Jason Terry will help Celtics as they press on with risky yet logical strategy

Boston may not end up having to pick between guards Ray Allen and Jason Terry for a key bench role. But if it does come down to that, the Celtics have made a better choice in agreeing with Terry on a three-year deal worth more than $15 million, as Yahoo! Sports first reported on Tuesday.

Assuming the Celtics finalize a contract with Terry that calls for a starting salary of the $5 million mid-level exception, they will have about $49 million committed to eight players for next season, including their two first-round picks from last week’s draft. That means they still might have enough space to sign four veterans — including Allen and two of their other free agents, forwards forwards Jeff Green and Brandon Bass — while staying under the $74 million payroll mark that now stands as a hard cap. The math will be tight, but if they can bring back those three for about $20 million total and sign two veterans to minimum-level deals — presumably a wing and a big man — the Celtics should come in below $74 million.

READ MORE: http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2012/07/03/boston-celtics-jason-terry/