So, this article will be a tough pill to swallow, but I'll try to make it as fun as I can because I swear I'm not just doing this for the points. It also kills time at work, and since I'm working off a spreadsheet, it looks like I might NOT be horsin' off.
Anyway, we're going to take a look at all of the teams over the cap to see what deadline moves they did to reduce the cap (if any) and what moves they could have made to save some money in the long run. But first, a shoutout to the Indiana Pacers for having both the best record in the league AND cap space. And I guess a shoutout to the Hawks, even though everybody's so goddamn sick of them already.
IA:
PAoC: Projected Amount over Cap (from beginning of the season, or whenever Wig posted the table)
PPO: Projected Points Owed
AAoC: Actual Amount over Cap (from after the deadline)
APO: Actual Points Owed
IA: Important Acronyms
First Year Offenders
Los Angeles Lakers
PAoC: 1,853,753
PPO: 4
AAoC: 1,698,440
APO: 4
Money Saved: 155,313
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
The Lakers weren't far over the cap, and it's their first year, so they won't really be hurting for points. They'll likely be able to reset next year as they only have 8 players on their roster now and wouldn't be able to shave any further. A little vexing was the trade for DeMarcus Cousins. They gave up Courtney Lee, who was on an expiring contract, and Jared Sullinger, who isn't as developed as Cousins but shows plenty of promise. They could probably have retained Sullinger in RFA for a lot cheaper than Cousins' oversized price tag, too.
San Antonio Spurs
PAoC: 1,951,275
PPO: 4
AAoC: 1,951,275
APO: 4
Money Saved: 0
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
The Spurs are in the opposite boat from the Lakers. They currently sit near the top of their division, and at deadline time, they could've staved off the tax man once again by releasing Nenad Kristic. Unfortunately, they were trying to offload Kristic in a deal that would also have sent Julius Randle to the Sacramento Kings for Spencer Hawes. Unfortunately for San Antonio, the Kings GM did not get his shit sorted out in time for the trade to go through legally, so the Spurs, although competitive, will almost certainly be stuck paying a repeater tax next year, where they already have over $85 million on the books.
Philadelphia 76ers
PAoC: 2,984,237
PPO: 6
AAoC: 196,240
APO: 0
Money Saved: 2,787,997
Points Saved: 6
Analysis:
Kudos to the Philadelphia 76ers for tucking things under the apron to avoid the tax. Along with the DeMarcus Cousins trade, which we already touched on, the Nets actually sent THEM cash to take on Reggie Bullock, who is only on a 1-year min and not anywhere near his potential. They'll have to pay Sully in the offseason to retain him, but with Cousins off the books, they should have plenty of space after that to play around in UFA, and they'll end up with a pick in the lotto. Trust the process.
New York Knicks
PAoC: 12,345,442
PPO: 16
AAoC: 10,828,694
APO: 13
Money Saved: 1,516,748
Points Saved: 3
Analysis:
In their first year over the tax, the Knicks are heading the Northeast, so they're spending some money, but they're spending it wisely. Cutting Tyrus Thomas saved them some cash in the long run without doing any damage to their young, developing core. If the Knicks look good now, just wait until they're a little bit deeper into repeater status, which they will be if they want to retain John Henson AND Kent Bazemore this offseason. If everyone keeps developing as planned, expect New York to be a contender and an offender for a few more years to come.
Orlando Magic
PAoC: 12,805,281
PPO: 16
AAoC: 916,049
APO: 0
Money Saved: 11,889,232
Points Saved: 16
Analysis:
With the season the Magic were having, there was absolutely no reason they should have been in the tax, but GM false9 has built a reputation on wheeling and dealing. Without a care in the world about having a winning season, he was able to slice and dice the Magic to get out of the tax penalty, and though his record looks bleak now, he holds onto three first round draft picks that would currently fall in the lotto for next year and a total of 5 more first round draft picks in 2017 and 2018. With assets like that, it won't even matter if any of those 2nd round picks he's so fond of pan out. The Magic will be very good down the road. It may take some time, but what they lack in talent, they make up in potential talent.
