I like this if it happens. Does anyone know what Vin's contract means to us
in the future? Is it money lost or can it be used for free agency?
Paolo Dellasandro
Well first we have to lose it.
But it's a bit of both. It frees up the money but doesn't necessarily put
us significantly enough under the cap/luxury tax for that to matter as much
as you might think. We're apparently at about $52 MM without it
http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm now - he's listed on the site,
but that would be the prorated amount through the release, which does still
count against our cap. Which might leave some, but likely not much money
for a FA now. Next year, apparently only about $38MM committed without it,
which would leave a nice chunk of change to spend, but you have to remember
that we also have to sign draft picks, fill some more roster spots, etc
with that cap space money too.
And if we negotiate a buyout, the amount of the buyout will still count
against our cap prorated for the number of years left in the contract. So
if we bought him out for say $12MM, since he had 3 years left on his
contract, that would be $4MM against our cap each year even though we pay
him all the money up front.