, Wyc Grousbeck, Jeff Green