HOT TAX UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to an injury to Dario Saric in sim 9, the Magic were forced to sign Nikola Mirotic to their skeleton of a roster, and that put them over the tax. Look for them to owe 4 points come tax time. Womp womp.
Minnesota Timberwolves
PAoC: 13,687,858
PPO: 16
AAoC: 13,687,858
APO: 16
Money Saved: 0
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
It was an uneventful deadline for the Wolves GM in terms of team moves, but that's probably for the better. He spent most of it vacationing in the tropics, drunk out of his gourd and briefly considering direction altering changes. With his rebuild taking shape and bringing him back into contention this year, there's no shame in standing pat. He could've shaved a few points off by dropping the contracts of rarely-used J.J. Hickson and slightly-oftener-used Anthony Randolph, but Randolph sees decent minutes, and Hickson's contract alone wouldn't have dropped him a tier. So far, we rate getting too drunk to do anything as one of the better deadline day strategies in PBSL.
New Orleans Pelicans
PAoC: 19,496,641
PPO: 23
AAoC: 9,578,602
APO: 10
Money Saved: 9,918,039
Points Saved: 13
Analysis:
After some tough years in the Central Division out East, the Hornets rebranded as the Pelicans. They also rebranded as a successful team. They were able to save quite a bit thanks to a trade with the Warriors, one of the few teams with the cap space to save any offender. It was a real win-now move for the Pelicans, and they sacrificed young prospect Phil Millburn but got some playoff-run bolstering pieces in Ron Artest, who hasn't been injured yet this year, and Psycho T (both on expiring contracts). The bad news? They'll probably have to pay Damian Lillard in RFA or walk away. If they pay him, they're bringing back their same core 4 without much space to add on. It's a winning formula, but is it winning enough? Without any draft picks in 2016, the Pels better hope it is.
Vancouver Grizzlies
PAoC: 34,644,456
PPO: 57
AAoC: 32,693181
APO: 51
Money Saved: 1,951,275
Points Saved: 6
Analysis:
The Grizzlies spent some big dough at table 5 this offseason and walked away with little more than a pair of rainbow suspenders. Shipping off their youth for Rajon Rondo's mammoth supermax just before signing Kawhi and Jimmy Butler to lengthy contracts in RFA (not to mention ending up with an overpriced Alec Burks), the Grizzlies were really betting on being an immediate contender. Unfortunately, things did not work out that way, and at the bottom of their division, they're going to have to make a lot of moves. They're on the books for 9 figures as far as the eye can see (through 2018).
They should be able to foot their tax bill, but it's only going to get steeper and steeper, and with the fistings that they've gotten for running training camp uninsured, they better hope they're due a good one before Jimmy C Buckets turns to Jimmy D Buckets (wherein the D would stand for his potential in all categories).
Second Year Offenders
Dallas Mavericks
PAoC: 10,780,018
PPO: 19
AAoC: 11,049,948
APO: 19
Money Saved: -269,930
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
The Mavs were the only team to add salary before the trade deadline, showing that even with a record that lands them squarely out of the playoffs, they think they can still compete. Because of clandestine accounting practices, it's not clear how much of an impact the tax penalty will have on them, although 19 points is pretty easy to come up with. You just have to write 4 in-depth articles about a fake basketball league. Besides, they'll be out of the tax next year, assuming they don't go overboard in UFA. Still, it's questionable that they had vet mins they could have cut to save points, but the Mavs are no strangers to making questionable decisions that somehow work out in their favor.
Los Angeles Clippers
PAoC: 11,754,331
PPO: 19
AAoC: 9,803,056
APO: 15
Money Saved: 1,951,275
Points Saved: 4
Analysis:
It was a relatively quiet deadline day for the Clippers. Jarrett Jack ended up getting the boot, but that's about it. And why the hell not? They've got Durant and don't need much else around him to succeed, and succeeding they are. They've got plenty of space next year to resign Durant and will hopefully get a better value at the point guard next year to be competitive and reset-ative (of their tax bill).
