2010 Update: 9 Possible Players

With the Songaila having come and gone, the Wolves see themselves better positioned once again for the 2010 off-season. Every bad contract we had in our possession at the beginning of the year is now gone, and the only contracts we have left on our team past next year  are reasonable contracts for players that belong in the NBA (minus maybe Pecherov and Brewer for that last part). However, hearing about how all of these moves are so amazing from myself and other writers may not show you exactly how much power this gives the team next off-season. Knowing all my readers want to be the most well informed Wolves followers in the world, I will break it down for you.

Players Under Contract Next Season:

Al Jefferson – $13,000,000
Ryan Gomes – $4,235,000
Ramon Sessions – $4,000,000
Kevin Love (TO) – $3,638,280
Jonny Flynn – $3,192,000
Corey Brewer (TO) – $3,703,472
Ricky Rubio (Cap Hold) – $2,724,300
Ryan Hollins – $2,333,333
Oleksiy Pecherov – $2,380,270
Wayne Ellington – $1,078,800

Draft Pick Holds (Based on 2009 rookie scale, with all teams ending with same record)

Minnesota (6th Pick) – $2,474,400 – To LAC if 11th pick or later
Charlotte (12th Pick) – Top 13 protected
Utah (20th Pick) – $1,099,100 – Top 18 protected

Total Salaries: $43,858,955
W/ Brewer Let Go: $40,155,483

Salary Cap:
Same As 2009-10: $57,700,000
W/ Same Decrease as 2009-10: $56,680,000
W/ Same Increase From 2007-08 to 2008-09: $60,150,000

What All This Means: If the Wolves do sign Sessions tomorrow (which is very likely with the bucks having 3 PG’s and salary cap issues) and decide Brewer and K-Love are worth keeping on at their rookie salaries (most money that could be taken up) as well as the Salary Cap decreasing the same amount as this year, the Wolves would have $13,841,045.

With this cap number, the maximum salary for a player with 6 or less years in the NBA would be $14,170,000 (or 25% of cap). If the player had between 7 and 9 years of NBA experience, the max contract would be $17,004,000 (30% of cap). If the player had 10+ years of experience, the maximum contract would then be $19,838,000 (35% of cap). This would mean that the wolves would be just over $3 Million away from being able to offer any young player to a maximum deal. This is fine, because the Wolves are in a situation where they don’t want an NBA vet, they need a younger player who has still proven themselves, but aren’t as close to the end of their careers. This type of player would fit into our youthful growing team perfectly. The oldest player they should go after should be around 27 years of age or less. This would mean that any player they go after would be in the $17 million a year range or lower, which they nearly already have at their disposal.

Now, Let’s try the other side of the coin. We will still say the Wolves are keeping everyone they can (Brewer, Love, Sessions), but the NBA salary cap goes up to $60,150,000. In this case, the Wolves have $16,291,045. However, the max salaries have changed along with the salary cap. 6 or less years is now $15,037,500, 7-9 years would be $18,045,000, and 10+ years would be $21,052,500. In this case, the Wolves would only be $1 Million away from the amount they should be shooting for. This would then be something the Wolves could offer a player with a deal in mind to free up the money on the side. Something many teams have done recently, much like the 76ers in the deal where we took on Carney’s contract for nothing.

It is expected that the salary cap will in fact be lowered again next year (first situation), but it won’t be known for sure until next summer. What we do know is the Wolves have a whole lot of cap space next summer, and they should be in the running to get any player they choose. All they have to do is prove that with this new team and coaching staff comes a new *winning* culture.

With that, I hope you now have something to reference when you are doing your daily Wolves’ salary cap breakdown to your co-workers and friends.  I will update this with any moves still to be made this off-season. Hope I didn’t hurt your brain too much.