2010 Cap Space and Pekovic

[slinky]

Maybe this has been discussed at length elsewhere, but with all of this talk about 2010 free agents and raw cap space...how much is Pekovic going to get when he comes over next year? MLE type money?

Personally with the new "running" offense, I think Pekovic becomes a trade asset rather than a rotation player next year.

At the very least we cant be paying Songaila and Pekovic 4 million a year next year. One of them needs to go. And I think its likely they are both gone by next year.

[karch34]

I think if it was MLE type money that could get it done, he'd be here already. I don't remember exactly what his contract is overseas, but I had always thought you'd be looking at $7-8 million/year to get it done.

[funkatron101]

I don't really expect him to be on the Wolves next year. Never have. Hopefully his stock goes up enough to net us something decent.

[fattymcgee]

I think if it was MLE type money that could get it done, he'd be here already. I don't remember exactly what his contract is overseas, but I had always thought you'd be looking at $7-8 million/year to get it done.

He doesn't have an opt out clause until after the 09-10 season.

[big3_8_19_21]

How much raw cap space do we have next summer anyway?

[TheFranchise21]

Chad Ford article on ESPN insider says $16-18 million, depending on what we do with Gomes' option. However when I look at HoopsHype, it doesn't say anything about there being an option on Gomes.

[big3_8_19_21]

He's partially guaranteed. I believe he's got 1 mil guaranteed if we waive him by a certain point.

[shrink]

Chad Ford article on ESPN insider says $16-18 million, depending on what we do with Gomes' option. However when I look at HoopsHype, it doesn't say anything about there being an option on Gomes.

Ford didn't include Hollins or the cap holds for the 2010 picks.

If we estimate $5 mil for the picks ($3.5 for MIN, $1.5 for one of UTA or CHA), a salary cap of $52 mil (its $57.7 mil this year), and keeping Brewer for another year ($3.7), even if we release Gomes, we only have $13 mil.

If we keep Gomes at $4.2, it's closer to $9.8 mil

2010-11
$13,000,000 Jefferson
$4,818,000 Songalia
$4,235,000 Gomes ($1 mil)
$3,638,280 Love
$3,703,472 Brewer (could be removed)
$2,315,000 Hollins
$3,514,320 Rubio (could be smaller if he doesn't come over - cap hold won't have 20% raise)
$3,192,000 Flynn
$1,078,800 Ellington
$5,000,000 2010 picks?
$41,259,872 2010 Payroll
$10,740,128 Space Under Salary Cap
$52,000,000 2010 Salary Cap (estimate)

$5,000,000 2010 MLE (estimate)
$63,000,000 2010 luxury threshold (estimate)

[big3_8_19_21]

Wow does that make me want to dump Songaila even more. Assuming we used the cap space in a trade next summer, could we combine it with Songaila's then-expiring?

Plus if we did bring Pekovic over on this roster...we would really only have about MLE money left to work with. That probably wouldn't go over well with the public...all the build up to cap space and then just bringing our own pick over with it plus MAYBE adding another average rotation player. I'd love to have Pek on the team, debate of fit skill-wise aside, having 3 highly productive big men as our rotation would be an incredible force to be reckoned with but it would be a tough sell to the general public.

[shrink]

Wow does that make me want to dump Songaila even more. Assuming we used the cap space in a trade next summer, could we combine it with Songaila's then-expiring? .

Yes - we wouldn't be required to match salaries if the deal left us under the cap.

[PeeDee]

I'm assuming that the plan is to make a big trade either at the deadline or next Summer for a talented wing. Then use the remaining money to try to lure Pekovic.

Wing acquired via trade, 2010 draftees, Pekovic and possibly Rubio would be a pretty damn good offseason.

[slinky]

Is 5,000,000 enough to estimate for draft picks next year?

I guess it all depends on where we draft and how many picks we get. But i would be banking on a top 3 pick this year. We could easily have the worst record in the league and 3(?) 1st draft picks. Obviously we wont get the top pick...

Anyways, I am torn about whether I want Pekovic to use up the cap space for next year. Also not sure how this affects our chance of getting the "scoring wing" that Kahn wants. I agree with PeeDee that it would be a good offseason, but I am curious to know how much this scoring wing is going to cost. Cause its not looking like there will be money leftover for Pekovic.

It does put a premium on moving songaila for sure. And maybe using a pick or two to acquire this mystery scoring wing that Kahn covets.

[Worm Guts]

Wow does that make me want to dump Songaila even more. Assuming we used the cap space in a trade next summer, could we combine it with Songaila's then-expiring?

Yes

Plus if we did bring Pekovic over on this roster...we would really only have about MLE money left to work with. That probably wouldn't go over well with the public...all the build up to cap space and then just bringing our own pick over with it plus MAYBE adding another average rotation player. I'd love to have Pek on the team, debate of fit skill-wise aside, having 3 highly productive big men as our rotation would be an incredible force to be reckoned with but it would be a tough sell to the general public.

The question that makes me ask is, can you spend your cap space, then use the MLE? I would guess no. That also brings up the question whether it would be the better strategy to bring in players with our expirings either now or at the deadline, even at the expense of our draft pick.

[PeeDee]

That's what I was thinking WG. The key is being flexible if the right situation doesn't arise. I'd hate for them to make a trade just because they didn't have a back-up plan.

[Worm Guts]

I've been an advocate of waiting until next summer before using our capspace for a bunch of reasons, higher draft pick, the opportunity to better evaluate team needs, the opportunity to look free agents (i.e. to gain a player without giving up any assets beside capspace). But looking at a potential cap space situation that leaves us with only 5 million to spend, compared to 23 million in expiring contracts, I think you have to reevaluate.

[deeney0]

The question that makes me ask is, can you spend your cap space, then use the MLE? I would guess no.

You guess correctly.

[john2jer]

Every team has the MLE to use, but to spend your cap space you have to relinquish the right to use the MLE to spend the cap space. If you're more than 6mil under the cap, obviously you drop the MLE to spend the cap space, if you're less than 6mil, or over the cap, then you use the MLE. Can't do both.

[Worm Guts]

That was a stupid question, I knew that.

[revprodeji]

1.) Pekovic will likely not come over unless he is starting. His talent deserves it, but we do not have that roll. That alone makes me believe he is used in a deal for a swingman.
2.) I would use the utah pick to get out of songalia's contract.
3.) I do not believe we will be able to sign a FA with the cap space, but rather we should be looking to package assets to do something before the trade deadline. That+our pick+char pick are going to be the way to add key future assets.

[TheFranchise21]

Kahn said he expects at least $12 million in cap space next year.