Milwaukee Bucks
PAoC: 32,793,704
PPO: 66
AAoC: 29,657,668
APO: 60
Money Saved: 3,136,036
Points Saved: 6
Analysis:
The Bucks are a team that likes to trade, and with a team constantly under tinkering, you better believe they made some moves to try and shave a few points off their bill while adding a few points to their games. They scraped away some points dealing Sandoval and Ed Davis to the Wizards for Nikola Pekovic, but that put them in a spot where they have three similarly skilled centers, each one more Eastern European than the last, and none of the three with the desired quickness to move down to the PF spot (though they reportedly tried to move Gortat to no avail). They cut a couple contracts that I haven't heard of, which probably saved them those 6 points off their tax bill, but with the Bucks, there have been so many moves that it'd take me too much time to ride the roller coaster of their cap space situation. They're going to be dropping lots of points to cover the bill, but they've got a very good team, and while there are no certainties in the East, this is the best the Bucks lineup has looked since their tanking days from a few seasons of yore.
Toronto Raptors
PAoC: 33,4756,47
PPO: 66
AAoC: 33,4756,47
APO: 66
Money Saved: 0
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
The Raptors stared a 66 point, 2-year repeater tax bill in the face and firmly said "Frye you." No trades and no cuts. With a focus on returning to the Finals and winning this time around, the Raptors completely ignored the several vet mins on their roster who could've saved them some coin. Or maybe it was generosity on the front office's part. Canadians are supposedly nice to a fault, right? In any case, they can afford the bill as it stands, but with a slower start than anticipated (still good, but not NBA Finals good...but I guess that's been the Raptors MO for the last few years: turn it on at the end), they could've stood to drop a Larry Sanders or a Tim Thomas here or there.
Denver Nuggets
PAoC: 39,495,850
PPO: 87
AAoC: 39,495,850
APO: 87
Money Saved: 0
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
Enough has already been said about the 43 second margin of error that cost the Nuggets some tax savings. They've got themselves a hefty bill, and that's going to hurt them in some way or another come next offseason, whether it's resigning Andre Drummond or just insuring some of the new blood they brought in to replenish an aging core. But, hey, they're sitting atop the West, so there should be little to complain about. Not that Novak or Dinwiddie are the pieces that are putting them in the top seed so far, but it should take the edge off a blunder that caused some of the drama that keeps the league interesting.
Third Year Offenders
Phoenix Suns
PAoC: 10,868,066
PPO: 29
AAoC: 3,973,014
APO: 13
Money Saved: 6,895,052
Points Saved: 16
Analysis:
The Suns found themselves in their third year over the tax and were able to make some moves to make sure they weren't that much over. By getting rid of Festus Ezeli, Baron Davis, and Dion Waiters, they eat some cut salary, but they cut some salary that was eating into their points bank. They also dished their pick next year to help cover what they owe, and with the 2nd seed in the East, it seems like that was a worthwhile venture at this point. They're down to only a few contracts for next year, but as the Beatles sang, Love is all you need, so they should be fine to reset the tax and still be a tough team to beat.
OKC Thunder
PAoC: 18,025,825
PPO: 48
AAoC: 18,025,825
APO: 48
Money Saved: 0
Points Saved: 0
Analysis:
The story that got buried beneath the 43 second controversy? The 82,938 second controversy. The Thunder are under new-ish management and missed the deadline by almost a day, but they still cut a few players anyway at no savings to their point bank. It's not clear whether the Thunder GM knows this or not, but premature props for taking his lumps without a word. They should be out of the tax next year without Tyson Chandler's 304 pound contract. It'll be hard for them to bring in new talent without their own pick and the Pelicans doing well, but they should have some space to try and make some signings to complement their young, explosive backcourt.
