Washington Wizards Salary Cap

[nate33]

Have no idea who (or what) Wiznasty is. My only point that I was making is that if the top three players take half the team salary then what kind of talent do you expect for the rest of them. We need a top notch Center (that actually plays defense) and we (the Wiz) don't have the money to get one. Maybe Arenas, Butler and Jamison can tell us why we don't have the money.

"Top notch" centers are extremely rare. Only three teams in the league have a top notch center that plays defense: San Antonio, Houston and Orlando. All 3 were were #1 overall picks. It's not reasonable to blame management for not aquiring a "top notch" center when the only #1 overall pick we've had in the past 20 years was the awful Kwame Brown draft class.

Frankly, we're in better shape than most teams at the center position because Haywood is a top 10ish center (who is top 5 defensively) and we have an exciting prospect in McGee who has the potential to one day be an all star caliber center.

[fishercob]

Have no idea who (or what) Wiznasty is. My only point that I was making is that if the top three players take half the team salary then what kind of talent do you expect for the rest of them. We need a top notch Center (that actually plays defense) and we (the Wiz) don't have the money to get one. Maybe Arenas, Butler and Jamison can tell us why we don't have the money.

Welcome to the boards, old man. Haywood is held in extremely high regard in these parts. While he's not a dominant scorer, there's a plethora of statistical evidence that not only is he the best defender on the Wizards, but that he'd one of the best defensive centers in the league. He doesn't soar through the air and block shots into the eighth row like Dwight or how Shaq used to, but he forces the other team to miss at an extremely high rate. Opponents FG% is the single defensive stat that has the highest correlation with overall defensive efficiency/prowess.

As to your point about the stars taking less, I've wondered along similar lines at times over the years. But it's hard to judge someone for not just giving away $5M per year for 5 or 6 years. I suspect that if any of us had been offered the max as Gil was, we'd have taken it and not even fooled with the the reduction to $111M.

[1977Odualum]

That's true that most of us would jump at the money and not give any back. The problem is that some of these NBA (most sports) stars want ALL the money and they want to win a championship also. Sometimes those two objectives don't correlate with each other. If they really want a Championship, they should accept a salary that would allow management to surround them with better players (not Etan, Stevenson, Dixon, Danials, McGuire, Dee Brown & Pecherov). Do they want the money OR the Championship.

The point is if they did accept less they could have a more talented group of players instead of just three very talented players. I know that there are just a few great caliber centers (which are hard to obtain) but my point was if one of them were available......we AIN'T got the money to get em anyway.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Arenas did give back money. His deal could have been for $126 million -- he signed for $15 million less than that. Butler signed a reasonable deal. Jamison signed for significantly less than the maximum salary.

Yeah, it would have been great if they'd all have signed for the minimum or something, but I'm not going to fault them for the deals they negotiated.

[doclinkin]

And dominant centers are available on the open market next-to-never. When was the last time a team straight bought an all-star center? Two-way frontcourt powers in general are locked up and extended by the teams that hold their rights. Given max money when they come due. IN fact the best way to land a player like KG or the prime Shaq/'Sheed seems to be to have a mix of developing talent and strong players under large dollar contracts that you can use to package in trade. Or even a superlarge expiring deal that a team can use to dump the contract of a player who isn't properly gruntled.

Fact is, in general free agency is a pretty poor way to build a team. Quickest way to a championship/dynasty is to suck really really well in the right year and luck into a franchise superduperstar. Otherwise the only road is to assemble the best talent you can, then hope you can pull off a cunning trade when someone else's star gets tired of their situation. Both require a certain sort of luck.

[TheSecretWeapon]

And dominant centers are available on the open market next-to-never. When was the last time a team straight bought an all-star center?

The Lakers bought Shaq in 1996. If there are other examples, I'm not coming up with 'em.

[nate33]

The next-best example is when Atlanta bought Mutombo from Denver. Mutombo isn't exactly a two way superstar, but you can win a championship with him.

