If you were Afflalo and 29 years old, would you a) pickup your option, b) opt out, and re-sign with Minny who isn't likely to make the PO's or c)go to a better climate with a team more likely to make the PO's for the same or higher money for several more years. I going with c.
Having cap space is valuable on any team as long as you understand how to use it. Minny isn't going to see the high profile guys, but they can get guys like Martin, AK, etc.. They can also use that money to take on bad deals and picks along with them. That is the model for our market, using space to gain picks and hopefully use them wisely. Shipping out picks for guys in the final year of their deal creates a team with no future.