The Boston Celtics would be the first to admit that this post season they exceeded even their own expectations by coming within two games of the NBA Finals after 7 years away from the Playoffs, but will their fairytale run be over before it truly begins?

It is no secret that, like most other teams, Celtics ownership wants to avoid the dreaded luxury tax. The team would like to keep their nucleus intact, but with Rodney Rogers, Walter McCarty, Erick Strickland, Mark Blount and Roshown McLeod all free agents this might not be possible. Rogers is the team’s main priority. Signing him will have a huge impact on the other four writes Mark Cofman of the Boston Herald.

Blount and McLeod are as good as gone. That leaves McCarty, a favorite of coach Jim O’Brien, and Strickland, both of whom were vital pieces off the Celtics bench. The mid-season acquisition of guard Tony Delk, who has four seasons left on his contract, means that both McCarty and Strickland will likely become pay roll cuts even if owner Paul Gaston were to loosen his policy on avoiding the luxury tax. The only way either have a chance of remaining would be if Rogers left via free agency.

``It's really not the wisest thing to be hammering out plans right after the season ends, especially a season in which there's been so much emotion involved from getting as far as we did,'' Wallace said. ``Some concrete decisions will have to be made, of course, but we're planning to step back for a minute. Then we'll sit down with ownership and discuss what direction the team will take.''

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