With NBA Lockout Over, Kings' Salary Cap Picture Comes Into View
by Tom Ziller on Nov 26, 2011 10:15 AM PST
in News
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PrintThe NBA lockout is over! Free agency is about two weeks away (December 9). The Sacramento Kings, who have more cap space than anyone, will be right in the thick of it, both with a big free agent of the team's own (Marcus Thornton) and the space and ability to chase another high-dollar player.
The salary cap will remain at $58 million despite the lower revenue split for players. Ignoring that all salaries (and the cap) will be pro-rated, here's what the Kings have on the books.
* John Salmons: $8.5 million
* Francisco Garcia: $5.8 million
* Tyreke Evans: $4.15 million
* DeMarcus Cousins: $3.6 million
* Jason Thompson: $3 million
* J.J. Hickson: $2.3 million
* Donte Greene: $1.7 million
* Hassan Whiteside: $800,000
They will sign Jimmer Fredette to a normal rookie scale contract for the No. 10 pick; reports have indicated that the rookie scale will remain flat for the next two seasons. That would put Fredette at $1.9 million in terms of a cap hold and eventual salary. Second-round picks, of which the Kings have two in Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas, do not carry cap holds, and neither will sign for more than $800,000 for a full season, in all likelihood.
Ignoring Honeycutt and Thomas but including Fredette, that gives the Kings salaries of $31.75 million.
That also fills nine roster spots, with Honeycutt and Thomas making 11. The Kings would have to sign two more players (one of which could be Thornton) and could not sign five more without waiving a player under contract or sending either second-round pick overseas.
That gives the Kings $26 million to keep Thornton and acquire other players. Once the team reaches the cap, it can use the new Poor Man's Exception (worth a starting salary of $2.5 million), which is available to teams who start free agency legitimately below the cap.
Of course, the amnesty clause could change things. Should the Kings use the amnesty on Garcia, another $4.3 million (75 percent of his $5.8 million salary) will be opened up. The team will not use it on Salmons unless there's the urgent opportunity to grab a really fantastic free agent, so the most cap space the team can really expect is $30.3 million.
Of course Part 2: the team may not want to give up Garcia. We'll see. They could keep the amnesty around for a trade acquisition.
Update: I am terrible at simple addition. Post has been edited.
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Dang it's good to be talking real basketball news again!
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
by SavageBeast on Nov 26, 2011 10:19 AM PST reply actions 5 recs
Top of my List: PATRICK MILLS
Because selfishly, I want to see my old SMC buddy in a Kings jersey.
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:24 AM PST reply actions
At first I thought this said Patrick Willis
I was ready to give it the +1!
"If you can’t make a profit, you should sell your team." - Michael Jordan (Owner, Charlotte Bobcats)
by otis29 on Nov 26, 2011 11:35 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
We should also sign him!
Excellent wingman
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 11:37 AM PST up reply actions
Alright boys...
time to put your credit cards where your mouth is
Sanka....you dead? Ya Man
by prowseinthehouse on Nov 26, 2011 10:27 AM PST reply actions 7 recs
Sounds like luxery teams are getting the full mid-level again
Does that make Dallly leaving a foregone conclusion?
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
Only partially
They’ll be able to use the full MLE if it doesn’t take them $4M over the tax. Miami should be able to use it, though they may need to amnesty Mike Miller.
If teams are $1M under the tax, they’ll be forced to use the mini MLE, which is $3M/year for 3 years.
Thanks for the update
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
by SavageBeast on Nov 26, 2011 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
Am I wrong or is your math off.
$58 million -$31.75 mill = $26.25 million.
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
He must be speaking in
Ziller Bucks.
Is cowboyron a chiropractor?- Wallywagon11
its questions like these that make STR oh so lovely.
by fffindeed on Nov 26, 2011 11:49 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
If NBA floor spending ammount is $49
And we sit at $31.75, the Maloofs NEED to sign $17.25 of contracts?
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:34 AM PST reply actions
I'm old and confused but I'm with you
58 million dollar cap, 31.75 in salaries…doesn’t that leave 26.75 gap?
Where does it drop to 16?
As a result of the NBA going dark and staging a lockout I plan on saying only depressing things until the season starts. If they put out the schedule I plan to also go and sit in the Arco parking lot on nights games would have been played. I will Tivo CSN on games nights. They can't stop me. Its my team and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to.
