AirP. wrote:So, is Spoelstra preparing for life after a big trade or possibly just seeing what he has that makes other players easier to be traded? Most of the major candidates for trade aren't getting big minutes. Kelly Olynyk not getting much time when he's a much better player than Leonard, Waiters was suspended and then didn't make the small road trip, JJ isn't suspended but isn't traveling with the team, and Leonard is starting but not getting many minutes at all(18.7 after 3 games). Olynyk starting over Leonard and getting more minutes at PF/C probably helps Miami beat Minnesota last night and the team could be sitting at 3-0 at this point. It's just really odd unless something is up and that's not even mentioning deciding to not have Butler go on the road trip(unless there were complications). Just seems to be seeing where specific young players are vs real competition.
Looking at the guys Miami was targeting, not seeing any teams being careful with them(so they don't get hurt).
Love - getting big minutes.
Lowry - getting big minutes.
Beal - getting big minutes.
Blake - out with injuries... again.
OKC limiting 2 trade candidates
CP3 - Right at 30 minutes a night except for their blowout yesterday.
Gallinari - playing 28-29 minutes (except the blowout yesterday), a little lower than last year in LA.
An interesting acquisition would be trading for MKG, can't really shoot but another good defensive wing and is an expiring contract.
Remember Olynyk's 1700 minute unlikely bonus costs $1,000,000 plus the tax, but, more importantly, it also is a factor for the hard cap. Unlikely bonuses are counted in the tax apron calculation.
http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q20
Therefore, there is an incentive for Miami not to give KO too many minutes. It's an unlikely bonus because for two years running he hasn't hit the mark. It's stupid to do this if we need him, but otherwise I can see them managing his minutes quite closely, saving them for the qualification for playoff run, for example.
James Johnson's fitness goal was a likely bonus of $245,000. I think his missing it affects our tax calculation too. It's not much money, but we don't need much, for example, to sign Chris Silva.
