Wolves Post Randle Cap Situation

[Monster]

Now where are we at after the LaMelo Ball trade?

By my calculation, our total cap-hit payroll is $207,730,069, which puts us about 1.3 Million below the 1st apron and about $14 million under the 2nd apron. We no longer have access to the non-taxpayer MLE or the BAE. We will invariably become a 1st apron team just to get our roster up to the required 14. I don’t see us ending back at the 2nd apron. I’ll note that trading Rudy for Anthony Davis would put us above the second apron. Davis is scheduled to make $58,456,566. That over $20 million more than Rudy’s salary.

Adding Ball it just doesn't seem like moving Rudy makes sense now especially with the PF situation unresolved. I guess we will have to wait and see what's next.

[TheGrey08]

By my calculation, our total cap-hit payroll is $207,730,069, which puts us about 1.3 Million below the 1st apron and about $14 million under the 2nd apron. We no longer have access to the non-taxpayer MLE or the BAE. We will invariably become a 1st apron team just to get our roster up to the required 14. I don’t see us ending back at the 2nd apron. I’ll note that trading Rudy for Anthony Davis would put us above the second apron. Davis is scheduled to make $58,456,566. That over $20 million more than Rudy’s salary.

https://x.com/YossiGozlan/status/207014 ... 11984?s=20
Yossi has them at 209m
Rerouting Green is the key. If they do that without taking back over ~6m in salary in return, that could get them back under the tax. I fully expect the Randle/Ball 4 team trade to become more.

[Lipoli390]

I wanted to get some clarity from others who pay attention to cap issues. Local pundits and podcasters continue to insist the Wolves can only use the vet minimum exceptions for each of the two remaining roster spots. But I’ve gone over the math several times and it looks like we can spend up to just over $5.7 million of our taxpayer MLE on one of the two with room remaining to use the $2.45M vet minimum on the other.

[60WinTim]

I wanted to get some clarity from others who pay attention to cap issues. Local pundits and podcasters continue to insist the Wolves can only use the vet minimum exceptions for each of the two remaining roster spots. But I’ve gone over the math several times and it looks like we can spend up to just over $5.7 million of our taxpayer MLE on one of the two with room remaining to use the $2.45M vet minimum on the other.

My spreadsheet shows about 6.43 mil left for the final 3 spots. Two vet minimums equal 4.9 mil. That leaves a mere 1.5 mil for the final spot, which means you can't even sign a vet with 2+ years experience for that 15th spot. The Wolves would have to wait until sometime mid-season to fill that 15th spot.

And it probably doesn't work out to add that 1.5 mil to one of the vet minimums to pay someone a bit more, because I bet they would get more money signing the vet minimum where they really get the a higher amount based on their years of service, which is likely higher that the 2-year vet min plus the extra 1.5 mil the Wolves have to work with.

Dane put out an updated post explaining why his spreadsheet was roughly 2.5 mil too high -- the LaMelo trade kicker and the unlikely bonuses for Jaden and Donte.

[TheGrey08]

I wanted to get some clarity from others who pay attention to cap issues. Local pundits and podcasters continue to insist the Wolves can only use the vet minimum exceptions for each of the two remaining roster spots. But I’ve gone over the math several times and it looks like we can spend up to just over $5.7 million of our taxpayer MLE on one of the two with room remaining to use the $2.45M vet minimum on the other.

Of the cap expert types this is what I've heard the most. ~5.7m and a vet min.

[Lipoli390]

I wanted to get some clarity from others who pay attention to cap issues. Local pundits and podcasters continue to insist the Wolves can only use the vet minimum exceptions for each of the two remaining roster spots. But I’ve gone over the math several times and it looks like we can spend up to just over $5.7 million of our taxpayer MLE on one of the two with room remaining to use the $2.45M vet minimum on the other.

My spreadsheet shows about 6.43 mil left for the final 3 spots. Two vet minimums equal 4.9 mil. That leaves a mere 1.5 mil for the final spot, which means you can't even sign a vet with 2+ years experience for that 15th spot. The Wolves would have to wait until sometime mid-season to fill that 15th spot.

And it probably doesn't work out to add that 1.5 mil to one of the vet minimums to pay someone a bit more, because I bet they would get more money signing the vet minimum where they really get the a higher amount based on their years of service, which is likely higher that the 2-year vet min plus the extra 1.5 mil the Wolves have to work with.

