Vassell + Johnson + Barnes + Collins = $83,089,026 / 59.1% of the cap

[Maddog]

Collins and Barnes are expiring next year and with the cap rising Johnson's contract at 2 years past this year looks ok.
Vassel's is starting to look a bit of a problem. Not crazy bad, but the length. Still not crazy if you look at it

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings...sort/cap_total

[Vince Carter's ankle]

we signed this dude big money to be a star not a bench player.Dude needs to be gone,And whoever signed him needs
to be fired.

27 mln isn't big by todays standarts and certainly not the amount that star players receive

[CGD]

Heading into the summer I see:

- 37M in expiring contracts (more with Maliki)
- two good players on declining contracts

Not a bad position to be in honestly.

[scott]

Heading into the summer I see:

- 37M in expiring contracts (more with Maliki)
- two good players on declining contracts

Not a bad position to be in honestly.

It's a great position to be in, as is having 60% of your cap being used on the players who aren't actually helping you win. That means we're driving a .500 records after 30 games with only 40% of the cap. When we start optimizing that other 60%, there will be monumental gains.

It's like a factory (Factory A) that produces 100 widgets a day, operating at full capacity with everyone doing their jobs perfectly and the equipment perfectly optimized. Down the street is another factory (Factory B) producing 100 widgets a day, but with a staff that half-asses it, the machinery is not properly maintained, and is operating at a fraction of it's capacity. Factory A is better managed today, but Factory B has more long-term potential. The Spurs are Factory B right now - I'd much rather have that then Factory A at the moment.

[poopbox]

Of those 4 players other teams might only want 2 of them.

[CGD]

It's a great position to be in, as is having 60% of your cap being used on the players who aren't actually helping you win. That means we're driving a .500 records after 30 games with only 40% of the cap. When we start optimizing that other 60%, there will be monumental gains.

It's like a factory (Factory A) that produces 100 widgets a day, operating at full capacity with everyone doing their jobs perfectly and the equipment perfectly optimized. Down the street is another factory (Factory B) producing 100 widgets a day, but with a staff that half-asses it, the machinery is not properly maintained, and is operating at a fraction of it's capacity. Factory A is better managed today, but Factory B has more long-term potential. The Spurs are Factory B right now - I'd much rather have that then Factory A at the moment.

That, and when Factory B finally upgrades its machinery to industry standards it will be in line to also receive decent tax credits for doing do (e.g., 20131 FRPs). The fun part is watching the optimization.

[scott]

That, and when Factory B finally upgrades its machinery to industry standards it will be in line to also receive decent tax credits for doing do (e.g., 20131 FRPs). The fun part is watching the optimization.

Good point!

[scott]

60% Update:

Game 2 since I started this thread: 34 pts on 12-34 (35%) FG, 3-9 3P (33%), 7-8 FT (87.5%), 14 reb, 6 ast, 6 stl, 1 blk, 3 TO, +7

[Seventyniner]

I've been thinking about this, and I wonder if instead of finding a true #2 guy and paying him as such, the Spurs could just try to find three #3 guys instead. Those three might make the same type of money as a normal #2/3/4 but would help make the team more versatile.

The Nuggets are in a similar position (J Murray is overrated imo) but unfortunately overpaid both Murray and MPJ, ing their cap situation and thus their depth.

I had thought for a while that Vassell could be a #3 guy on a contender, but his recent play has me doubting that take.

[LeBowen]

I've been thinking about this, and I wonder if instead of finding a true #2 guy and paying him as such, the Spurs could just try to find three #3 guys instead. Those three might make the same type of money as a normal #2/3/4 but would help make the team more versatile.

Easy to say in hindsight, but most people didn't want Garland when he was available for a trade. Too late now.
He's one #3 guy.

I agree that Wemby doesn't need a clear cut #2, it's just that it's really hard to find the right targets.
If Castle can develop into a Derrick level player, it would be good enough.

[scott]

I've been thinking about this, and I wonder if instead of finding a true #2 guy and paying him as such, the Spurs could just try to find three #3 guys instead. Those three might make the same type of money as a normal #2/3/4 but would help make the team more versatile.

