Post#1351 » by djFan71 » Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:52 pm
We're at 13 players after Hugo is signed, $4.5M under the 2nd apron. Assuming he gets the 120%. In order to have a frontcourt you have to make some moves.
1. Hope that one of Al or Luke takes the min or slightly above and roll with them, Queta and X
2. Trade Niang. Likely requires a 2nd. Have $12M+ to split between Luke & Al.
3. Trade Hauser. Likely returns a 2nd or 2. Have $14M+ to split between Luke & Al
4. Trade Simons. Likely gets one good player, and/or pick(s) and more $ savings.
They're all valid options. If the team is fine staying in the 2nd apron, then 2 or 3 seem like the way to go.
But, if they want to reset the lux tax - so that they can spend more later - then even doing 2 & 3 doesn't get you there. Trade both those guys with no money coming back and you still only have $2.8M under the tax. No Al or Luke. Unless one takes the min.
Simons is the real answer to duck the luxury tax. You can hope for 1 & 4. You can also debate whether it makes sense to duck the tax or not, as I have. But, keeping Simons this year means paying higher tax rates throughout the rest of Tatum's prime. $2 more for every dollar over the line. It's a reasonable approach to pay that tax and keep assets, but it depends on what those assets are. Is one year of Anfernee Simons worth paying that for the rest of Tatum's prime? It's not about paying Al or Luke big money. If you don't trade Simons, you are not getting anything but a vet min in the front court while ducking the tax.
If you can send Simons out for contracts that help you duck the tax and get a future first, I think you go for it.
For scoring, you see what you got:
- White, Pritchard and JB get more usage. Can they handle it?
- Play Scheierman more. Play JD.
All 5 of those guys have creation possibilities.
Then you're either good or you're not next year, but you know more about your roster. And you have your own 2026 pick, an extra pick from a Simons trade, and smaller, tradeable salaries that you can aggregate to get another starter going forward when Tatum's back.
Or you use Simons to get that starter now if you identify someone you want that's available. If they're worth it pay the tax, pay picks to get them, whatever. But, unless you think Simons is that guy long term, I just don't see it making sense to hang on to him.