They NEED to get to $49
The $49 million is the FLOOR of spending, no team is allowed to spend less. They need to get to at least $49, so in order to get to that they need to at $16.25.
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
Lets lay this out a little more clearly.
the new CBA is supposed to force teams to spend between 85% and 90% of the $58 million. That equates to $49.3 million and $52.2 million. The Kings will have to spend at least $17.55 million ($49.3-31.75).
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
I should expound.
If the minimum is 90%, you can add another $2.9 million to that figure which would mean that the Kings would have to spend a minimum of $20.45 million.
Thornton will probably get slightly above MLE money in my opinion. 5 yr $32-35 million with a starting pay around $6 million. So I would estimate that the Kings will have between $11.55 and $14.45 million to spend…just to get to the minimum. If they want to spend the entire cap, which I don’t see happening, they would have approximately $19.25 million to spend after Thornton.
Lets not forget that Hickson, Thompson and Greene are RFA after this season. You don’t want to spend all of your cash and then have no money next year to sign one or two of these guys.
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
by jjham15 on Nov 26, 2011 10:57 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This is a slight concern of mine
And the only weakness of a higher floor for us. If the Kings HAVE to sepnd money, there will be less room (and less bank in the Maloofs pockets) to give extensions, even beyond JJ/JT/Donte next season.
Biggest reason why we need a new owner.
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
I believe that the Kings can use current space...
as a signing bonus for extensions but I need to do more research on that and it would be old CBA information either way. For example, the Kings could give Thompson a 4 yr, $18 million extension that starts next season, but pay out $5 million this season as a signing bonus and then pay $13 million over 4 years instead. Again, I would have to do some more research to work this out. Either way, Greene, Hickson and Thompson will be RFAs after this season, all with reasonable qualifying offers.
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
Signing Bonuses?!
Is that a new CBA thing? I’ve never heard of that in the NBA
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 11:13 AM PST up reply actions
I think there's a good chance we don't spend to the minimum before the season
but then take a big contract back in trade before the deadline. Helping a tax-paying team and allowing the Maloofs to be at the minimum salary for the shortest amount of time possible.
by Kfan in Korea on Nov 26, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
To maintain flexibility...
It seems like they could end up below the floor. Then, they split the deficit among current players but don’t add any long-term salary commitments. So we could be looking at smaller additions, not big spending to get to the floor. Just a thought.
I think this was always what we expected
After all, what is the likely hood that we’d be able to get a huge name mega-contract FA anyways?
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:48 AM PST up reply actions
Guessing they don't amnesty Garcia...
They seem to value his leadership too much. Only way I see it happening is if they re-sign Thornton and think they have a legit shot at Nene (which seems like a longshot).
Question that pops into my head: If they do use the amnesty clause on Garcia, I know his salary doesn’t count agains the cap but it sees like it would still count towards the minimum spending level, right?
No, if you amnesty a player, they fall off the cap completely this go around.
From what I have read about the new amnesty is that it not only wipes out luxury tax obligations but the 2011 version takes money off the actual cap. That means that it would not count for minimum spenders either.
I could see a team who wants to amnesty a player, deal that player to a team like the Kings for either nothing or for a player like Garcia (shorter cheaper deal than contract going out) and then using the amnesty on Garcia.
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
I'm with Ziller on Option 2
I think they save it and use it on a traded player. It could be useful, adding a guy in a deal and then able to hack him away
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:42 AM PST up reply actions
But...
You’re still paying that player, even if the salary doesn’t count for cap or tax purposes so the salary being paid to the amnestied player COULD (depending on CBA language) count towards payroll but not the cap or tax.
And yes we're splitting hairs but...
It probably affects whether or not Garcia is amnestied. If they amnesty him, they have to pay him. If his salary then does not count towards the minimum payroll, then they have to pay ANOTHER $5.8 million somewhere to help get to the minimum salary. So essentially they have to spend $5.8 million over the minimum, which I doubt the Maloofs do without a VERY good reason.
This is an excellent point
And further reason I believe they will save the amnesty and use it as a potential ‘trading chip’ even if it can’t be traded.
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 10:57 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I don't see Garcia being amnestied.
He will probably come into the season as the back-up three and third string two.
