Zach Lowe on Spurs Cap Situation

[lurker23]

But they can still sign people to veteran minimum's once everything else is over right?

Yes, always (with obvious roster size limits).

[Bruno]

forget about the cap, maybe they just liked him man! buford said they had him top 20 rated and he was the best available at that particular point...

He also say that the stash part and the cap saved was a part of why they drafted him. And with tiem, I've learned given little value to what RC says to the medias.

[TheGreatYacht]

Thanks for the post. I was showing Spurs at possibly $2.3 million below cap after signing Splitter/Manu with what we now know about their deals. That would be without Neal coming back and no amnesty of Bonner.

It may be the Spurs sign Neal and go over the cap, then I guess we could have about $5 million either way. I was not aware we could get the full MLE this year but hopefully true.

As far as who we could get for $5 million as a FA, sounds like Kirlenko would be doubtful but not impossible depending on how the market plays out. As we know, there are plenty of overpriced vets out there still to be signed including numerous bigs.

The odd thing about it all to me is that I don't see us coming anywhere near our $70 million payroll from last year, I don't see how we can get that up much above $65 million. Smells like a waste of the best of Duncan's limited remaining years for 2013-14.

[Mal]

I wonder who excatly Spurs are aiming with full MLE. AK47 is one, else? Ellis if he busts with new deal ?

[mudyez]

i smell neal walking or let walk. and bonner amnestied or traded.

I don't smell it, but if so and we get AK47 that way, I'd love it, as AK and Diaw can totally make up for the "loss" of bonner as stretch4 and Patty deserves a shot as spark plug chucker in place of Neal.

I smell: Bonner and Neal stay put and we run out the same team minus Blair next season (not sure thats so bad).

[mudyez]

I wonder who excatly Spurs are aiming with full MLE. AK47 is one, else? Ellis if he busts with new deal ?

I could totally see the Spurs beeing in talks with AK47 even before giving Manu the contract...But Monte will seek a 1year contract if his FA blows so hard.

[cdcast]

They could still make two moves. Use their MLE for a free agent now and then later in the summer or at the trade deadline trade Diaw/Bonner ($8.6 mil combined).

[jesterbobman]

For resident capologists:

If the Spurs traded for a S&T Kirilenko using a trade exception, can they still use the MLE?

I think there used to be a dumb rule that allowed double dipping, but I think they've gotten rid of it.

[coyotes_geek]

i smell neal walking or let walk. and bonner amnestied or traded.

Neal walking: Probably.

Bonner getting amnestied: Incredibly unlikely now having seen what Manu's deal is.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Given what they've already announced, I think using the MLE is the best play. It allows us to bring back Neal with no concern for cap and try to trade Bonner either this summer or at the trade deadline as an expiring.

According to the salary cap faq, if we move Bonner we can take back up to 150% of his salary + $100K, which puts it up near $7M. (More if we throw in DeColo or CoJo or whoever.) Given all the teams that want to play in the free agency sweepstakes next year, there's a fair chance we can get a useful asset for that. So it's probably smarter than amnestying him anyway.

Is this the most bestest summer haul ever? No. But if we bring back everyone who played in the Finals and still have a chance to bring in two more decent assets with the MLE and with Bonner's expiring, I don't think cliff jumping is warranted unless you just like that sort of thing.

Spurs can still do a Sign and Trade and still have the Full MLE. I thought that this would be the plan. Sign and Trade for possibly Ellis (which why the Spurs kept Bonner and Restricted Neal) and offer the Full MLE to Kirilenko or to someone like Korver.

Manu Salary didn't mean that much because the Spurs had to get over the cap to get the full MLE. I think Manu would have taken less if he had to, but the 7mil figure actually worked out better for the Spurs.

[Seventyniner]

I can see a scenario, however unlikely, in which the Spurs could sign a FA for more than the MLE. It involves the Spurs and Bonner having negotiated an extension to the buyout deadline. (Though news of that would have likely come out by now)

Let's use Kirilenko for an example, and suppose that the Spurs told Bonner that his contract would become $1.2M guaranteed (instead of $1M) if he agreed to extend the deadline for two weeks, until July 14. Then the Wolves could sign-and-trade Kirilenko to the Spurs for up to ~$8.5M (cap space plus Bonner's contract), with the Spurs sending back Bonner's contract and enough cash to cover the buyout. Then the Wolves buy out Bonner and have a trade exception that they otherwise wouldn't.

Is this even possible? Yes, I'm grasping at straws here.

[Das Texan]

I don't.
If saving some cap space by stashing Jean-Charles wasn't a key factor in drafting him, I don't really get that pick.

Not wanting to clear the roster spot makes some sense however.

[coachmac87]

Spurs can still do a Sign and Trade and still have the Full MLE. I thought that this would be the plan. Sign and Trade for possibly Ellis (which why the Spurs kept Bonner and Restricted Neal) and offer the Full MLE to Kirilenko or to someone like Korver.

Manu Salary didn't mean that much because the Spurs had to get over the cap to get the full MLE. I think Manu would have taken less if he had to, but the 7mil figure actually worked out better for the Spurs.

I hope your right buddy...that's be best case scenario

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

I hope your right buddy...that's be best case scenario

That's exactly what the Clippers just did with Paul's situation. Once signed, it pushed them over the cap, they traded for Red and still have the full MLE to sign a player.

[timvp]

MLE is $5.15M. Spurs could clear $6M in cap space by amnestying Bonner and renouncing to Neal.

When you put it like that, then the Spurs probably ARE going to just have the MLE.

Think about it: is Bonner + Neal + $5.15M free agent > $6M free agent?

For that to be true, the Spurs would have to consider Bonner + Neal as having a combined value of less than $850K.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii......

[Bruno]

When you put it like that, then the Spurs probably ARE going to just have the MLE.

Think about it: is Bonner + Neal + $5.15M free agent > $6M free agent?

Yep, it's likely even if you forgot the room exception.

A question, do you want Spurs to bring back Neal? If Yes, for what kind of contract?

[Drom John]

The Spurs haven't added anybody to the roster.
The Spurs have lost Blair and McGrady. That's two players to replace.
If you add Bonner and Neal, that's four players to be replaced.

Two spots = 1 MLE (Kirilenko?) + 1 vet minimum/rookie (Buckeye)
I could see Neal leaving replaced by another vet/rookie(the other Buckeye).
I see Bonner as a keeper worth his contract.

[ducks]

use lle on oden

[timvp]

A question, do you want Spurs to bring back Neal? If Yes, for what kind of contract?

I'm still deciding on Neal. My first reaction is to want him gone but: 1) he's really good injury insurance (especially for Manu), and 2) he looked pretty darn good last year until he started battling plantar fasciitis and whatever else he was dealing with.

So, logically, he's probably worth bringing back at some price. I haven't decided on that price, though

[monkeypunk]

use lle on oden

Can't use it this year, used it on DeColo last year.

[elemento]

use lle on oden

SA used it last year on Nando ducks. They can't use it this season

[Das Texan]

Id rather Neal just go away, tbh.

[tesseractive]

Is Neal gettable for something like 2 years/$6M? Maybe with a team option for the 3rd year? I feel like that would be a pretty reasonable deal.

[cd021]

The MLE and LLE can both be used simultaneously right?

According to Hoopworld we only have a MLE.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

According to Hoopworld we only have a MLE.

And the Vet minimum which is around 1.4mil I believe.