State of the Suns Salary Situation

[Chuck Newhouse]

Would you explain where you got that number for Bledsoe?

Bledsoe's cap hold is 250% of this years salary of $2.6mil

Does this mean the Suns can sign him for that for sure and is it just one year? I thought he was a free agent?

[asudevil]

Would you explain where you got that number for Bledsoe?

Bledsoe's cap hold is 250% of this years salary of $2.6mil

Does this mean the Suns can sign him for that for sure and is it just one year? I thought he was a free agent?

the suns can sign him for up to the max like any FA. The cap hold functions as a placeholder on the cap. That $6mil prematurely counts against the cap and somewhat restricts the amount of free cap space they have to spend. Right now he has no contract with the suns for next season (keep that in mind)

So just an example to make it easy:

Lets say the suns have $20mil commited to salaries next season (not counting Bledsoe) and the cap is $60mil. Bledsoe is an RFA so we have his rights. His cap hold (about $6mil) ACTS like a contract in a way and counts against the cap, only temporarily. So instead of having $40mil to spend on FAs we only have $34mil ($20mil + $6mil). We can technically spend all of that $34mil and then extend Bledsoe so that we go over the cap.

[BobbieL]

Bledsoe's cap hold is 250% of this years salary of $2.6mil

Does this mean the Suns can sign him for that for sure and is it just one year? I thought he was a free agent?

the suns can sign him for up to the max like any FA. The cap hold functions as a placeholder on the cap. That $6mil prematurely counts against the cap and somewhat restricts the amount of free cap space they have to spend. Right now he has no contract with the suns for next season (keep that in mind)

So just an example to make it easy:

Lets say the suns have $20mil commited to salaries next season (not counting Bledsoe) and the cap is $60mil. Bledsoe is an RFA so we have his rights. His cap hold (about $6mil) ACTS like a contract in a way and counts against the cap, only temporarily. So instead of having $40mil to spend on FAs we only have $34mil ($20mil + $6mil). We can technically spend all of that $34mil and then extend Bledsoe so that we go over the cap.

Good explanation. And this is a key. The Suns hold "Bird rights" for Tucker and Bledsoe. Meaning, Ryan McD can make player moves that get them to the cap and go over with Tucker and Bledsoe. I do not think the team can use its MLE this year (same with the Laker) since both teams are under the cap. But, if the right deals present themselves, the Suns can go over the cap.

And another thing, if there is a sign and trade as he Suns need t move salary to get salary - even more ability to get two very good players. Meaning the Suns are needing to trade with a team over the cap to get back assets. Suns are far enough under they can do a lot of things. So the Suns could then sign one using cap space; and one via sign and trade. Plus draft picks.

Ryan McD has to be licking his chops at the fun - and hard work - he has ahead!

[gaspar]

Updated:

[BobbieL]

Updated:

Thanks for posting. I wouldn't mind Ish back at under $1m. He will be better than any rookie guard that's for sure and is pretty cheap. As for the rest, $21m is very good cap space -- though other teams getting another $5.5m yesterday probably doesn't help the Suns as much as it helps other teams that now might be able to get a max player whereas before, they couldn't.

Suns are in a good spot. One would expect those rookie cap holds to change. Either through trading up or stashing a player. I just hope the team has to add a cap hold for the 3rd pick (or higher).

Coro said the team has $5m in cap space before July 1 - so I think he was pointing out the Suns could take on salary before the league year opens with a trade on or before the draft.