[Kanyewest]

And dominant centers are available on the open market next-to-never. When was the last time a team straight bought an all-star center? Two-way frontcourt powers in general are locked up and extended by the teams that hold their rights. Given max money when they come due. IN fact the best way to land a player like KG or the prime Shaq/'Sheed seems to be to have a mix of developing talent and strong players under large dollar contracts that you can use to package in trade. Or even a superlarge expiring deal that a team can use to dump the contract of a player who isn't properly gruntled.

Fact is, in general free agency is a pretty poor way to build a team. Quickest way to a championship/dynasty is to suck really really well in the right year and luck into a franchise superduperstar. Otherwise the only road is to assemble the best talent you can, then hope you can pull off a cunning trade when someone else's star gets tired of their situation. Both require a certain sort of luck.

I think the recent championship formula, at least the past two years is to have one sided trades. The Celtics were able to get Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen via trades and also got James Posey via free agency. The Lakers got Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza, and Shanon Brown via trades and in all cases the Lakers didn't have to give up much.

I think the most recent example of an all star center signing in free agency is Alonzo Mourning, although he was past his prime but still a good 2 way player to have at a minimum.

[Kanyewest]

I also forgot about Ben Wallace, although injuries and age have taken a toll on him since he has left Detroit.

[1977Odualum]

Wow, each day I read about teams going out after some of these very good players (Hedo, Wallace, Artest, Gortat, Ariza Mihm) and guess what...........the Wizards can't do that because so much money is tied up by Arenas, Butler and Jamison (keep in mind that I like them all). Do some of you get the point that we need another good big man but we got very little money??? Now is a great time for each of the three to say, reduce my salary by $2M (I can make it by with $11M per year. Then we have $6M to go with the $3M we got and now we could be getting one of those very good players and guess what.......one additional very good big man might be that last piece we need. I'm all for players getting as much money as they can, but I am also all for the fans getting a real opportunity for a championship. With no more acquisitions, look for the Wizards to be number 4 or 5 in the Eastern conference (not much difference than a couple of years ago!!!)....therefore NO PROGRESS

[Wizards2Lottery]

Wow, each day I read about teams going out after some of these very good players (Hedo, Wallace, Artest, etc, etc) and guess what...........the Wizards can do that because so much money is taken up by Arenas, Butler and Jamison (keep in mind that I like them all). Do some of you get the point that we need another good big man but we got very little money??? Now is a great time for each of the three to say, reduce my salary by $2M (I can make it by with $11M per year. Then we have $6M to go with the $3M we got and now we could be getting one of those very good players and guess what.......one additional very good big man might be that last piece we need.

Who is this mystery big man available right now that we need to spend $9M on? Last time I checked Artest and Hedo aren't better than Caron (nor are they big men) and Rasheed Wallace isn't a very good big man anymore.

[nate33]

Now is a great time for each of the three to say, reduce my salary by $2M (I can make it by with $11M per year. Then we have $6M to go with the $3M we got and now we could be getting one of those very good players and guess what.......one additional very good big man might be that last piece we need.

The CBA doesn't allow that. Players can't take voluntary paycuts on existing contracts.

[closg00]

^ Which is why I think they're going to use Nick Young to unload DeBrick's contract, which I'm totally in favor of.

I wouldn't lose any sleep if this happened, but I suspect that Young's trade-value to be very low.

[mohammed10]

BTW - I saw a post yesterday where Pistons waived Oberto; a backup C for us to consider?

[1977Odualum]

Gilbert0Arenas on Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:14 pm
Who is this mystery big man available right now that we need to spend $9M on? Last time I checked Artest and Hedo aren't better than Caron (nor are they big men) and Rasheed Wallace isn't a very good big man anymore.



