2 teams that have cap space as of today (10/27/09) and 3 that could

Portland Trailblazers - $1,425,171 in cap space
Memphis Grizzlies - $886,517 in cap space
Oklahoma City Thunder - $9,291,899 in cap space if they renounce their exceptions
Sacramento Kings - $4,211,952 in cap space if they renounce their exceptions
New Jersey Nets - $26,665 in cap space if they renounce their exceptions

24 days ago Storyteller 32 comments 2 recs |

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Wow. I thought there would be more in this economy. Thanks Storyteller. We are lucky to have you.

That 1.4 million is pretty nice wiggle room if a no-brainer trade comes along.

by dario argento on Oct 27, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

…and that’s not including the expiring contracts we own now. We could make a ig trade if the opportunity presents itself.

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Oct 27, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ig = big

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Oct 27, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The more interesting question

Is what is the cap room for next summer. For example, Utah will likely have a fair deal of cap space if they let any of their big guys go.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Oct 27, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Utah won't have cap space

Here’s a post I made with my guesses for next summer

It does need to be updated, which is my next project now that my site has been updated (as of today) with current numbers. But Utah would have to dump serious salary to get below the cap – multiple players.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the most important thing for them is where the Knicks will end up since they have their unprotected pick

That could be a major disruption of the NW division if the Jazz land a top 5 player.

But slowly things happen that they cannot help and the Blazers Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart

by Norsktroll on Oct 27, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

My guess is that New York ends up with the 4th worst record in the NBA this year. My guess is 25-57. That would really help the Jazz.

The thought that Utah could pair Williams with someone like Willie Warren is indeed scary…..

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expect NY to win 30 or more

so the pick goes in the 7 to maybe 10 range.

I can tell you how to make an Excel spreadsheet that proves Portland wins 62 games this year.

by jscot on Oct 28, 2009 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What if it's John Wall?

Call me an unrealistic and hopelessly hopefull, but maybe then we can trade half our team not featured prominently on grain mills for D. Williams. Maybe? No? Nobody?

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Oct 27, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even if Utah has first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Deron Williams stays in Salt Lake City.

Dear Paul Allen:

Waive Patty Mills & sign Ime Udoka.

Sincerely,
AK1984

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2009 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want him so badly.

such a good player.

by R.A.M.B.O on Oct 27, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sacramento and Memphis really have identical numbers (assuming the Kings renounce)?

Great job on this. I doubt the Blazers use the cap space.

by poster on Oct 27, 2009 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It’s already spoken for in LMA/Roy next year. Our payroll WILL go up due to those two (which is a good thing) and with Oden asking for a deal next summer along with TO, Joel and Blake as potential FAs, I don’t see us using it.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Oct 27, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

bank it this year ’cause we are going to need it in the near future.

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

by johnv59 on Oct 27, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops

Numbers corrected. Not sure how Sacramento’s was off. What am I saying? I know how it happened – I made a mistake. Thanks for pointing it out.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OKC and New Jersey have cap space, but no cash. Big difference.

ShamSports (kinda your rival, but still nice) just had a good article on what OKC’s Presti could have done with their cap space, and what they really did. The Thunder also have the lowest committed future salary in the NBA at the moment (Orlando the most, Blazers just made a big jump from 29th to 13th with the extensions).

http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages/index.jsp

But slowly things happen that they cannot help and the Blazers Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart

by Norsktroll on Oct 27, 2009 2:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Which is why the NBA should allow the sale of the Nets

To that Russian guy. Its the only way they’ll ever be good.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Oct 27, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do we want them to be good?

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Oct 27, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sham does an awesome job

I certainly don’t view him as a rival…..

I saw that piece – good stuff.

I haven’t had any ‘free time’ over the last month or so, which explains the delay in updating my site. But it’s updated today, and my next task is to update my piece on which teams look to have cap space next summer. I’ll post the updated version here on BE as well as in my blog once it’s done.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Methinks they might go after D Wade next summer

Or something like that to make OKC immediately competitive.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Oct 27, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is the big question that will determine if and how fast the Thunder become a quality playoff team

Is Presti allowed to go after big-name free agents, or is he just tasked with doing the best he can without taking on long-term contracts and just built around cheap draft picks and one-year deals (comparable to Memphis). ShamSports made a good point about what they could have done (e.g. go after a player like Lee or Millsap) and what they really did: Take on some washed up vets, and not even renounce their old player rights. And that they just had to pay a ton of money to first buy the franchise and then move it to Oklahoma.

But slowly things happen that they cannot help and the Blazers Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart

by Norsktroll on Oct 27, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly don't see them going after a max player

First of all, I project them to only have $14.5 million in cap room which won’t be enough for Wade, Bosh, James, etc.

Secondly, I think they’re planning on not spending a lot until they get Durant and Green under contract with their large extensions in a couple of years.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 27, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still above the $43.2 million minimum salary threshold, so a further ...

cost-cutting deal may be mandated by its less than savory ownership. Those dumb, stingy carpetbaggers will do whatever it takes to minimize losses from their bleeding bank accounts.

Dear Paul Allen:

Waive Patty Mills & sign Ime Udoka.

Sincerely,
AK1984

by AK1984 on Oct 27, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Karma

by Mortimer on Oct 28, 2009 2:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Next summer is going to be nuts

So many potential franchise-level FAs on the market.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Oct 27, 2009 2:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Now that we have this long awaited cap room we can't trade Outlaw because of Batum's injury.

I predict the Blazers make no deals by the trading deadline because we now need Outlaw to play backup SF (as well as backup PF). Nate’s minute crunch at SF is now fixed for this year and we won’t do anything until next summer unless Miller implodes over not starting. I don’t see that happening.

Next summer will be interesting – optimistically we can find a sign and trade for Outlaw, but more likely he walks away for nothing.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Oct 27, 2009 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that all depends on Batum's rehab

3 months out is the beginning of February. If Nic heals fast and is ready to play by the 3rd week of that month then…maybe. (I’m sure that most everyone would agree that “letting Travis just walk away in July” would be a negative)

And like I’ve said earlier, if Miller and Roy fail to mesh, and if a contending team’s starting PG goes down with a serious injury…KP could have action with Andre

Other than that? We watch/enjoy the games and smell the cake baking in the oven…and hope like heck that one of Greg/LMA/Joel doesn’t get dinged up at the wrong time

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 27, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we trade Miller we either need to get a PG back or

we need to make an additional trade for a PG. i.e. it wouldn’t be easy to trade Miller alone during the year. This summer we have more options to get a replacement PG with the MLE, Outlaw sign & trade, etc.

Very unlikely Batum is back & ready to play in time to deal Outlaw before the deadline. I think that’s dead for this year.

I guess we will never know now if you (12-13 minutes) or I (25-28 minutes) was right about Rudy’s playing time this year since the conditions have changed back to those of last year. But I suppose you think Roy better starting eating and gain 10 pounds to defend the 3, huh? :)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Oct 27, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose you think Roy better starting eating and gain 10 pounds to defend the 3, huh?

I suspect he’ll get bumped a few times by a big SF down in the post and look over at Martell on the bench and motion “aren’t you ready to come back in, yet?”

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 28, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about Rubio's team?

by tominhawaii on Oct 28, 2009 4:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not this year

They stand at $62 million, thanks in large part to the acquired albatross contracts of Mark Blount ($8 million), Brian Cardinal ($6.7) and Antonio Daniels ($6.6). Those come off next summer, then they will have enough to be a player in the (second tier) free agent market.

But slowly things happen that they cannot help and the Blazers Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart

by Norsktroll on Oct 28, 2009 5:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs