slos wrote:The tax line for 2021-22 is projected to be at 136,6 mil and Bucks are now already there with 8 players under contract control...
1. Giannis.........$39,344,900
2. Middleton......$35,500,000
3. Holiday.........$30,133,333 (est)
4. Lopez...........$13,302,325
5. Connaughton...$5,333,334
6. DiVincenzo.....$4,675,830
7. Nwora...........$1,517,981
8. Merrill...........$1,517,981 (NG)
- dead money......$5,034,893 (Leuer, Sanders)
- total............$136,360,577
That's without Teague/Forbes/Thanasis/Tucker/Portis (and Kurucs).
- Obviously Portis is the most difficult task here. Let's hope he is talked into a 2y/12mil/PO tax-MLE with a handshake that we will take care of him in 2022-23 when Bucks will have his early Bird rights.
- Tucker needs to be extended for one more year. It's either him or some other vet with the min.
- Thanasis will get the min.
- Forbes will probably opt in.
- Teague might earn himself an extra season in Milwaukee.
- Diakite and the HOU SRP gets us to 15.
That's about 22 mil in the tax without counting Jrue's bonuses.
Of all the non-starters in the team, the Bucks must keep Portis, he's a perfect center for the Bucks with his shooting abilities and offense and rebounding. Tucker, Teague and Kurucs can go, if Forbes doesn't opt in, he can go. If Thanasis wants more than the minimum, he can go too.
Next season's roster
Starters: Jrue, DDV, Khris, Giannis, Brook
Bench: Merrill, Pat, Nwora, Diakite, Portis, Thanasis (minimum), Houston SRP