PG- Evans, Jimmer, Isaiah
SG- Thornton, Evans, Garcia
SF- Salmons, Garcia, Greene, Honeycutt
BUT…I also see Tyreke playing a good amount of SF as well.
The Kings aren’t going to pay Garcia to go away but he could be used in a couple of different ways.
The world is not your Trade Machine.
-Ziller
@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com
Agreed, but would caveat it by saying for this season
Since the new amnesty can be used at any point for a player currently under contract, we could amnesty Garcia heading into next season if we needed the cap room and Green/Thornton/Honeycut/Salmons proved capable of filling his minutes.
Although, I could actually see Salmons being a better future candidate for amnesty. He’s older with a bigger contract. He’s still a better player this year, but over the next two seasons that could change.
That is a good point
If Salmon’s seriously under-performs this year, it might be nice to have the option to use the amnesty on him before next season.
I don't know
what exactly the new CBA says in it, or who is going where … but the fact that there is SACRAMENTO KINGS basketball coming in a month has me extremely excited.
Whatever the formula, the Maloofs will opt for the cheapest way to the floor given the state of
their finances and ZeroBankBalance Arena.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
by Natomaser on Nov 26, 2011 10:51 AM PST reply actions 9 recs
The REALLY GOOD NEWS abou this agreement is that it instantly gives encouragement to the
Maloofs to sell…
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
by Natomaser on Nov 26, 2011 10:53 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
The sooner the better.
Bring on Burkle!!!
Purveyor of Bull Plop
by SayWhat? on Nov 26, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Wait, we're talking free agency moves finally?
God it feels good. Now to find a big to put all my chips behind.
Go for it all. You're a great champion.
by Muff209 on Nov 26, 2011 11:00 AM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Let's throw some many at Tyson Chandler
i’m 99.9% sure he’ll re-sign with the Mavs, but hey it can’t hurt to try. If he declines, we’ll be back where we’re at right now.
God I’m so happy basketball is back!!! Now someone rig the schedules so the Kings can play on Christmas.
Chandler would cost way to much
For his worth IMHO
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
Real basketball conversation? This calls for -
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Nov 26, 2011 11:26 AM PST reply actions 6 recs
Author of NBA Mashups. Follow me on Twitter here.
by Aykis16 on Nov 26, 2011 11:29 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Greens.
SJSU. Proud Mediocrity Since 1857.
by SierraSpartan on Nov 26, 2011 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
I am so happy it is over!!!!!!
Basketball is back (for now?)we need a arena too.hey i am not stressing on that yet,one thing at a time.GO KINGS!!
by cowboyron96@yahoo.com on Nov 26, 2011 11:46 AM PST reply actions 10 recs
that's a big 10/4 cowboy
Is cowboyron a chiropractor?- Wallywagon11
its questions like these that make STR oh so lovely.
+1
Celebratory cowboyron REC!!
Yeaaah...can you feel it baby?
I can too -- Marky Mark
by Boogie Knight on Nov 26, 2011 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
Could we
get a .GIF dance party going… i think this calls for some Dancing!!!!!
Is cowboyron a chiropractor?- Wallywagon11
its questions like these that make STR oh so lovely.
First order of business: Marcus Thornton
Second Order of Business: Going after a BMFA (BigMan Free Agent) in no particular order – Sam Dalembert, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Nene, Ty Chandler, Kris Kardashanian Humphries for a longer term commitment than JJ Hickson.
Third Order of Business: get a new calculator for Ziller
by betweentheeyes on Nov 26, 2011 12:20 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
oops hit the button too soon
Will there be a rising of mid level player salaries (i.e. Marcus Thornton) as amnesty by some and the need to hit the cap min for others becomes apparent?
by betweentheeyes on Nov 26, 2011 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
Gasol, DeAndre, Nene
Are all heck yes for me.
Not sure on Ty Chand or Kris Humphries. Not worth the dough.
But it’ll all be negated if Thornton isn’t resigned
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 12:26 PM PST up reply actions
Time to get our game faces on...
SJSU. Proud Mediocrity Since 1857.
by SierraSpartan on Nov 26, 2011 12:25 PM PST reply actions 13 recs
Is there a Sactown Royalty fantasy league?
