The Rage Monster wrote:I hope we have some type of financial guru/forecast type to try and project the cap beyond the next 2 years. If we think the cap will continue to increase this would be a good year to be aggressive signing someone to near a max. A current max player would make 23-32 million but if the cap could increase to 115 million (jersey ads might help) a max player would make 29-40 million making someone signed this offseason look like a bargain.
This was my general logic about it too. We will be more hampered later when we have to sign our guys to max deals. It seems now would be the time to get that 3rd contract. Either way we will see, I highly doubt that Taylor's first move after signing Thibs and Layton was to tell them how cheap they need to be this offseason. I would take a max player signing as indication that they have done their due diligence.
The Rage Monster wrote:I hope we have some type of financial guru/forecast type to try and project the cap beyond the next 2 years. If we think the cap will continue to increase this would be a good year to be aggressive signing someone to near a max. A current max player would make 23-32 million but if the cap could increase to 115 million (jersey ads might help) a max player would make 29-40 million making someone signed this offseason look like a bargain.
I get that logic, but it's hampered by the good chance that the Wolves will have to pony up for two max contracts (KAT and Wig) before the max contract they enter into this year is over. Let's say they sign Horford for $120 million for 4 years (30 per year), and further assume that the cap is $115 million in the 4th year. KAT's and Wig's max contracts will be 25% of the cap (or $29 million), so $88 million would be tied up in just those three players. Rubio and Zach will each enter into new contracts at that time also, and if they are about $20 million (far under the max), the Wolves would have a payroll of $128 million and still have 10 more players to pay (including this year's 5th pick, who will be at the end of his rookie contract). The only way giving a free agent a max deal this summer doesn't put us way into the lux tax is if either KAT or Wig flames out and doesn't earn a big contract at the end of their rookie deals...a prospect must of us don't want to consider.
I don't know that much about Leydon, but his background tells me he is smart and experienced enough to take a long view with respect to the salary cap. I would put the chance of the Wolves offering a 4-year max contract this summer as close to zero.