The Nuggets are in a similar position (J Murray is overrated imo) but unfortunately overpaid both Murray and MPJ, ing their cap situation and thus their depth.

I had thought for a while that Vassell could be a #3 guy on a contender, but his recent play has me doubting that take.

I think this is definitely worth folks thinking about - Wemby is just that good. Of the champions of the last decade or so, who really had legit 1-2 punches?

2024 Boston - yes (Tatum, Brown)
2023 Nuggets - nope. One mega star and two "#3s" surrounding him (Murray, MPJ)
2022 GSW - nope. One mega star and three "#3s" around him (Klay, Wiggins and Poole)
2021 Bucks - nope. One mega star and two "#3s" around him (Middleton, Jrue)
2020 Lakers - yes (Bron, AD)
2019 Raptors - no. Newphew and a handful of role players (Lowry, early Pascal, FVV, Ibaka, Danny Green)
2018 Warriors - yes. Curry/Durant.
2017 Warriors - yes. Curry/Durant.
2016 Cavs - I would say yes. Bron + Kyrie.
2015 Warriors - I don't think Klay is a #2, so no.
2014 Spurs - an entire team full of #3s? On the short list of le teams without a 20ppg scorer.

[LeBowen]

^
The issue is that those mega stars are also on max deals. Not supermax, but if you're going to have #1+#3+#3 there goes most of your cap unless you can have some discounts.

Tbh, we're too deep into this , we just need one solid trade to happen, status quo is killing us for like a year now.

[scott]

^
The issue is that those mega stars are also on max deals. Not supermax, but if you're going to have #1+#3+#3 there goes most of your cap unless you can have some discounts.

Tbh, we're too deep into this , we just need one solid trade to happen, status quo is killing us for like a year now.

Good point. It's doable if you get them on rookie max deals (not rookie Supermax), but those guys are gonna cost an arm and a leg to acquire. Honestly it's why guys like DJM got the hauls they did. Maybe Vassell's contract will really pay off when we finally move him to SAC.

[Seventyniner]

^
The issue is that those mega stars are also on max deals. Not supermax, but if you're going to have #1+#3+#3 there goes most of your cap unless you can have some discounts.

Tbh, we're too deep into this , we just need one solid trade to happen, status quo is killing us for like a year now.

Yeah, the 1/3/3/3 model only works if the #3 guys each take appreciably less than the max. If you have to max out a second guy you gotta make sure he's a true #2, or even a 1b if your #1 guy isn't in the tier of getting first place MVP votes.

That's another reason I was hoping Vassell could be a #3; he makes enough less than the max that it wouldn't be too hard to fit Wemby, Vassell, and two other guys that make Vassell money into the cap and still leave room for decent depth.

[LeBowen]

Good point. It's doable if you get them on rookie max deals (not rookie Supermax), but those guys are gonna cost an arm and a leg to acquire. Honestly it's why guys like DJM got the hauls they did. Maybe Vassell's contract will really pay off when we finally move him to SAC.

I mentioned McDaniels in that other topic because Minnesota might just be dumb enough to move him because of his shooting slump.
I think they should be the team to watch.
McDaniels, Reid and NAW are all really interesting pieces that would be solid for us.
Especially NAW siince he's a FA and they can't pay him. Arguably the best FA target for us this summer.

[RC_Drunkford]

I mentioned McDaniels in that other topic because Minnesota might just be dumb enough to move him because of his shooting slump.
I think they should be the team to watch.
McDaniels, Reid and NAW are all really interesting pieces that would be solid for us.
Especially NAW siince he's a FA and they can't pay him. Arguably the best FA target for us this summer.

yup had Alexander-Walker on my free agency target list as well. Of course Naz Reid too. They would be huge 3-and-D upgrades to our roster.

Not that I want it, but I think the Spurs might even be interested in DiVincenzo. Wolves want to move him and he's only making 11 million per year. Donte for Tre Jones would work and actually make sense for both teams. I remember Pop really liked him in the draft back in the day. Spurs get some shooting off the bench while the Wolves get a back up point and free up another 10 million for free agency with Tre's expiring.