Wow....you just don't get it. Nobody in this thread has ever mentioned getting someone better than Arenas, Butler or Jamisson. You might want to review so that you can catch up to the rest of us.
I am talking about adding to the quality that we already have. A season of Haywood (adequate), Blatche (not progressing.....as per management) and McVale (a kid who needs years of polishing)as the ONLY big men will not get us very far this year. Forget if Artest, Hedo (6' 10"), Ariza, Gortat (6' 11"), Mimh (7' 0") or the others are better than our Big 3..........more appropriately would they compliment the big three. If you think that the Wizards are going to win without another quality big man you are living in a dream world.........just look at the past.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Wow....you just don't get it. Nobody in this thread has ever mentioned getting someone better than Arenas, Butler or Jamisson. You might want to review so that you can catch up to the rest of us.
I am talking about adding to the quality that we already have. A season of Haywood (adequate), Blatche (not progressing.....as per management) and McVale (a kid who needs years of polishing)as the ONLY big men will not get us very far this year. Forget if Artest, Hedo (6' 10"), Ariza, Gortat (6' 11"), Mimh (7' 0") or the others are better than our Big 3..........more appropriately would they compliment the big three. If you think that the Wizards are going to win without another quality big man you are living in a dream world.........just look at the past.

Artest at 6'10 and Ariza at 6'11 would definitely help. McVale and Jamisson are both better than you give them credit for though. Especially McVale.

Gortat would surely make us a better team. His three points and four rebounds a game would definitely put us over the top. Chris Mihm, is surely better than our big three, COMBINED.

Sorry, I totally agree with you.

[LyricalRico]

Wow....you just don't get it. Nobody in this thread has ever mentioned getting someone better than Arenas, Butler or Jamisson. You might want to review so that you can catch up to the rest of us.
I am talking about adding to the quality that we already have. A season of Haywood (adequate), Blatche (not progressing.....as per management) and McVale (a kid who needs years of polishing)as the ONLY big men will not get us very far this year. Forget if Artest, Hedo (6' 10"), Ariza, Gortat (6' 11"), Mimh (7' 0") or the others are better than our Big 3..........more appropriately would they compliment the big three. If you think that the Wizards are going to win without another quality big man you are living in a dream world.........just look at the past.

Artest, Ariza, and Hedo aren't "big men", so using them to make your point is already arguing against yourself. As for the others, nobody is saying that it wouldn't be good to have them if they were giving away big men for free. But the title of this thread is "Washington Wizards SALARY CAP". There is a limit to what this team can spend.

You also have to consider that this team has a number of key free agents next year and spending more longterm money this year will negatively impact their ability to re-sign them. The facts are that this team's financial situation dictates that they will only be pursuing role players for the rest of this offseason. That's the reality.

Now if you want to argue that the decisions they made in the past that led to the current situation were wrong, that's one thing. But to argue that they can by some miracle drastically upgrade the frontcourt this offseason is unreasonable in light of the facts.

[1977Odualum]

LyricalIdiot......your conclussion is what I have been saying for the whole thread. Thanks for agreeing with me

[LyricalRico]

LyricalIdiot......your conclussion is what I have been saying for the whole thread. Thanks for agreeing with me

And so by agreeing with you...I'm an idiot? Freudian slip if I ever saw one.

[Rafael122]

Hmm...just looking over the team's cap situation, there has to be a move somewhere that is about to be made this offseason. I would like to think Ernie thinks progressively, as in, he plans moves knowing what lies ahead.

We're at $76 million right now, so Abe would have to pay what...$6 million b/c he went over the luxury tax?

In 2010-2011, we're most likely sitting at $53 million when you include Stevenson's option being picked up, as well as McGee's team option being picked up. They would almost have to re-sign Foye, and there's the matter of Haywood's contract. Not to mention we have to keep our first round pick unless we pick a Euro guy.

Gee, I have no idea where this team is going. I really don't. Before we do anything, we're already at more than $55 million in salary. Any thoughts?