Payroll for next season and Wyc's wallet...

[Ed Pinkney]

A few things in regards to any moves we are likely to make I would like to hear peoples thoughts on.

Firstly, next season we currently have $63mil committed to 9 players. This means just to fill out our roster our total payroll will probably break $70mil at least. I think this is a very significant aspect to any possible trades going down in the next week. So even if we ship off all our expirings, we are limited in what we can take back. Players with $8,9,10 mil contracts might not be viable.

Secondly, how long do you think Wyc and the other owners be happy to shell out salary so far above the salary cap, especially if we are not a genuine contender? With the prospect of a lockout looking like a possibility, will they want to take on any significant contracts, particuarly when we currently only have Rondo on the books from 2012 on?

On a side note, can someone explain to me if a MLE contract (like Wallace's) remains an "exemption" for the duration of the contract?