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I do this every so often. I figured we're at a point now where fans are interested in ignoring the present to focus on the future, be it as an 8th seed or a lottery team.

So, without further adieu:



What this means: The number most of you are going to be interested in is the Cap Space w/o figure. This number includes Carter's $4,000,000 "buyout" and excludes both Pietrus' and Dragic's options. There are two points to make here:

1. Pietrus' option is a Player Option which means that he holds the cards. If he executes his option, we wind up with a solid $5,300,000 DNP for an extra year. From a financial perspective, it would make sense for Sarver to negotion a moderate buyout of Pietrus' contract this year, so that his salary is freed up and available for deployment during the 11/12 season. *Edit -1*

2. Dragic's option is a team option that we are sure to execute, but this will probably be done in conjunction with a contract extension. I'd be interested to hear what most of y'all think would be the right salary for his extension.

So, Suns fans, your realistic projected total available to the FO in 2011/2012 will most likely be:

$7,149,696 - This includes Pietrus' salary

$12,449,696 - This excludes Pietrus' salary

Both assume Dragic's salary.

Based on the "Best Case" mentioned above, your PHX Suns for 2011/2012 would look like:

PG - Nash / Dragic
SG - Childress
SF - Dudley
PF - Frye / Warrick
C - Gortat / Lopez

*Edit -1* If the player had more than one season left on his contract, then the buy-out money is distributed among those seasons in proportion to the original salary, so my strategy here is partially flawed. Learn something new every day.

*Edit - 2* After some thought, since Pietrus isn't guaranteed next season, a buyout in an excess amount of the remaining balance of his contract this season may not technically count against the cap the following year, though it could push the team into lux tax territory this year.

Peaches won't be a $5.3m DNP next season if Carter is bought out (or traded this Feb) and I certainly don't see Sarver buying him out. There's no considerable savings for Sarver to make and Peaches definitely won't agree to a buyout.

I think right now Dragic is worth about $4m in the open market, possibly MLE. That's ignoring the uncertainty surrounding a possible lockout. Dragic is worth more than Beno Udrih but Udrih is overpaid, so an MLE offer in the open market (should he get there) isn't out of the question. I think we could get an extension done for around $4-5m/per.

lilfishi22 wrote:Peaches won't be a $5.3m DNP next season if Carter is bought out (or traded this Feb) and I certainly don't see Sarver buying him out. There's no considerable savings for Sarver to make and Peaches definitely won't agree to a buyout.

I disagree, only because it would give Pietrus the opportunity to pursue a new contract before the current CBA expires.

What do you think Pietrus could get on the open market today? For arguement's sake, call it $3m per year for 3-4 years. Hell, Warrick got $4+.

So if Sarver buys out Pietrus for $3m (which is essentially just a bribe to not execute an option) and then Pietrus can get $3m in FA, he would actually make $6m next season along with having a new, long-term contract before the CBA redefines anything.

Sun Scorched wrote:

lilfishi22 wrote:Peaches won't be a $5.3m DNP next season if Carter is bought out (or traded this Feb) and I certainly don't see Sarver buying him out. There's no considerable savings for Sarver to make and Peaches definitely won't agree to a buyout.

I disagree, only because it would give Pietrus the opportunity to pursue a new contract before the current CBA expires.

What do you think Pietrus could get on the open market today? For arguement's sake, call it $3m per year for 3-4 years. Hell, Warrick got $4+.

So if Sarver buys out Pietrus for $3m (which is essentially just a bribe to not execute an option) and then Pietrus can get $3m in FA, he would actually make $6m next season along with having a new, long-term contract before the CBA redefines anything.

Both are good points. I could see him taking the extra money now and hoping for a good deal later, or trying to get locked in on something long term now... Either way we're not gonna have a whole lot to attract someone who's gonna turn the franchise around. I'd be surprised if bringing in someone like Z-Bo or Carl Landry really made that big of a difference

Thanks for this - must have been a lot of skull sweat

My only thought is - I don't want Chilly starting at SG because he has no outside shot, and I want us to trade Hak. What a crying shame Lawal blew out his knee - I would love to be playing him this year to get minutes and experience and be able to decide if we can count on him next year. I really thought we might be able to - I was shocked he fell to us, I'd been watching him all year

So - move Hak and Chilly, or have the latter come off the bench for defense, bring back Janning as a combo guard. He plays well with both Dragic and Gogi.

lilfishi22 wrote:Peaches won't be a $5.3m DNP next season if Carter is bought out (or traded this Feb) and I certainly don't see Sarver buying him out. There's no considerable savings for Sarver to make and Peaches definitely won't agree to a buyout.

I think right now Dragic is worth about $4m in the open market, possibly MLE. That's ignoring the uncertainty surrounding a possible lockout. Dragic is worth more than Beno Udrih but Udrih is overpaid, so an MLE offer in the open market (should he get there) isn't out of the question. I think we could get an extension done for around $4-5m/per.

Considering his age, and his potential. I won't be surprised if he gets Raymond Felton money, 7 million a year. (Which I would be happy to give him)

His PER36 stats are pretty impressive, 16.4points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists. Those stats seem even better when you consider he's playing with a new bunch of guys and no real "finisher" at the rim.

Sun Scorched wrote:I disagree, only because it would give Pietrus the opportunity to pursue a new contract before the current CBA expires.

What do you think Pietrus could get on the open market today? For arguement's sake, call it $3m per year for 3-4 years. Hell, Warrick got $4+.

So if Sarver buys out Pietrus for $3m (which is essentially just a bribe to not execute an option) and then Pietrus can get $3m in FA, he would actually make $6m next season along with having a new, long-term contract before the CBA redefines anything.

I don't see it. Pietrus isn't earning a whole lot (by NBA standards) so I just don't see him giving up $2m just to be bought out and enter a very uncertain market. Most NBA teams now are waiting to see what the new CBA would look like before sinking long term money into players. He has guaranteed money next season so if there is a lock out, at least he'll have that $5m. If he's bought out and is unable to find a good deal, he could potentially lose a lot of value if the lock out does come around and he's out of work for a season (possibly).

Da_Reel_Kboy wrote:Considering his age, and his potential. I won't be surprised if he gets Raymond Felton money, 7 million a year. (Which I would be happy to give him)

His PER36 stats are pretty impressive, 16.4points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists. Those stats seem even better when you consider he's playing with a new bunch of guys and no real "finisher" at the rim.

No way he'd get $7m, that's starting PG money. He's worth MLE max. Despite putting up decent PER36 stats, he really hasn't done a whole lot consistently. Outside of that game in SA last playoffs where he went berserk, his career so far in the NBA has been pretty pedestrian. Don't want to go too far with the predictions but I think somewhere in the region of MLE would get an extension done.