john2jer wrote:Pretty positive Steimsma's deal is the NBA minimum. No reason for it to be anymore than that.
I heard about what you're mentioning shrink, but the amount is so small, that it's likely not even a possibility.
It seemed odd that Zgoda would mention it. Let me throw some math at it.
Suppose we were willing to trade Gomes to a team that wanted to cut salary before June 1. the biggest deal we could take on would be:
$3,892,500 x 1.25 + $100,000 = $4,965,625
If we added Steimsma at the minimum and traded him with Gomes, it would be:
($3,892,500 + $457,588) x 1.25 + $100,000 = $5,537,610
So we'd now have the option of taking in a slightly bigger deal. For example, this deal would now work:
Sasha Vujacic + $3 mil cash + future LAL 1st for Gomes + Steimsma
In this case, the Lakers save some money by waiving, and we buy a pick. Not the greatest deal, but my point is that new options exist between $4.96-to-$5.5.
However, I would point out that if the guy is to be used exclusively as a trade chip, there IS a reason to give him more than the min. Suppose he got a contract for $667,500. That would fit perfectly for a team that really wants to save cap space like NOH
MoPete ($5.8 mil) + NOH 1st for Gomes + Steimsma + UTA 1st
If we see a number other than the minimum, it'd strongly look like something was up, but I've seen no numbers confirming his salary. Anyone got numbers?
And you're correct that the 60 day moritorium actually comes before the draft. So your point does still work. My internal calendar is broke. In my mind the draft is like next week.