cap space, max contracts, baker deal

[Ken Kokubo <ken_kokubo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Hey I can't find that article..
> but wouldn't Kenny have given us nine million or so of cap space? What was
> our cap figure before? I am pretty sure the guy in the article was talking
> about the cap space he would give us...that combined with some trades could
> give us enough cap space to go for someone. Its like what the Magic did.. I
> don't think he said Baker cost us a max player.
The problem is, even if you "dump" 10 million in contracts, you can't 
necessarily add a 10 million dollar one right back.

Lets say the cap is 50 million, the luxury tax is 60 million, and 
your team salary is 55 million. You get rid of three players 
totalling 10 million, your team salary is now 45 million. Now you can 
sign one 5 million dollar player because you cannot go over the cap 
to sign a FA.

Plus a 4.5 million exception if you haven't used it, and the 1 
million exception slot as well. You cannot combine them. This is what 
Alex meant I believe...Also someone had done the math during the year 
and figured there would be almost no way to sign a Duncan FA class 
player to a max contract (unless we went into that year with 7 
players or something stupid like that). Wallace had alluded to that 
previously as well.

You've now spent $500k more than you cut and still haven't exceeded 
the luxury tax.  And (making the simplistic assumption that salary 
equals talent) maybe you dumped an 8 million dollar guy and the best 
of the 3 you're getting in return is a 5 million dollar guy.

The more I think about it, this is a great trade given the directives 
from the owner and the constraints of the CBA. That is however, a lot 
different from saying I love this trade period.

k