In Bryan Colangelo’s end-of-season address to the media and indirectly to the fans he said something most of us were not used to hearing. The Toronto Raptors had two scenarios for next season in which they would spend $3 million and $7 million over the luxury tax cap.
Now for a team that has played with staying just under the luxury tax line ever since escaping those disastrous contracts they signed in hopes of retaining Vince Carter, that was news. Or was it?
Staying under the luxury tax line is very compelling to teams focused on making the most money with the least risk.
First teams save the dollar-for-dollar tax that is paid to the league for each dollar in salaries above the tax line.
Second your team is entitled to a share in the luxury tax monies received by the league from tax payers.
Counting the actual salary paid that puts the team into a tax situation, a small luxury tax move like the Raptors are describing can the impact on the team’s bottom line by three times the tax paid (approximately).
This is not a decision that MLSE and the Raptors would entertain lightly.
Unfortunately, most of the contending teams in this year’s playoff did not just stick a toe into the luxury tax pool, they are in-to-it up to their waist. The expected luxury tax payments for some of this seasons heavy-weights are about:
- L.A. Lakers $21 million
- Dallas Mavericks $18 million
- Cleveland Cavaliers $15 million
- Boston Celtics $15 million
- Orlando Magic $12 million
The Spurs, Nuggets, Suns, and Jazz are all paying as well. Just not so much.
(David Stern’s comments about the NBA’s dire financial situation and the need for players to take less seem just a little self-serving.)
Thus the comments from Chris Bosh in his end-of-season media session where he noted (finally noticed?) that the contending teams in the playoffs all spent money to get there.
And of course its true. Going deep into luxury tax territory means your team has extra talent on its bench. Having two or three additional players earning $5 to $10 million means if and when injury strikes (or foul trouble) the next guy off the bench is pretty good. Or that bad contract you signed last year doesn’t matter.
But what does spending $3 to $7 million over the tax line mean to the Toronto Raptors for next season?
It has been reported that the NBA salary cap will be about $56 million next season and the resulting luxury tax line will fall in around $68 million. That’s about $2 million less than this past season.
Excluding Chris Bosh, the Toronto Raptors have about $46.3 million committed to salaries to nine players for next season. Hoopshype NBA salaries.
Free agents the team may wish to bring back include Chris Bosh, Amir Johnson, and Antoine Wright. Add in the new rookie with the thirteenth pick and that’s a thirteen man roster.
Bosh on a new deal will earn about $16.5 million assuming he doesn’t pick up his option at $17.1 million.
Amir Johnson will likely get between $3.5 and $5.5 million.
Antione Wright could see $2.5 to $4.5 million (he hopes).
The new rookie is set to earn about $1.6 million.
Add in a minimum contract veteran like Nesterovic at $1 million.
That’s the $3 to $7 million over the luxury tax line without even picking up a free agent using the mid-level exception.
If that’s substantially the plan, Chris Bosh’s comments in his “exit” interview with the media make a lot of sense.
Bryan Colangelo liked the team he had put together for 2009-10 and this “re-make” would substantially keep it together. But it’s unlikely Bryan Colangelo gets through this off-season without some trades.
- There is a chance the Raptors trade one of their point guards to try and shore up other areas of the roster.
- Antoine Wright may not be re-signed and his slot filled using the MLE.
- Chris Bosh may not return and the Raptors may acquire some new players via sign and trade.
- There are too many options and variables to count.
But there should be no mistaking what Bryan Colangelo’s comments about having scenarios where the team spends $3 to $7 million above the tax next season really means.
That’s a status quo level of spending. Under those scenarios, any improvement to the Raptors next season will likely be coming from the continued development of their existing players and trades.
At least the Raptors are not planning on getting worse next year!
(On a positive note: Some believe the team significantly under-performed due the Coach’s learning curve, unfortunate circumstances and injuries. The same group of players would perform much better next season.)
Colangelo also said they had “scenarios where we go above that,” meaning scenarios where they go more than $7M over the tax.
Also, I don’t expect the Raptors to keep Antoine Wright. They’ve picked up Marco’s option, so they have plenty of wing players even without Wright. Instead, I think they’ll want to re-sign Amir Johnson with the MLE.
Amir is their own free agent – usually the team can re-sign their own FA without using the MLE. I am unaware of any reason the Raptors would have to use it on him. But If there is something, let me know.
Honestly without Bosh this team will be even softer to make the playoffs regardless if you add a solid player. . . And when the raps loose in the beginning eventually it’ll wear the team down and you’ll see the rebuilding process of the raps and continued improvements of the young players. . .
Assuming Bosh leaves, which is highly likely, I can see many scenarios where the team is actually better.
The Raptors will not get a better player back than Bosh – Bosh is a top 5 big man in the NBA. But they may get quality big man and upgrade their roster at PG and/or SG and have a stronger group of players overall.
A lot depends on how well Colangelo manages the off-season.
It is possible to really screw this up – but I’ll stick to the “he’ll get it right” hope for now.
Depression after mid-July may be in order, but why rush it.
I am of the side that this team woefully underperformed, especially down the stretch. Combination of things could be used as excuses, but can’t I cannot overstate my disappointment with the results this season.
I as well, have faith in BC to tune up this squad. Would love to get into various scenarios but too many to list.
Wright won’t be back, nor Rasho. Evans and Banks expiring deals are on the table. I don’t expect Calderon and Jack both back on opening day. Do we really need the number 13 pick? What would Demar fetch on the market?
Lets see what Brian can do this offseason. And it all revolves around CB4.
Wright and Johnson both will be back. Colderon is the only tradable option since will will moake more than 9 mil for next 3 sesons. Should package him with another player for a all-star wing. I am a fan of Andre Iguodala and i think he can play well with Bosh.