shrink wrote:
We don’t know what payroll will be next year, because of Randle, because of Naz and because of NAW. I would imagine it would go down some, because $100 mil in lux taxes isn’t sustainable, but saying “$20 mil” is just your guess. So yes, I am going to ignore your imaginary numbers.
I have the Wolves at 153 million for next year before re-signing any of Randle, Naz, or NAW.
WIth the luxury tax projection to be somewhere between 169 million minimum and a maximum of 187 million depending on how big the cap bump is from increased revenue.
So somewhere between 16 and 34 million below the luxury tax before any opt-ins from Randle or Naz or re-signing them.
Randle taking his player option would add another 28.7 million in salary, put us at about 182 million.
For some perspective, without the KAT trade we would be at 192 million for next year before signing NAW or Naz.
Already over the luxury tax line even in 10% cap bump world.
And that's after Rudy Gobert's extension saved us another 11 million, and that extension wasn't signed yet when KAT was traded.
I hate the KAT trade, I absolutely hate it because I can't stand Julius Randle.
And Randle not even definitively being an expiring contract makes it even worse.
Taylor has always spent about what an NBA franchise in this market would dictate.
People forget what a shockwave it sent through the league when he gave KG his big 6/126 extension.
That's not the move of a cheap owner.
That contract led directly to the luxury tax system and the restricted free agent system which allows most teams to control their draft picks for up to 9 years if they want to.
And as head of the the board of governors for many years, Glen had a big hand in creating the present system.
Glen Taylor has many faults, but he's not as stupid or greedy as we all make him out to be.
There is also the regional sports network revenue collapse bomb that hasn't hit us yet because we are still operating with a pre-cord cutting bally (excuse me Sports Gambling network) contract.
Not saying it will be as bad as the Twins, but the Twins made an equivalent of what would be about a 40 million dollar payroll cut for us when their contract ran out.
Whoever owns the team is going to operate right under the luxury tax just like every other market in our position, over the long term.