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Cap Space
Posted by: Jazzaholic on February 25th, 2013
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Before the deadline Utah had the most cap space, with about $25m of the proposed $59m cap already spent, then WAS, CLE, ATL, CHA, DET and MIL.
So, Utah may have as much as $34m, under the cap, to spend resigning their own, or new, free agents. The minimum salary may end up around $53m, meaning the Jazz will be forced to spend around $28m just to fill the roster.
Looking at the other teams with cap space, WAS, CLE, ATL, CHA, DET and MIL, there is no glitter or warm sunshine there. In fact, those places are much worse locations than Utah! So, it’s not like the Jazz are competing against South Beach, Tinsel Town or The Big Apple in spending their cap space.
The big stars like Chris and Dwight will probably stay, where they can be paid more, in LA.
I hope the Jazz will keep a tight hold on their wallet. Bad contracts cause more problems, than good players getting overpaid solve. Short contracts, with team options may not assure the Jazz keeping a high profile player, but usually the big names are at the peak of their careers and ready for a down slide. I would much rather see the Jazz overpay for a short contract, with a team option, than end up with an untradeable contract down the road. Take a Memo: No more Booze and hold the AK-47 ammo.
Time and time again, we see teams getting rid or overpriced, inefficient players, only to see younger, more efficient players, usually getting paid less, step up and the team plays better.
The Jazz will have the Core4, Pogo and a team option on Murphy. Marvin will probably opt in on his $7.5m player option, plus the Jazz have #18, #19 and #48 draft picks. That’s 10 players. If they resign DeMarre, which they should make every effort to do, that puts them at 11 roster spots, unless they make some draft night trades or Marvin opts out.
Maximum flexibility would dictate a 13 player roster, short contracts, with team options, under the cap, near the team minimum salary (90% of the cap).
In fact, the Jazz don’t actually have to make an effort to get to the minimum payroll. If a team doesn’t meet its minimum payroll it is surcharged at the end of the season for the shortfall. That money is distributed among the players on that team.
This, I think, would be an added selling point to players signing a new contract. It also allows the Jazz to pick up good players in salary dumps by luxury tax teams next year.
The willingness of the Jazz to NOT make a move this past trade deadline hopefully indicates this is the path they will pursue.
I would like to get a pleasant surprise, or two, in the playoffs, assuming the Black Mumba doesn’t will his way past the Jazz in the standings and they make the playoffs, pushing the Jazz out.
Then, the Draft and Free Agency should be full of opportunity.
Jazzaholic
Replies: 16
Views: 652
16 Responses
@Jazzaholic:
” The Jazz will have the Core4, Pogo and a team option on Murphy. Marvin will probably opt in on his $7.5m player option, plus the Jazz have #18, #19 and #48 draft picks. That’s 12 players. If they resign DeMarre, which they should make every effort to do, that puts them at 13 roster spots”
Maybe my math is off, but C4 + Evans + Murphy + Marvin + 3 draft picks + Carroll = only 11, not 13.
I’m assuming you meant to stay something about re-signing two out of Millsap, Jefferson, Mo, & Foye
Great article.
This will be a surprising off season.
You’re right! Old age just keeps creeping in. I’ve corrected it to 11.
My inept counting got in the way of Millsap or Jefferson, Mo and Foye, plus it was getting a little long
Mo will probably cost less and Foye a little more, but both seem happy in Utah. No reason not to resign them and lots of reasons to do it.
Paul and Big Al will have offers and the Jazz may have the opportunity to select the best offer, or lose them both, but they only need one or the other. If they resign Paul, he needs to be clear, that he’s coming off the bench. Paul gets overwhelmed by starting power forwards and would be great off the bench, but it’s unlikely he will accept that or that Ty will change his ways.
Big Al is making more moves deeper in the post and playing better than ever.
What offers will Big Al get? How long a contract?
Jazzaholic
We can still pay Paul and Al more than anyone else, so a sign and trade could always be negotiated for the right player.
But, do the Jazz want to pay more? I would think, if they want to come back, match the best offer, rather than pay more.
I’d be in favor of overpaying for a shorter contract with a team option on the last year, to mesh with the Core4 coming into higher salaries.
Jazzaholic
Is there even a big name free agent out there to sign other than our own? i would like to see Burke come to the jazz in the draft to play behind Mo. Maybe Jarret Jack? would fit???
Apparently none of the other owners knew Jack either. For $5.4m he’s played very well. UFA and the GSWs near the luxury tax may not be able to afford him.
Tonight: Starters -3, -9, -10, -11, -13.
Kids 0, +4, +5, +8, +14.
Will they be hurt by losing starters in the off season?
Jazzaholic
Only briefly Jazzaholic, only briefly. There will be an adjustment period from bench player to starter just as there is one from college player to NBA player. But that group has more talent, size and potential than all the starters except maybe Millsap. I would keep Millsap and Mo. Its all about two-way players these days and all those guys fit the bill. Id try to keep Foye for scoring off the bench, because his salary matches that role. Id love to keep Al for scoring off the bench, because I think that’s where his true role is according to the way he plays, but no way you pay $15M for that. Even $8M is a stretch. And you don’t pay a dude $15M because he makes people smile and is a father figure to Kanter, however great those things are.
I was thinking that if Marvin opts-in for next year, Paul will definately go. I think we may see more time for Marvin as a stretch 4 in the event of losing Paul.
Just a thought.
I think we should bench Williams like we did bell maybe then he’ll opt. Out I would rather have more of a chance at resigning Millsap and not resign al what is the worst that could happen we have a down year and have a shot at drafting PARKER I’ll be a jazz fan either way.
I’m most in favor of losing Al and Paul to get that salary to pay for the others. If Foye and Mo would resign for less I’d keep them and get a Trey Burke and who ever else in the draft.
JD, Foye and Mo, with a reduced salary, need to be resigned.
Perhaps we get nether Paul or Big Al back, but instead we use that money to do a trade with the HATED Lakers for Pau?
Pau is the best passing big man in the league, the HATED Lakers have been shopping him for 2 years. He should be healthy by April. The Jazz will have the cap space, where nothing would be required to go back to the lakers, oh…maybe the rights to that 70 year old stiff in Europe we got a trade or two ago.
Pau is owed $19,285,850 for 13-14, then you have his Bird Rights to sign him, or not, for a reasonable salary for 2014.
I started to calculate the new CBA savings for the HATED Lakers, but it started smoking, and caught on fire, when I got to over $60m in total savings for them.
That might make Disappointing Dwight’s max deal a little easier to swallow. Plus, D’Antoni want’s him gone.
So, obviously it comes down to what little Jimmies bartender/scout/chief adviser says.
I think it’d be perfect for the Jazz. Rotate Pau, Derrick and Enes at the 4-5.
What’s not to like?
Jazzaholic
He’s past his prime and injured. No Thanks. Let the Lakers spend a larger portion of that $200M TV deal to the luxury tax.
I think that must be the plan, loads of cap space to be able to make any trade work next season … I would be ecstatic if the Jazz could draft Cannan out of Murray State, I like him a little more than trey burke. The other guy that impresses me is Oladipo out of Indiana.
Pau should be playing again in 3-4 weeks. Watch him before making a snap judgment.
If the Jazz sign Paul or Big Al, they are locked in for 4-5 more years. Pau goes off the books next year, so the flexibility comes right back the summer after this one.
Jazzaholic