The Celts are banking on a weak free agent market to allow them to keep their rotation intact without spending too much.

But if other teams were noticing the impact Rodney Rogers and Erick Strickland had on the Celtics run to the Eastern Conference finals, general manager Chris Wallace - and owner Paul Gaston - may face some tough choices.

Miami has already said it is willing to venture into the luxury tax area and spend the mid-level exception, and coach Pat Riley has named Rogers among those he is considering for that slot.

For his part, Rogers said he is at the point in his career where he has to consider the financial aspects when deciding where he wants to play next season.

"If this were a college situation where everyone had the same scholarship to give, then I think there's no doubt we'd get Rodney,'' said Wallace. "But that isn't all that's in play here.

"All signs are that this is going to be a tight market, however, in free agency in the NBA, it's not a popular vote. All you need is one. It can be tight for 28 teams, and if the 29th steps up and makes something happen and decides to spend, there it is.''

Strickland is in perhaps an even more financially acute situation than Rodgers after costing himself a couple million dollars to opt out of his contract with the Grizzlies last year. He eventually signed with the Celtics for the veteran minimum.

"Erick liked it here and he's told us he'd like to be back,'' said Wallace. "But it may not be that simple.''

"He had an important role in the team's success this season, and it would be a real boon if we could keep him for next season. But who knows what could happen in the market?''

There is another issue in play regarding Strickland and the entire backcourt picture.

Clearly the Celtics believe Strickland's toughness is an important element to their success, and he wound up the season as the No. 2 point guard behind Kenny Anderson. But things are getting extremely tight back there. Paul Pierce is firmly ensconced as the top guard, and Tony Delk is still under contract.

If all four get playing time, there is the very real possibility that Kedrick Brown's progress could be severely retarded. And at an athletic 6-foot-7 with strong moves to the basket and a good and improving outside shot, Brown, who will be back in town Monday to resume his workouts, would be a major part of the Celtics rotation when and if he reaches his potential.

"I think a lot of people definitely have forgotten about Kedrick,'' said Wallace. "He was sort of a victim of the trade (for Rogers and Delk). He was starting before we made the deal, and went from there to the deep recesses of the bench. But we've got a lot of faith in Kedrick.''

But not enough faith, apparently, to move one of those ahead of him.

"I'm in the more-is-merrier category, because you just don't know what's going to happen over the course of 82 games,'' said Wallace. "Eighty-two games is forever. If you get too lean with the thought of creating more of an opportunity for someone, you could get too lean.

"It is probably tough on a night-in, night-out basis to play five guards, but you've also got to remember you're looking at the cumulative effect of 82 games. So you need all hands on deck so you can win 49 games and get homecourt. There are going to be slumps and injuries and that sort of thing.''

The marketplace can giveth as well as taketh away, so while Rogers and Strickland could slip away, there will be other free agents who fall through the cracks - as Strickland did last year.

But even Wallace was quick to point out that "you just can't count on that kind of luck.''

The Celtics will therefore be counting dollars and hoping widespread fear of the tax makes them lucky enough to keep their key players.