Dane put out an updated post explaining why his spreadsheet was roughly 2.5 mil too high -- the LaMelo trade kicker and the unlikely bonuses for Jaden and Donte.

I see no reason to fill all 15 roster spots. We have 12 filled now with the additions of Bones and Evans. My numbers include Ball’s trade kicker. The Jaden and Donte bonuses are both classified as “unlikely” which means they do not count against the salary cap. So my numbers are correct. I’ve cross-checked against every source I could find. So I’m confident that the Wolves can use up to $5.7M of the taxpayer MLE to fill one of the two spots the Wolves have to fill and then use the 2+ year vet minimum to fill the other spot. That $5.7 million is $2.0 million more than the highest vet minimum salary of around $3.7M, which applies to 10+ year vets.

So we should be able to get at least one quality bench player to fill the two remaining spots.

[60WinTim]

I wanted to get some clarity from others who pay attention to cap issues. Local pundits and podcasters continue to insist the Wolves can only use the vet minimum exceptions for each of the two remaining roster spots. But I’ve gone over the math several times and it looks like we can spend up to just over $5.7 million of our taxpayer MLE on one of the two with room remaining to use the $2.45M vet minimum on the other.

My spreadsheet shows about 6.43 mil left for the final 3 spots. Two vet minimums equal 4.9 mil. That leaves a mere 1.5 mil for the final spot, which means you can't even sign a vet with 2+ years experience for that 15th spot. The Wolves would have to wait until sometime mid-season to fill that 15th spot.

And it probably doesn't work out to add that 1.5 mil to one of the vet minimums to pay someone a bit more, because I bet they would get more money signing the vet minimum where they really get the a higher amount based on their years of service, which is likely higher that the 2-year vet min plus the extra 1.5 mil the Wolves have to work with.

Dane put out an updated post explaining why his spreadsheet was roughly 2.5 mil too high -- the LaMelo trade kicker and the unlikely bonuses for Jaden and Donte.

I see no reason to fill all 15 roster spots. We have 12 filled now with the additions of Bones and Evans. My numbers include Ball’s trade kicker. The Jaden and Donte bonuses are both classified as “unlikely” which means they do not count against the salary cap. So my numbers are correct. I’ve cross-checked against every source I could find. So I’m confident that the Wolves can use up to $5.7M of the taxpayer MLE to fill one of the two spots the Wolves have to fill and then use the 2+ year vet minimum to fill the other spot. That $5.7 million is $2.0 million more than the highest vet minimum salary of around $3.7M, which applies to 10+ year vets.

So we should be able to get at least one quality bench player to fill the two remaining spots.

Sorry to burst your bubble again…

The unlikely bonuses do not count against the salary cap, BUT they do count against the apron thresholds. Dane reiterates this, and just check spotrac— don’t use the multi-year, but use the yearly overview. It shows the salary amount that counts against the aprons.

So, no, the Wolves do not have room for anything more than two vet minimums.

[Lipoli390]

My spreadsheet shows about 6.43 mil left for the final 3 spots. Two vet minimums equal 4.9 mil. That leaves a mere 1.5 mil for the final spot, which means you can't even sign a vet with 2+ years experience for that 15th spot. The Wolves would have to wait until sometime mid-season to fill that 15th spot.

And it probably doesn't work out to add that 1.5 mil to one of the vet minimums to pay someone a bit more, because I bet they would get more money signing the vet minimum where they really get the a higher amount based on their years of service, which is likely higher that the 2-year vet min plus the extra 1.5 mil the Wolves have to work with.

Dane put out an updated post explaining why his spreadsheet was roughly 2.5 mil too high -- the LaMelo trade kicker and the unlikely bonuses for Jaden and Donte.

I see no reason to fill all 15 roster spots. We have 12 filled now with the additions of Bones and Evans. My numbers include Ball’s trade kicker. The Jaden and Donte bonuses are both classified as “unlikely” which means they do not count against the salary cap. So my numbers are correct. I’ve cross-checked against every source I could find. So I’m confident that the Wolves can use up to $5.7M of the taxpayer MLE to fill one of the two spots the Wolves have to fill and then use the 2+ year vet minimum to fill the other spot. That $5.7 million is $2.0 million more than the highest vet minimum salary of around $3.7M, which applies to 10+ year vets.

So we should be able to get at least one quality bench player to fill the two remaining spots.

