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By: Keith Dobkowski, Senior Sports News Writer
Due to a combination of the salary cap, opt out clauses, maximum
contracts and player-coach disputes; the NBA is strutting into the
most exciting off-season in recent memory. Add the implosion
the Los Angeles Lakers followed by the resignation of Phil
Jackson and even a lackluster draft cannot limit this off-season.
A list of names that includes Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tracy
Mcgrady, Allen Iverson, Steve Francis, and many more will change
addresses this summer.
Topping the sports talk radio and televisions shows is the
rumored trade of Tracy Mcgrady from the Orlando Magic to the
Houston Rockets for Steve Francis and Cutino Mobley. Mcgrady
has not directly requested a trade, but stated that if the Magic
did not greatly improve from last years 20 win season, Mcgrady
would opt out of his contract next summer.
A combination of fear and injury lead the Magic to this trade
decision. Only a few years back, Shaq opted out of his contract
and headed west to Los Angeles while the Magic received
nothing in exchange. The Lakers went on to win three
championships and the Magic have not been back to the finals
since Shaq’s departure. As the Magic tried to resurrect, they
signed both Grant Hill and Tracy Mcgrady. Hill’s contract and
ankle have hamstrung the Magic and not allowed them to create
a supporting cast around the leagues best scorer, Mcgrady.
Mcgrady rumors have also included him heading to the Sonics for
Ray Allen, going to the Pacers for Al Harrington, Jonathan Bender
and Jeff Foster or headed to the Suns for Shawn Marion and
others. While Houston appears to be Mcgrady’s destination, the
other names show the motion that may be the NBA’s ocean.
Finally, Francis is in the position because of his refusal to follow
Coach Jeff Van Gundy’s directions to feed Yao and feed him early
and often. Francis has signed a maximum contract, as has
Mcgrady, meaning that to move that much money under the
salary cap, a max player must be traded for a max player.
To understand this “motion of the NBA Ocean” an indebt look at
the NBA salary cap is necessary. The NBA operates under a
salary cap where each team is limited in the amount they can
spend on players. The cap is a soft in nature allowing teams to
sign their own players to contracts above the salary cap line.
The league taxes any money spent over the cap line and the
revenue made is then dispersed equally amongst the teams
under the cap. For instance, if the Lakers were to keep this
season’s team together, they could resign Kobe Bryant to the
maximum contract and not worry about the salary cap outside of
paying the tax.
However, in regards to trades, salaries must match for the trade
to go through unless a team has room under the cap with which
to move. Remember, a team may only resign their own players
when breaking the salary cap. Thus when the Magic trade
Mcgrady and his $14 million per year salary, the Magic must
receive $14 million worth of players in return.
Thus, when the Magic are looking to trade their highest paid
player, they must look only at teams that have a player who is
making similar money. When the trade does go through, we will
see a handful of other players involved for the sole purpose of
equaling contract dollars on both sides. Under the common
sense theory, meaning do not look to the Warriors or Clippers for
answers, the players making the most money are the best
players and therefore can only be traded for another teams best
player.
Recent memory shows Gary Payton traded for Ray Allen and
Stephon Marbury traded for Jason Kidd.
With that said, a look at the other names available and why is
necessary.
As the Lakers lost to the Pistons last week, the destruction of
Lakers occurred even faster than that of the Bulls after their sixth
championship. Karl Malone opted out of his contract, and Kobe
stated that he would opt out of his. Shaq called for a trade and
Phil Jackson is now headed back to Montana to find his inner Zen.
Of major note is obviously Kobe and Shaq. Kobe, while facing
rape charges in Colorado, will know where he is going and for
how much before he knows the verdict. However, Kobe’s
finances will be greatly affected by his signing. If he stays with
the Lakers, he is eligible for nearly $20 million a year, as opposed
to $14 million a year if he signs with another team. Rumored
suitors include the Lakers, Clippers, Suns and Knicks.
Shaq demanded a trade as soon as Phil Jackson announced his
separation from the Lakers. Shaq called the team selfish and
told the media that this was not the team he joined many years
ago. Shaq’s suitors look to be the Knicks, Clippers, Magic, and a
rumored trade sending the Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki to the
Lakers. However, Shaq has two years and over $50 million left
on his current contract meaning that he will be near impossible to
move.
Allen Iverson has butted heads with every coach and still fails to
see the importance of practice. Regardless, AI puts fans in the
seats and will be a welcome addition somewhere as Philadelphia
tries to start anew. However, AI has five years left on his
contract and has taken more hard hits then most players. It is
iffy as to whether AI will move, but look to Atlanta or Chicago as
possible suitors.
A few other predictions sees Eric Dampier opting out of his
contract with the Warriors and signing with the Grizzlies (Jerry
West like Damp), going to the Eastern Division where he would
be dominant center (which has less to do Dampier and more to
do with the division) or seeing Damp join the T-Wolves as they
try to grow their front line.
Steve Nash will most likely return to Mavs unless the trade for
Shaq goes through. Other suitors include the Suns and Raptors.
And while Antawn Jamison, Antwan Walker, Alan Houston and
Shawn Marion may be on the move, it is Vince Carter who should
be watched closely. He would be a perfect fit on the Spurs who
have the cap room to do it.
Overall, this will be the most exciting off-season in recent
history. Furthermore, while some may disagree with the cap, the
side effect of great off-season moves will keep the NBA in the
press long after the finals end.
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