Minnesota Sports Forum

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Here's some more clarity on my prediction with Dunn added. The following is my projection for the 2019-20 season. This will be KAT's first season under his new contract and the second season for Wiggins and Zach under their extensions. It would also be the first season of Ricky's next contract, following the final year of his current contract at $14.8 million. It would be second season of Belly's new deal. It would be the final season of Dunn's rookie deal.

KAT: $25 (just below $26.5 max)
Wigg: $25 (just below $26.5 max)
Zach: $21
Gorgui: $16
Ricky: $15
Belly: $10
Dunn: $5.3

TOTAL for 7 Players = $117.3 million

Then I'd add 2 players at the mid-level exception of around $8 million. That brings the total to $133.3 for 9 players. We will be WAY over the luxury tax threshold.

Yeah, you guys have convinced me that I was low on Zach. Thx for the above breakdown, Lip...kind of dire considering we still have to pay 6 more players after the payroll is already at $133.3. Maybe Thaydon doesn't sign two players at $8 million each but then we're still at $117 million with 8 more players to pay...i.e. certain lux tax. It's becoming clear that the only way we can retain our Big 3 is if Dunn proves himself to be a suitable PG, and we are able to trade Ricky to clear some space. Most likely though I fear one of the young Big 3 will be Harden-ed.

LST I know you have said in the past you don't think Glen's other owners would be willing to go into the lux tax. Would you be willing to say if they would possibly do it for just one season if it made a lot of sense?

I wouldn't know for sure, Monster, and I also don't know if Glen has made any assurances to his minority owners that he won't go over the threshold. I think it depends on how much over the threshold they go...it can get absurdly punitive. A couple of the minority guys are quite well heeled, but I know there was some reluctance to contribute more capital in the past when Glen made capital calls. And although I don't know Debbie Saunders, I think we can assume that it might be difficult for her to come up with her portion of the tax if they went over the threshold. Now, minority owners have been given the option in the past of diluting their ownership percentage if they chose not to participate in a capital call, but the ownership group is broader now, and that might not be a situation Glen wants to get into again.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. Salary cap management is going to be key to this team's success, and so far I've been pleased with the way Thaydon has approached it.