Yi Movement and the Salary Cap

by ohmangoAs on Jun 4, 2007 5:11 AM PDT Comment 15 comments

The Salary Cap affects our decisions regarding the Draft, including whether or not we trade up.

According to HoopsHype, The Warriors 2007-2008 Salary number will be at 55 million BEFORE offers to Pietrus, Barnes, Powell, Taft, and Azubuiki.

If we were to get Yi (somehow) with, for example, the 5th pick (he should go between 3-7 from what I've seen recently- his stock is rising), the Salary would be 2.5 million. This would put the W's at 57.5 million, with the Cap likely to be at roughly 56 million (it was at 53 million this year). No matter how you put it, the Ws are at the Cap after this pick. (BTW, the 18th pick gets 1.12 million, which would put the Warriors at 56.1 million)

The difference is 1.4 million. Now in trading up, it's unlikely we would shed any salary at all. Our huge salaries (i.e. the ones that are 8 mill plus) aren't appealing for a team moving down in the draft. Most likely, the price for moving up will be young cheap talents or future picks.

Pietrus would cost 7 million minimum, and Barnes is likely to get 3-4 million somewhere. The mid-level exception is all we'd have, and that assumes either of those players would take a 1 year deal (longer would jeopardize extensions for Biedrins and Ellis, which are going to be problematic anyways). Also, we must have 12-13 contracts, so we must sign at least 3 players out of Pietrus, Barnes, Powell, Taft, Azubuiki, or other options.

In the end, taking on another 1.5 million for Yi might not sound like a lot, but the Luxury tax is at 65 million, so we have 7.5 million left for 3 players if we take Yi (again, this all assumes we somehow get the higher pick-I'm not thinking about how; I'm just checking out if its even pragmatically possible). With 7.5 Million, Pietrus is impossible, Barnes is barely possible, and 3 vet. minimums would barely fit.

Also, for 2008, the Warriors already have 50 mill. in salaries just for JRich, Baron, SJax, Harrington, and Foyle. Even if the Lux tax hits 70 mill that year, 20 mill. is not a lot for 7 roster spots, including needed contracts for Biedrins and Ellis, both restricted FA's.

So, when looking at Yi, remember that not only do we have to trade for the pick, but we also pay an crucial additional 1.5 million, and we leave only 7 million in play money this year, 17 the year after that.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Don't worry!

You should check out Larry Coon' NBA Salary Cap FAQ http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#43 .

According to Coon: "teams may sign their first round draft picks to rookie "scale" contracts even if they will be over the cap as a result." This is called the Rookie Exception. So even if it puts the Warriors over the cap they can still sign their first round pick.

Also according to realgm.com the Warriors have a Mid-Level Exception (worth about $5.5 mil next season) and a Bi-Annual Exception (worth $1.83 mil in 07-08). Somewhere I read that Barnes will be seeking a contract around $27 mil over 5 seasons, so I think they could get him with the Mid-Level. I doubt Pietrus would be happy with the Bi-Annual but maybe they could get a solid veteran back-up PG for around $1.83 mil. Realgm also says the Warriors have a trade exception (doesn't state how much though) that would allow them to take back more salary than they give up and maybe it would be useful in trading for that big-time PF that everybody wants.

As far as signing our first-rounder though, I wouldn't be worried. I've never heard of any team unable to do so because they are over the cap.

by miguelito on Jun 4, 2007 6:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you misunderstood

The original poster was worried about the luxury taxes, not the salary cap, which the Warriors will be well over in the next couple of seasons with the roster they have now, unless the cap spikes up to the north of 60-million.

You can still spend plenty of moneys when you are over salary cap, but if you are over the luxury tax threshold (usually 10~15 million more than the salary cap), it becomes a tough pill for the owner of the team to swallow because for every dollar you are over with (the luxury tax threshold), you are charged with a dollar 'penalty'. Even Mark Cuban had a hard time taking that and that was why he waived Michael Finley.

by MightyReds2020 on Jun 4, 2007 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow!!

Do you guys do taxes? LOL. Good info.

by KillaCrossOver on Jun 4, 2007 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If we were to get Yi ?

If he only wants to play for "Yi approved" teams then we can just tell him what we'll pay him and say take it or leave it! I would'nt go out of the way to get another outside shooter, we've got enough tweeners already. We should work on rebounds and defense (re-sign pietrus), look into getting artest, try to trade for one good big man and get ready to BALL. We don't need another foreign distraction right now, we've already got enough skinny 7 footers!

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 4, 2007 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pietrus getting 7 million?

Thats laughable. No one is going to pay a SG who cannot create his own shot and has frequent mental lapses that kind of money.

