Those of you out there dreaming about some big name accusation for the Raps in the off season may want to think again for the simple reason that at the current moment, the Raps don’t have a lot of room under the salary cap. Every summer only 1-2 teams find themselves in a position to be significantly under the cap to take a run at the big name free agents. Last summer it was Orlando and Memphis, this summer it looks to be Philly and Memphis, and in 2009 it will be Toronto.
Here’s a quick fyi- on how the cap works
In the NBA each team can spend a maximum amount each year on player contracts (lets pretend its 50 million). Once the team is over that amount they can NOT take on any additional contracts. So for the Raps, this means that for them to acquire any new players (via trade or signing) they first would have to shed some existing contracts.
There are some exceptions to the cap rules that the Raps can benefit from, like the mid-level exception, and Bird Rights.
Mid-level exception (from Wikipedia)
A team is allowed to sign one player to a contract equal to the average NBA salary, even if the team is over the salary cap already, or if the signing would put them over the cap. This is known as the Mid-level exception. The Mid-Level Exception for the 2007-08 NBA season is $5.36 million.
This is how the Raps got Jason Kapono last summer.
Larry Bird exception (from Wikipedia)
Perhaps the most well-known of the NBA’s salary cap exceptions, it is so named because the Boston Celtics were the first team permitted to exceed the salary cap to re-sign one of their own players (in that case, Larry Bird).
In a nutshell, the Larry Bird exception allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, at an amount up to the maximum salary. To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Bird-exception contracts can be up to six years in length.
This is the case with Calderon.
However, although the resigning of Calderon doesn’t count against the cap it does go towards the luxury tax. Each year the league sets a tax threshold (lets pretend its 60 million) where if a team spends over that amount on salaries it has to pay a fine of $1 for every $1 its over the cap. So, hypothetically speaking, if the Raps were over the cap when the resigned Calderon and his contract put them over the luxury tax, then a contract of $10 dollars annually could actually end up costing the team closer to $20 million a year.
This is why some teams aggressively pursue restricted free agents of teams that are capped out. You can expect to this happen with Calderon and the Raps this summer.
So, as you can see, the Raps really only have the mid-level, about 5.5 million to spend this summer AND this will not bring them back Marion, Agent 0, Maggette, Brand, Luol Deng, Okafor or any of the other names on the wish list of many Raps fans.
BUT fear not Raps fans, what the team does have is a ton of expiring contracts for summer 2009. At the end of next season the contracts of Rasho (9 mil), AP (4 mil), Garbo (4mil), Joey Graham (2mil), Maceo Baston (1.5 mil) and Jamario Moon (1 mil) all come off the cap. That means that the Raps will be almost 20 million under the cap next summer (after you take into account that they have to re-sign Calderon this summer). So next summer appears to be the time you’ll see some real moves in Toronto….
Except Colangelo has hinted in more than one interview since the end of the season that the team would prefer to “hand pick” their player via a trade instead of having to bid for their services on the open market. So, the question then begs itself, who makes how much money and which teams might be interested in dumping some contracts for cap space. Below is a list of every player in the NBA who made over $10 last season.
BUT Colangelo may want to hold off for a little while longer since there are a lot of teams (like NY and NJ) who are really trying to get under the cap for the 2010 summer when players like Lebron, Wade, and Bosh could all potentially be free agents. Therefore, the closer we get to 2010, the more teams might be willing to offload to get cap space.
TOP NBA PLAYER SALARIES (from InsideHoops.com)
1) Kevin Garnett $22,000,000
2) Shaquille O’Neal $20,000,000
3tie) Jermaine O’Neal $19,728,000
3tie) Jason Kidd $19,728,000
5) Kobe Bryant $19,490,625
6tie) Allen Iverson $19,195,312
6tie) Stephon Marbury $19,195,312
8 ) Tim Duncan $19,014,188
9) Tracy McGrady $19,014,187
10tie) Baron Davis $16,440,000
10tie) Shawn Marion $16,440,000
12tie) Antawn Jamison $16,360,090
12tie) Dirk Nowitzki $16,360,090
12tie) Paul Pierce $16,360,090
15) Ray Allen $16,000,000
16) Ben Wallace $15,500,000
17) Sam Cassell $15,344,000
18) Rashard Lewis $14,884,951
19) Michael Redd $14,520,000
20tie) Amare Stoudemire $13,762,775
20tie) Yao Ming $13,762,775
22) Pau Gasol $13,735,000
23) Andrei Kirilenko $13,725,000
24) Mike Bibby $13,500,000
25) Joe Johnson $13,488,378
26) Zach Randolph $13,333,333
27) Vince Carter $13,325,000
28) Rasheed Wallace $13,140,000
29tie) Carmelo Anthony $13,041,250
29tie) Dwyane Wade $13,041,250
29tie) LeBron James $13,041,250
29tie) Chris Bosh $13,041,250
33) Kenyon Martin $13,000,000
34) Richard Jefferson $12,200,000
35) Larry Hughes $12,000,084
36) Wally Szczerbiak $12,000,000
37) Gilbert Arenas $11,950,400
38) Raef LaFrentz $11,813,750
39) Peja Stojakovic $11,664,000
40) Carlos Boozer $11,593,816
41) Steve Nash $11,375,000
42) Jason Richardson $11,111,110
43) Kirk Hinrich $11,000,000
44) David West $10,650,000
45tie ) Brad Miller $10,500,000
45 tie) Tony Parker $10,500,000
46) Zydrunas Ilgauskas $10,142,156
47) Tyson Chandler $10,050,000
48 tie) Marcus Camby $10,000,000
48 tie) Chauncey Billups $10,000,000
Who would you like to see on the Raps?
As always, standing in the key, I’m the Dr., I’ve got my feet planted, and I’m planning on taking a charge.
Phdsteve
Technorati Tags: Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Corey Maggette, Dwayne Wade, Elton Brand, Emeka Okafor, Gilbert Arenas, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Jose Calderon, Larry Bird Exception, Lebron James, Luol Deng, Maceo Baston, Mid-Level Exception, NBA Salary Cap, Rasho Nesterovic, Shawn Marion
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May 25th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
That is very good insight. Is there any hope for us at all next year?
May 25th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I like the way you think phsteve. Too many Raptor fans want a quick fix instead of taking the time and doing what is best for the teams future. In 2009 the Raps will be in a position to make a roster move to improve their team, which is something they havent been able to do in a long time.
the thing that sucks about the nba is that no team can ditch salaries on contending teams like the nhl. in the nhl teams can rebuild in a single summer and become a playoff contender (also a lot to do with the talent overseas and in the junior and farm systems). in the nba too many players put up good numbers in their contract years and never come close again.
If BC sticks to his plan of rebuilding a franchise that was left limping from Grunwald/Babcock then we should see some success in a few seasons. I’m a huge Raps fan and will be patient with my franchise under the watchful eye of BC.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
hey thanks!
Ive got a column coming out a little later this week that looks at some possible and impossible moves for this summer. The Raps can still get better right now, its just going to be a little bit harder than next summer when they’ll have a ton of cap space.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
the question is, can they get better this summer without compromising next summers massive cap space?
May 26th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I think they can depending on what other things they can do… say trade some players or get some expirings/or longers..
Melvins last blog post..3 games, done
May 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I think BC can improve the team. The person who has to keep the faith is Bosh. Really think they need to get him more support. Of course half the league has the same problem.
May 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
good point john…it’s cliche to say, but good help is hard to find. just wish the euro invasion wasn’t as…just wasn’t.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Most of the comments and feedback we have been getting related to the Raptors is that Jose Calderon should be the point guard of the franchise heading into the future. And that TJ is more suited for a backup position with limited minutes to provide energy and some quick scoring bursts.
Have your readers been saying the same things, or do they want TJ shipped out? And if the opposite, is there any fans that really believe Calderon should be moved?
Interesting readings Raptorstalk.com! good stuff.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
it’s a mixed bag over here, but most are leaning towards trading tj. i am personally a tj fan. if he has his head on straight, and gets the minutes, there is no reason why he cant do 19pts 7ast a game. he just pissed me off with his childish ways when he was coming off the bench.
tj is a starting point guard in this league, there is no doubt. and i really think his trade value hasn’t fallen off that much. he only missed a couple months this season, and still managed to have a decent season, when he gets minutes, he puts up good numbers, is aggressive and attacks. calderon takes a back seat far more then i would like, but he shoots and runs a solid offense.
most people just want this situation resolved asap, and someone of value coming back in return.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I like TJ a lot, but I believe that a team needs a true pass first PG in order to be successful. TJ knocks down a lot of shots but his shot selection can be skeptical at really important times, where Calderon takes high percentage shots more often. I just feel more comfortable with Jose running the show, but he’s also the most intriguing asset the raps have. BC will make the right move
June 1st, 2008 at 3:38 am
A lot of teams will have cap space in 2009. I don’t think the Raps will be able to acquire the big names. Portland and Greg Oden will have by far the biggest pull on the FA market. Seattle might be second with Durant and a couple of high draft picks alongside him. If the Raps can get a quality player in a trade I think they’re probably best off making the deal now instead of waiting til next summer.
It’s a wait and see period now until then. Depends what’s actually on the table for Colangelo.
Daves last blog post..Missed Opportunities Hurts More Than Losing