Why we could see a spending spree from the Timberwolves this summer
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:56 am
http://www.1500espn.com/wolves-2/2016/03/why-this-summer-could-be-a-spending-spree-for-nba-teams-like-the-timberwolves/Why we could see a spending spree from the Timberwolves this summer
"Minnesota saved $4 million overall with the Martin buyout. At the time of the buyout, Minnesota owed Martin $1.7 million this year and $7.3 million next season. Martin walked away with half of the money that was owed to him.
The Timberwolves will have a cap hit of $6.3 million this season and $4.1 million in 2016-17. Minnesota can elect to stretch the $4 million owed to Martin starting in July to cover three seasons.
In short, with the salary cap projected to rise to approximately $90 million next season, the Timberwolves' cap figure will drop from $67.42 million to $64.2 million. Should the team choose to divvy up the $4 million owed to Martin over the next four years with the "stretch provision" they will have even more cap space.
For those scoring at home, that would mean nearly $30 million dollars in spending room this summer.
That number could drop further, too. It seems right now like it's no guarantee Kevin Garnett will be back for another season. If KG retires, that would be $8 million more spending freedom for the Wolves. Should the team succeed in trading Adreian Payne without taking salary back, that would mean $2 million more in cap space, pushing their cap room to nearly $40 million.
But there is such a thing as too much cap space. For instance, should the team not meet the salary floor, the difference between their payroll and the amount it would take to get to the salary floor is split up between the players on the current roster as a penalty.
As it stands, the Timberwolves are going to have to shop until they drop this summer just to reach that floor. For the 2015-16 season, the salary floor was $63 million, or $7 million below the salary cap itself. If the cap does wind up at $90 million as expected and their payroll without stretching Martin is $64.2 million, which means Minnesota would need to spend $19 million on two roster spots to avoid a penalty.
Similarly, it may not make sense to do anything about Nikola Pekovic this summer unless he decides to call it quits himself. As of right now, his salary helps the Timberwolves more than he hurts them because he pushes the team closer to that salary floor.
This is why this summer is going to be crazy, as far as contracts and trades are concerned. Teams like the Timberwolves, who are young and promising but not yet attractive free-agent destinations, are going to have to get creative if they would like to avoid the penalty.
Realistically, this team is probably not going to be a player for the likes of Mike Conley, Dwight Howard, and Chandler Parsons. As a result, we could see the Timberwolves take on a larger contract another team no longer wants or overpaying for a couple of decent players.
There are two schools of thought here. The first is that everyone is going to be spending, and as long as it's a short-term deal, it's not going to hurt you just to get to the floor. On the other hand, why spend just to spend? If you're going to spend the money anyway, why not just spread it amongst the players already on the roster? Suffice it to say we've never seen a cap situation quite like this one."
"Minnesota saved $4 million overall with the Martin buyout. At the time of the buyout, Minnesota owed Martin $1.7 million this year and $7.3 million next season. Martin walked away with half of the money that was owed to him.
The Timberwolves will have a cap hit of $6.3 million this season and $4.1 million in 2016-17. Minnesota can elect to stretch the $4 million owed to Martin starting in July to cover three seasons.
In short, with the salary cap projected to rise to approximately $90 million next season, the Timberwolves' cap figure will drop from $67.42 million to $64.2 million. Should the team choose to divvy up the $4 million owed to Martin over the next four years with the "stretch provision" they will have even more cap space.
For those scoring at home, that would mean nearly $30 million dollars in spending room this summer.
That number could drop further, too. It seems right now like it's no guarantee Kevin Garnett will be back for another season. If KG retires, that would be $8 million more spending freedom for the Wolves. Should the team succeed in trading Adreian Payne without taking salary back, that would mean $2 million more in cap space, pushing their cap room to nearly $40 million.
But there is such a thing as too much cap space. For instance, should the team not meet the salary floor, the difference between their payroll and the amount it would take to get to the salary floor is split up between the players on the current roster as a penalty.
As it stands, the Timberwolves are going to have to shop until they drop this summer just to reach that floor. For the 2015-16 season, the salary floor was $63 million, or $7 million below the salary cap itself. If the cap does wind up at $90 million as expected and their payroll without stretching Martin is $64.2 million, which means Minnesota would need to spend $19 million on two roster spots to avoid a penalty.
Similarly, it may not make sense to do anything about Nikola Pekovic this summer unless he decides to call it quits himself. As of right now, his salary helps the Timberwolves more than he hurts them because he pushes the team closer to that salary floor.
This is why this summer is going to be crazy, as far as contracts and trades are concerned. Teams like the Timberwolves, who are young and promising but not yet attractive free-agent destinations, are going to have to get creative if they would like to avoid the penalty.
Realistically, this team is probably not going to be a player for the likes of Mike Conley, Dwight Howard, and Chandler Parsons. As a result, we could see the Timberwolves take on a larger contract another team no longer wants or overpaying for a couple of decent players.
There are two schools of thought here. The first is that everyone is going to be spending, and as long as it's a short-term deal, it's not going to hurt you just to get to the floor. On the other hand, why spend just to spend? If you're going to spend the money anyway, why not just spread it amongst the players already on the roster? Suffice it to say we've never seen a cap situation quite like this one."