Raptors Salary Cap Situation (and planning for the future)

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Information about actual revenue thus far in the year tends to trickle in and if it surpasses projections from the summer the projection tends to slide up (and the same for revenues that come in low - we've seen that happen as well, fairly often).

That DeRozan max deal keeps going up and up in salary. Now projects to 26M starting salary, almost 150M over 5 years.

The one intriguing part about the cap going up so much, is wondering if DeRozan (and others) would be open to taking less % (since it would still represent huge $), to both get paid and leave room for MU to further improve the roster.

In general, the bigger the cap is, the more opportunity there is for any top-tier player to make significant money while tying up a relatively smaller % of the total cap. It could be an interesting trend to watch, league-wide, over the next couple offseasons.

[DanH]

Information about actual revenue thus far in the year tends to trickle in and if it surpasses projections from the summer the projection tends to slide up (and the same for revenues that come in low - we've seen that happen as well, fairly often).

That DeRozan max deal keeps going up and up in salary. Now projects to 26M starting salary, almost 150M over 5 years.

[JWash]

92M, interesting. Any idea what "raised" the projections?

Doesn't change a whole lot for us though. Just slightly increases how much DeMar can make.

[DanH]

In Lowe's most recent post about the deadline, we get the first solid update to the projected 89M cap level this summer. Seems most teams are using 92M as an expected level now. Whether that comes from the league, not sure, but 92M it is.

[JWash]

Largely depends on if the Raps figure out how to use him properly or not.

Let's be real lol we're almost halfway into the season and are still throwing him out there without the two guys he plays best with... I don't see that changing unless Scola starts playing like shit.

[DanH]

I'm expecting 2pat to get Vasquez'd if the plan isn't to use him in a S&T.

Largely depends on if the Raps figure out how to use him properly or not.

[JWash]

Barring of course whatever happens before the deadline and at the draft. This last season we entered the draft with an interesting amount of cap room but no chance of chasing a big name. Ended up with max cap room and a sit down with LMA.

I'm expecting 2pat to get Vasquez'd if the plan isn't to use him in a S&T.

[JWash]

So would.....

JV/Ross

DD alone

Not sure about DD cause he'd have to want to go to the team we're S&Ting with which makes it tricky.

[DanH]

...and little traditional free agency.

Barring of course whatever happens before the deadline and at the draft. This last season we entered the draft with an interesting amount of cap room but no chance of chasing a big name. Ended up with max cap room and a sit down with LMA.

[mcHAPPY]

Not to mention any number of smaller combinations added to guys on rookie scale deals. The possible combinations are endless. The only thing to take out of this is that Masai has loads of trade flexibility.

...and little traditional free agency.

[DanH]

Not to mention any number of smaller combinations added to guys on rookie scale deals. The possible combinations are endless. The only thing to take out of this is that Masai has loads of trade flexibility.

[planetmars]

JV/2Pat
Carroll/Ross
Lowry/Ross

... could also be traded for a max player.

[mcHAPPY]

Probably not a huge deal but I just realized that Carroll+2Pat in a sign and trade could bring a max player back the other way. FWIW

So would.....

JV/Ross

DD alone

[JWash]

Probably not a huge deal but I just realized that Carroll+2Pat in a sign and trade could bring a max player back the other way. FWIW

[mcHAPPY]

2016/17:

Jonas Valanciunas $14,382,024
DeMarre Carroll $14,200,000
Kyle Lowry $12,000,000
Terrence Ross $10,000,000
Cory Joseph $7,315,000
Patrick Patterson $6,050,000
Lucas Nogueira (BeBe) $1,921,320
Bruno Caboclo $1,589,640
Delon Wright $1,577,280
Norman Powell $874,636

Cap holds:

DeMar DeRozan $15,075,000 (assuming he opts out of his player option)
Luis Scola $3,480,000
James Johnson $4,750,000
Bismack Biyombo $3,376,800 (assuming he opts out of his player option)
Nando de Colo $1,901,900 (cap hold; $1,828,750 QO)
TOR 2016 1st round pick $1,301,900 (assumed 20th pick)
NYK 2016 1st round pick $2,140,500 (assumed 10th pick)

Above roster, if all free agents are let go: $73,895,771

This equates to 15.2M in cap room. The 7-9 year vet max is 25.1M.

2017/18:

Jonas Valanciunas $15,460,675
DeMarre Carroll $14,800,000
Terrence Ross $10,500,000
Cory Joseph $7,630,000
Lucas Nogueira (BeBe) $2,947,305
Bruno Caboclo $2,451,225
Delon Wright $1,645,200
Norman Powell $1,014,746 (unguaranteed)
TOR 2016 1st round pick $1,632,480 (assumed 20th pick)
NYK 2016 1st round pick $2,684,160 (assumed 10th pick)

Cap holds:

Kyle Lowry $18,000,000 (if he opts out)
Patrick Patterson $9,075,000
TOR 2017 1st round pick $1,347,400 (assumed 20th pick)
LAC 2017 1st round pick $1,098,700 (assumed 25th pick)

Above roster, if all free agents are let go: $63,211,891

This equates to 44.8M in cap room, with three spots to fill. The 7-9 year vet max is 30.5M, the 10+ year max is 35.6M.

Any salary added in 2016 that will extend into 2017 gets taken away from that cap room. Sign DD to a 20M flat deal, that 44.8M drops to 24.8M, less than the RFA max. Sign him to an even bigger deal and it obviously drops even lower.

And that assumes Lowry walks, and Patterson, and anyone else signed in summer 2016 is only for a year.

Obviously trades could, and probably should, happen between now and then, and that could free up (or tie up) salary in various ways.

Raptors are essentially at the new cap with DD's cap hold.

Without significant shake up before trade deadline or draft night, free agency 2016 is not going to feature the Raptors as a lead player - unless sign and trade is the route the Raptors go to land a big fish.

It will be interesting to see what happens next with the Raptors.