Sorry to burst your bubble again…

The unlikely bonuses do not count against the salary cap, BUT they do count against the apron thresholds. Dane reiterates this, and just check spotrac— don’t use the multi-year, but use the yearly overview. It shows the salary amount that counts against the aprons.

So, no, the Wolves do not have room for anything more than two vet minimums.

Leave my bubble alone, Tim!!! Crap, I just confirmed that you’re right. You already ruined my day with your early morning news on three sticks. Now this. You need to be wrong more often. Your clarification further solidifies my thinking that the Wolves are going to trade for a PF if they can’t sign LeBron assuming they can find the right one. Right now, I keep coming back to PJ Washington. If we don’t get LeBron, I’d be surprised if PJ isn’t on our roster by the beginning of next season. The only question in my mind is whether the Wolves will include Donte or TSJ in the Green-centric package to get him. I wouldn’t give up TSJ but I think TC would. I’d give up Donte but I don’t think TC will. There, I’ve given myself another chance to be wrong.

[mjs34]

My spreadsheet shows about 6.43 mil left for the final 3 spots. Two vet minimums equal 4.9 mil. That leaves a mere 1.5 mil for the final spot, which means you can't even sign a vet with 2+ years experience for that 15th spot. The Wolves would have to wait until sometime mid-season to fill that 15th spot.

And it probably doesn't work out to add that 1.5 mil to one of the vet minimums to pay someone a bit more, because I bet they would get more money signing the vet minimum where they really get the a higher amount based on their years of service, which is likely higher that the 2-year vet min plus the extra 1.5 mil the Wolves have to work with.

Dane put out an updated post explaining why his spreadsheet was roughly 2.5 mil too high -- the LaMelo trade kicker and the unlikely bonuses for Jaden and Donte.

I see no reason to fill all 15 roster spots. We have 12 filled now with the additions of Bones and Evans. My numbers include Ball’s trade kicker. The Jaden and Donte bonuses are both classified as “unlikely” which means they do not count against the salary cap. So my numbers are correct. I’ve cross-checked against every source I could find. So I’m confident that the Wolves can use up to $5.7M of the taxpayer MLE to fill one of the two spots the Wolves have to fill and then use the 2+ year vet minimum to fill the other spot. That $5.7 million is $2.0 million more than the highest vet minimum salary of around $3.7M, which applies to 10+ year vets.

So we should be able to get at least one quality bench player to fill the two remaining spots.

Sorry to burst your bubble again…

The unlikely bonuses do not count against the salary cap, BUT they do count against the apron thresholds. Dane reiterates this, and just check spotrac— don’t use the multi-year, but use the yearly overview. It shows the salary amount that counts against the aprons.

So, no, the Wolves do not have room for anything more than two vet minimums.

Tim do you know if the trade kicker for Lamelo is a one time thing, or does it jump his salary for each season? I know they said he was capped at 25% due to his years of service, but next season I think he moves to the next level were he can bump to 30%.

[60WinTim]

I see no reason to fill all 15 roster spots. We have 12 filled now with the additions of Bones and Evans. My numbers include Ball’s trade kicker. The Jaden and Donte bonuses are both classified as “unlikely” which means they do not count against the salary cap. So my numbers are correct. I’ve cross-checked against every source I could find. So I’m confident that the Wolves can use up to $5.7M of the taxpayer MLE to fill one of the two spots the Wolves have to fill and then use the 2+ year vet minimum to fill the other spot. That $5.7 million is $2.0 million more than the highest vet minimum salary of around $3.7M, which applies to 10+ year vets.

So we should be able to get at least one quality bench player to fill the two remaining spots.

Sorry to burst your bubble again…

The unlikely bonuses do not count against the salary cap, BUT they do count against the apron thresholds. Dane reiterates this, and just check spotrac— don’t use the multi-year, but use the yearly overview. It shows the salary amount that counts against the aprons.

So, no, the Wolves do not have room for anything more than two vet minimums.

Tim do you know if the trade kicker for Lamelo is a one time thing, or does it jump his salary for each season? I know they said he was capped at 25% due to his years of service, but next season I think he moves to the next level were he can bump to 30%.

I'm not exactly sure. I know the trade kicker is suppose to apply the the remaining contract, not just the year of the trade. However, what happens if the trade kicker is limited in the first year? Is the same "reduced" percentage applied to the remaining years as well? I don't know.

One thing I will say, the Wolves cap situation has a chance to be much improved next year. But we gotta get thru this year first. Congrats to A-Rod and Lori for willing to pay some really big bucks this year!