For the record I would not bring Pietrus back for more than 3 million/year and the most I'd give Barnes is 4-5. The warriors need every inch of caproom they can get to resign Biedrins and Monta and the two players mentioned above simply don't do anything JRich, Al, and Jackson can't.

If they trade up for Yi then one of the core players in the rotation would probably be involved in the trade and that would change the warriors' cap number. Personally I don't see Yi or either of the players above in a warrior uniform next year but my opinion doesnt matter and we will see what happens.

by BingBluNT on Jun 4, 2007 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

buyout foyle

for $15 million, and we save 3-4 million a year. Plus we don't need to find someone to keep the seat warm since POB will come up from the D-league. All we'll miss is his reaction after the Baron dunks on fools.

by Mdawg851 on Jun 4, 2007 1:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

buyouts only happen...

when both sides agree to it...Management has tried to buyout Foyle, but Foyle has declined. Why should he? He stands to make more money warming the bench than being released from his contract. Until Foyle agrees to it, a buyout isn't happening

by ThermoElectro on Jun 4, 2007 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

buyouts only happen...

"when both sides agree to it"

It would be better for da'Donal to buy out cohan and take over the team. He'd make a great owner and could then order nellie to let himself play !

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 4, 2007 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chad Ford...

Watch the Warriors closely. They are very high on Yi Jianlian and will try to move up in the draft.

by atang34 on Jun 4, 2007 4:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He said they were the Yi sleeper

Meaning the Bay Area has a high Asian population, and the Chinese government would want Yi to play some place where he is valued. Unfortunately, trading up for Memphis or the Celtics pick is going to require giving up Ellis, Jrich, or Biedrins. I don't think I'd give up any of those players for a 7'0 skinny PF that will most likely take 3 years to develop.

by Mdawg851 on Jun 4, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's one sure fire way to get Yi.....

Baron Davis for atlanta's 3. Atlanta desperately wants a PG as they pretty much are stocked at every other position. It works perfectly if you want the trade to happen. BIG DISCLAIMER- THAT'S IF YOU REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT YI. I WOULDN'T DO IT but that's one way to get him without losing beans or Ellis.

by ThermoElectro on Jun 7, 2007 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

there are only two

relatively sure picks in the draft and we know who are getting those studs. Forget about Yi, make a substantial trade to get us a defensive minded post player, save our money so we can work on extending AB and Monta, and call it a good day. Additionally, we seem to be pretty lucky with second round picks (except that genuius move last year for the guy who has never returned; so, perhaps we will get lucky this year with two second rounders. Let MP go unless he's cheap, give Barnes the mid-level exception, and find a serviceable back up point guard to help spare Baron too much playing time, especially early in the season. That's my two cents and probably all it is worth.

by commish on Jun 4, 2007 8:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

DON'T FORGET ABOUT SARUNAS

In earlier diaries there have been rumors about a trade between the ROCKETS and WARRIORS regarding SARUNAS and SURA. Supposedly, the W's would save like $3 million if we traded for SURA and he ended up retiring.

IMO I wouldn't resign PIETRUS unless we got him for a 6 pack! I used to like him and had my hopes up each year for improvement and there's no sign of it whatsoever! I started getting tired of NELLIE's substitution in the JAZZ series, because instead of putting someone like POWELL in to body up on BOOZER and try and grab boards, he would put in PIETRUS who would commit fouls left and right. Maybe if he's gone, we won't have that issue!

"GO BIG or GO HOME!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Jun 4, 2007 10:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget

His 2 missed FTs in Game2, while Biedrins hit 2 with that ugly ass release he has.

Pietrus has one shot...3-pointer from the corner, and he can barely even make lay-ups. DO NOT RESIGN HIM, and give Barnes some money instead. Knowing Mullin though he'll pay Barnes WAY too much, just like he did for Foyle, J-Rich, Murphy, and Dunleavy. We need to stop thinking about trading up, and just accept the fact that we are going to draft Rudy Fernandez, Thaddeus Young, Josh McRoberts, Sean Williams, or Jason Smith. We're too low to trade up, and no one wants our 2nd tier role players like Barnes, Pietrus, Sarunas, etc. They all want Monta, Biedrins, or Baron, which are all untouchable in Mullin's eyes.

by Mdawg851 on Jun 4, 2007 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yi's popularity

This guy's draft stock is soaring! There's no way we land him unless we get the 5th pick or better. I personally think he is going 4th.

But who would want to trade their pick in this deep draft? There's no better year to take a gamble on a pick than this year with all the potential out there.

by ballerjl on Jun 5, 2007 2:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs