That means they will have about $25 million to spend, and under the new collective bargaining agreement, they must spend at least 85 percent of the yet-to-be-announced salary cap number.
“I have always said cap space is a little overrated, but with the new collective bargaining agreement, cap space allows you more flexibility than it has in the past,’’ said Ainge.
“Again, people look at cap space as an opportunity to go get a great player as a free agent. But there really aren’t franchise-changing players in the free agent market - other than a couple of guys, and there will be a lot of teams vying for them.
“But it will be a different world than we’ve lived in the last four or five years, that’s for sure.’’
The Celtics will be buyers, and Ainge will have a chance to attract players strictly with cash. One thing he is keeping abreast of is the progress of contract negotiations with fourth-year free agents such as Kevin Love.
All fourth-year players have until Wednesday to sign extensions with their current teams or they become restricted free agents.
Russell Westbrook signed a five-year deal estimated at $80 million last week, taking him off the market, but Love is still unsigned beyond next season, and the Timberwolves are uncertain whether they will offer him a five-year maximum deal.
The money the Celtics hold can also be used to extend offer sheets to restricted free agents. Given that the list of quality free agents is meager, that may be the Celtics’ best chance of landing an impact player.
Here’s a look at some unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents and their chances of playing in Boston:
