eathy wrote:via Rocky Mountain:
we are now exactly $188,483 over the luxury tax.
Is this a number we can rely on? I've been looking all over the place, and getting all sorts of different numbers.
Regarding the Madsen-Atkins trade, I think it'd be a good time to approach MIN with it. I expect nothing on the court from Chucky Atkins, but Kevin Ollie, who's been getting a lot of minutes, went down for three weeks, so MIN might like Atkins sooner than later, just to help cover the spot. I guess that benefits you too, increasing the amount over the lux you'd save by making the trade. MIN's also got plenty of PF/C's, so that's not an issue.
I understand that Madsen is not talented, but he's reliable. On a team that's radically changed its entire roster, he's always remained because for his size an a price in the $2's, he's OK as a back-up. He'll never be a big help offensively, but he plays with energy, boxes out well, goes to the right spots on the floor, and is great in the locker room because he accepts his role. However, even though he's started a few games for us, it doesn't mean you should expect anything more than active defense and good cheerleading.
If we can trust the newspaper's $0.2 mil difference over the lux, its a deal that saves both teams money. In 2008-09 for you, $0.61 mil (difference in salaries, + $2.0 mil? in lux share + $0.2 mil as amount doubled in lux) for a total savings of around $2.8 mil. In 2009 they lose about $2 mil (difference in salaries) so you save $0.8 mil. Financially for MIN, its simply the difference. We pay about $0.6 mil in 2008-09, but save about $2 mil in salary difference in 2009-10, for a net savings of $1.4 mil. Maybe MIN throws in $300,000 to split the savings, since you've got Madsen's salary next year (though he does become a valuable expiring for trade).
Anyway, if the $0.2 difference is true, you guys are in a good position after movign Samb, with a lot of different options to clear that last bit. This one is probably the least disruptive. If anyone's got a source that's more definitive, I'd appreciate that info.