Cause there should be.
by LightningStrike5 on Nov 26, 2011 1:07 PM PST reply actions
Are the Kings getting any new jerseys this season?
I remember talk months ago about a new black alternate and I’m just booming with joy because basketball is less than a month away and want to binge on some new Kings threads and jerseys. Wondering if i should hold out
Yes they're getting new black alternates and they look great.
Here’s the post I did on NBA 2K12 and the jerseys are there.
Author of NBA Mashups. Follow me on Twitter here.
My first nomination for new sponsor of the arena now named PowerBalance: Raley's
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
As a former Raley's employee
They don’t have the money. They actually pulled their existing Kings sponsorship a couple years back to try to save money.
Author of NBA Mashups. Follow me on Twitter here.
As another former Raley's/Bel Air employee
I can’t believe they have not sold to a national chain yet. Their market share has shrunk considerably, and it is tough to compete with the Costco cost structure.
Yes! Nickname it "The Chip"
Bum. bum bum ba-bum
by betweentheeyes on Nov 26, 2011 8:10 PM PST up reply actions
My Second Nomination for new sponsor of the arena now named PowerBalance: ThunderValley
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
Well, its been called Arco, the Arena formerly known as Arco....
Wouldnt the next step be to go the “Prince route” and name it a symbol?
"First we get jobs, then we get the khakis, then we get the chicks."
by Wonderchild on Nov 26, 2011 10:52 PM PST up reply actions
Ziller, are you planning on making a tax-related post for SB Nation?
Maybe it’s not relevant to us, but maybe when it comes to revenue sharing. I ask, because I just ran the numbers using payroll data from the start of the 2010-2011 season (couldn’t find data for the end of the season) with the new tax rates that take effect in two years to see how much teams currently over the tax threshold should have to pay.
The Lakers top the list with an astounding $61M in taxes while teams like Boston and Denver that were around $12M over now would have to pay $22-24M in taxes. In total this would result in about $186 M in total taxes. Split among teams under the cap, that would be about $15M for a team like us.
Now obviously these numbers are inflated, because teams will curb spending to account for the new rules by the time they’re in place, so we could probably expect to receive substantially less, but I definitely recall a few articles from you when the relocation talk was really heating up about how the current structure has led to all the problems here. I think it would just be really interesting to see you crunch the numbers now that we know what the rates are to get a better idea of how much of an effect it will have on competitive balance.
When do we get our post-lockout the good, the bad, and the ugly?
by Merickel on Nov 26, 2011 8:39 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I agree
With some of you that don’t think they will spend all that to get to the minimum. A trade is more likely in my opinion at the deadline. I can see a scenario where they offer Marc Gasol a 12 mil contract for 4 years, us as Kings fans get our hopes up n Memphis matches. I think they should get Thornton wrapped up, then go after 2 low key players like a Pryzbilla (not sure if he was 100% healthy) I think will give us
by Chent on Nov 27, 2011 9:28 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I agree
With some of you that don’t think they will spend all that to get to the minimum. A trade is more likely in my opinion at the deadline. I can see a scenario where they offer Marc Gasol a 12 mil contract for 4 years, us as Kings fans get our hopes up n Memphis matches. I think they should get Thornton wrapped up, then go after 2 low key players like a Pryzbilla (not sure if he was 100% healthy) I think will give us
by Chent on Nov 27, 2011 9:29 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I agree
With some of you that don’t think they will spend all that to get to the minimum. A trade is more likely in my opinion at the deadline. I can see a scenario where they offer Marc Gasol a 12 mil contract for 4 years, us as Kings fans get our hopes up n Memphis matches. I think they should get Thornton wrapped up, then go after 2 low key players like a Pryzbilla (not sure if he was 100% healthy) and maybe Mbah a Moute. 2 players I think would be good additions and give us some sort of defensive identity. And I don’t think those additions would catapult them to the playoffs but get them close which would allow us to keep our draft pick in this loaded draft. With The trade deadline deal that brings a very good player (Dwight/C.Paul) :), The draft pick around slot 12 with Great value, and maturity of our team where does that leave us.. BOOM, Contenders!
by Chent on Nov 27, 2011 9:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Ugh Stupid
Stupid phone, sorry. Use computers to post. Now gotta figure out how to delete
by Chent on Nov 27, 2011 9:43 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
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