In his Ayo presser, TC touched briefly on ownership willing to pay the money to make moves to improve the team. However, he did mention the importance of managing the aprons, and the Luxury Repeater Tax. A team becomes a repeater when they pay the luxury tax 3 out of the 4 previous years. This will be year two of paying the luxury tax for the Wolves. Which means they will be a repeater if they pay the luxury tax in either of the next two years. So, I think the Wolves will look to get below the luxury tax starting next year.
The #1 and #2 priorities this offseason will be re-signing Ayo and Bones. And it will be vet minimums to fill out the roster. However, the re-signing of Ayo will surely put the Wolves over the luxury tax by several million. I think we will see one of our core guys traded in the offseason in order to avoid the luxury tax. The likely candidates are the guys who are only under team control for one more year: Rudy has a player option after next year, Julius has a player option after next year, and Donte is an expiring contract, although he is extension eligible.
I don't think Rudy is going anywhere. He is too important to the defensive identity of the team, and I doubt the market is there because he requires such a long runway to adapt to a new team. Julius is also important to the team, providing playmaking and the ability to play bully-ball on the offensive end. And while Donte has been really solid, his spot is the more replaceable with Bones, Ayo, Clark and Shannon on the roster. He's also the easiest contract to move. I suspect this could be Donte's final year in a Wolves uniform.
Any other thoughts on how the Wolves get under the luxury tax? (or maybe you think they are willing to bite the bullet on the tax money?)
Luxury Tax Repeater
Re: Luxury Tax Repeater
Only 7 teams are over right now. The Wolves are at $192,648,763 ($4,753,763), $4,753,763 total tax.
The Clippers are only $900k over.
Calculation: Tax is calculated based on a team's total salary as of the last day of the regular season.
Doesn't look like there is a way to get under this season, or are there incentives that are counted only if they are achieved?
The Clippers are only $900k over.
Calculation: Tax is calculated based on a team's total salary as of the last day of the regular season.
Doesn't look like there is a way to get under this season, or are there incentives that are counted only if they are achieved?