Chicago Bulls
PAoC: 20,669,692
PPO: 55
AAoC: 12,208,700
APO: 19
Money Saved: 8,460,992
Points Saved: 36
Analysis:
The Bulls, by far, have saved the most points out of any team when compared to their salary at the beginning of the season. For the most part, these savings came from dishing off PauL Millsap to the Grizzlies for plenty of cap relief, and for what it's worth, it hasn't seemed to hurt them. In a playoff race limbo near the top of a tough Central Division in a tough Eastern Conference, the Bulls made some moves that some say might set them back, but they've remained pesky enough to stick around while looking forward to next year, when they have a massive amount of cap space to reset with and also a hangover from watching James Harden undoubtedly have the training camp of a lifetime in the Atlanta system.
Utah Jazz
PAoC: 21,438,460
PPO: 55
AAoC: 13,972,232
APO: 35
Money Saved: 7,466,228
Points Saved: 20
Analysis:
The Jazz have had a rough February, but they needed tax relief desperately, so cuts to vets like Joe Johnson and Mike Miller were inevitable (and the right move). It would be a great season for Utah to have their first round pick, but at least they have cap space and Paul George. Once they have the freedom to go after who they want to put around him, they could come back stronger than ever. Really, it's probably the Bogut move that hurt them more than anything, but his salary would've crippled them as he aged. It was the right move to get rid of him. Sending their 2018 pick out as well? Probably not so much.
Houston Rockets
PAoC: 23,006,853
PPO: 62
AAoC: 15,935,511
APO: 41
Money Saved: 7,071,342
Points Saved: 21
Analysis:
With similar pre- and post-deadline tax numbers to the Jazz, the Rockets have slimmed down a bit. They sent backup PG Raymond Felton to the Mavs for points and two releasable players (Jason Maxiell and whoever the hell Chris Leathers is). They've had an extremely streaky year that's been plagued by injury. They remain competitive after a good stretch of games, even without Thaddeus Young, who won't return until the playoff picture is a bit clearer. For the Rockets, they'll probably make it, but they could feasibly land in pretty much any seed. It's too early to tell, so slimming down was their best option. We'll see how the rest of this season goes. Depending on the answer, that could mean a lot of things for next season where they only have a handful of players on the books and will almost certainly need to either make some moves that will lose them valuable players or go into a 4th year of tax penalization.
Washington Wizards
PAoC: 30,022,486
PPO: 86
AAoC: 25,821,363
APO: 70
Money Saved: 4,201,123
Points Saved: 16
Analysis:
In their third year in the tax, the Wizards find themselves at a strange impasse. They gambled a lot on Carmelo Anthony, taking on his expiring contract in hopes that he would lead the team to the promised land, but when that didn't happen, they dished him off to the Nets for Danny Green and Aaron Brooks. They shaved a little off their tax bill, but still have a hefty 70 points coming out of their coffers at the end of the season, and as it stands, they look like they're heading straight back to repeaterville. They lost some ground after the trade deadline and are holding on to the 8th seed, hoping their retooled lineup can find some chemistry with only a month to go. It might be too late for the Wiz, and a serious injury to Tyreke Evans adds serious insult to injury...or serious injury to injury. Injury squared? The jury's out on the Wizards, but they find these injury puns guilty of being terrible.
Fourth Year Offender
Miami Heat
PAoC: 31,057,667
PPO: 112
AAoC: 29,106,392
APO: 102
Money Saved: 1,951,275
Points Saved: 10
Everyone's been watching this Jenga tower, waiting to see if it topples, and this might be the wooden brick that sends the Heat tumbling down. It's pretty much a must win season for the Heat, because they've got a lot of distance between the points in their bank and what they owe. For what it's worth, they're playing well enough to win a championship to help tide over the Miami fans as they're forced to rebuild, and they're savvy in the playoffs, but it's going to take more than a season's worth of hastily written articles to make up that point differential. It's surprising that they still have Stephen Jackson and Kosta Koufos on their rosters. Cutting the two of them would have saved them 10 more points, and cutting Omri Casspi could've saved them 10 more on top of that. Still, the Heat have a competitive thirst, which will make it an even more disappointing year for them if they can't get their hands on the crown in what appears to be a final hurrah before they're forced to start from scratch.
