This years salary cap is set at 57.7 million, with the luxury tax kicking in at 69.92 million.
All of the salary sites that I can find are a little off from one another, but it looks like the consensus puts us somewhere around 54.5 million, possibly a little higher depending on which one you choose to go with. Leaving a fairly conservative estimate of 3 million remaining in capspace.
Now with the trade deadline not very far out, there are 14 teams over the luxury tax who will most likely be looking to save money if at all possible. As far as I can tell, we are the only team out there with cap space that will be able to absorb salaries from now until the deadline. With the way that luxury tax penalties work, we should see teams willing to give away players and possibly even cover their contracts just to avoid the penalties.
Petrie was all over these types of trades last year during his deadline flurry, even without cap space, as a way to save money. Now, with the team's financial situation looking much better, I am very interested to see what is going to happen with the extra 3 million in flexibility, and if it can get us a useful player or picks.
Looking through the teams over the tax, I see a few options that could help us out. Obviously a trade like this isn't bringing an impact player or anything, but if we can get anything positive out of this, I'd like to see it.
Hornets- Hornets are currently 3.3 million over the tax and by all accounts will be trying to get under. If they can't make anything happen with the higher salaried players, the next step will be to start dumping guys. Hilton Armstrong is making 2.8 million this year. Dumping Armstrong will get them within 500,000 of the tax, so this is a definite possibility. I think if this went through, the Hornets would send enough money in the deal to cover the rest of his salary, and would still save the 2.8 mil in luxury taxes. So to simplify it, we get Armstrong for the rest of the season and his rights as a RFA for free, and the Hornets save 2.8 million dollars. There is also other possibilities here as if they could dump the other 500,000 they are over the tax it would save them around 4 million or so, so you may be able to squeeze some real value out of them (1st rounder, Collison?) if you could get them under that level.
Heat- Dorrel Wright makes about 2.9 million and would be the obvious dump. Joel Anthony intrigues me a bit with his shotblocking, right now he is 3rd in the NBA among qualified players in shotblocking with 4.45 per 48 minutes, which is right in line with his two previous years. Both Wright and Anthony together make slightly more than we have in cap space, but if we were to send May over to them, they would be looking at about 6 million in savings, minus whatever cash they were to send to us. Also depending on how much money we actually took on, there is the chance of squeezing a pick out of them as well.
Boston- Tony Allen makes 2.5 million and Scalabrine makes 3.5. No one with much value to send back our way, but its possible to get their first rounder in a deal that would save them salary. Dark horse would be Big Baby at 3 million, but not sure if they would let him go in a salary dump. Also, he would cut into our cap space next year
Utah- Maybe could pick up Kosta Koufos but he doesn't make much so I'd think they would rather just hold on to him. Would cut into our cap space next year so might not be worth it.
Wizards- Possibly Blatche, I've never cared much for him but maybe worth a try for free. His contract isn't expiring though so would cut into our cap space next year.
Dallas- Shawn Williams makes 2.4 million and I'm sure they'd be looking to dump him, but doubt they would give up a pick, probably strictly a money deal or best case 2nd rounder here.
That's all I see looking though the luxury tax teams, and a couple deals should be out there that could bring us assets. I'm interested to hear any other deals like this if anyone else has ideas.
All of the salary sites that I can find are a little off from one another, but it looks like the consensus puts us somewhere around 54.5 million, possibly a little higher depending on which one you choose to go with. Leaving a fairly conservative estimate of 3 million remaining in capspace.
Now with the trade deadline not very far out, there are 14 teams over the luxury tax who will most likely be looking to save money if at all possible. As far as I can tell, we are the only team out there with cap space that will be able to absorb salaries from now until the deadline. With the way that luxury tax penalties work, we should see teams willing to give away players and possibly even cover their contracts just to avoid the penalties.
Petrie was all over these types of trades last year during his deadline flurry, even without cap space, as a way to save money. Now, with the team's financial situation looking much better, I am very interested to see what is going to happen with the extra 3 million in flexibility, and if it can get us a useful player or picks.
Looking through the teams over the tax, I see a few options that could help us out. Obviously a trade like this isn't bringing an impact player or anything, but if we can get anything positive out of this, I'd like to see it.
Hornets- Hornets are currently 3.3 million over the tax and by all accounts will be trying to get under. If they can't make anything happen with the higher salaried players, the next step will be to start dumping guys. Hilton Armstrong is making 2.8 million this year. Dumping Armstrong will get them within 500,000 of the tax, so this is a definite possibility. I think if this went through, the Hornets would send enough money in the deal to cover the rest of his salary, and would still save the 2.8 mil in luxury taxes. So to simplify it, we get Armstrong for the rest of the season and his rights as a RFA for free, and the Hornets save 2.8 million dollars. There is also other possibilities here as if they could dump the other 500,000 they are over the tax it would save them around 4 million or so, so you may be able to squeeze some real value out of them (1st rounder, Collison?) if you could get them under that level.
Heat- Dorrel Wright makes about 2.9 million and would be the obvious dump. Joel Anthony intrigues me a bit with his shotblocking, right now he is 3rd in the NBA among qualified players in shotblocking with 4.45 per 48 minutes, which is right in line with his two previous years. Both Wright and Anthony together make slightly more than we have in cap space, but if we were to send May over to them, they would be looking at about 6 million in savings, minus whatever cash they were to send to us. Also depending on how much money we actually took on, there is the chance of squeezing a pick out of them as well.
Boston- Tony Allen makes 2.5 million and Scalabrine makes 3.5. No one with much value to send back our way, but its possible to get their first rounder in a deal that would save them salary. Dark horse would be Big Baby at 3 million, but not sure if they would let him go in a salary dump. Also, he would cut into our cap space next year
Utah- Maybe could pick up Kosta Koufos but he doesn't make much so I'd think they would rather just hold on to him. Would cut into our cap space next year so might not be worth it.
Wizards- Possibly Blatche, I've never cared much for him but maybe worth a try for free. His contract isn't expiring though so would cut into our cap space next year.
Dallas- Shawn Williams makes 2.4 million and I'm sure they'd be looking to dump him, but doubt they would give up a pick, probably strictly a money deal or best case 2nd rounder here.
That's all I see looking though the luxury tax teams, and a couple deals should be out there that could bring us assets. I'm interested to hear any other deals like this if anyone else has ideas.
