| Sixers Salary Cap Situation Still Needs Work Authored by Derek Bodner - December 27, 2007 - 7:59 pm
Most of the hope surrounding the Sixers future has been based around the possibility of salary cap room next summer and the hope that the Sixers can use that cap room to make additions to the team through free agency.
Unfortunately this is not yet possible with the current financial situation of the team, and moves still need to be made before that possibility becomes a reality. When you add up the current contracts already guaranteed for next year (Dalembert, Miller, Korver, Evans, Green, Young, Carney, Smith), along with players with a Player Option (Booth), restricted free agents who have a cap hold (Iguodala will count approximately $8.4 million towards the cap until he's signed, Williams somewhere in the $1-$1.5 million range), along with draft picks in the upcoming draft, the Sixers are looking at somewhere between 4 and 6 million in cap space, assuming a modest increase of the salary cap to about $58 million next year. Not exactly the amount to lure a free agent who can turn a franchise around. So the next logical question is, who are the likely targets to be moved?
The most speculated about is Andre Miller. Clearing his money off the cap would give the Sixers room to offer a maximum contract. He also has the most trade value around the league, as his contract only extends another year, and there are multiple playoff hopefuls that could use his services. At 31 years old, and with Louis Williams deserving of a look as a starter, Miller is certainly the most logical. If the Sixers continue to push forward and have hopes of contending this year, however, the Sixers may wish to retain his services.
Samuel Dalembert could also provide a significant boost in cap space this summer. The problem is Dalembert has been having possibly his best season to date, and while he may have significant holes in his game, replacing his skill set would become a top priority and create a significant hole in the team defensively.
Any other player moved would not provide enough clearance under the cap next summer to sign a maximum salaried free agent by themselves. Clearing Reggie Evans $4.6+ million due next year would be a significant start, and the Nazr Mohammid trade gave this move a slim possibility of happening. Still, trading away a career bench player with a long term contract is not going to be an easy task to accomplish.
Willie Green is in the same situation. It is possible that his improved play over the last few weeks in a starting role has convinced someone around the league that he can be a starter down the line, but if teams still view him as a guy best suited as a spark off the bench, the fact that he has 4 years left on his contract will likely scare them off
Which brings us to the most interesting possibility, and possibly the most controversial.
Kyle Korver is someone with a sensible contract (2 years left after this year making less than the leave average salary) and has a skillset that every team in the league can use. At only 26 years old Korver is still someone who can be a part of the long term future of the team, and regardless of the way Stefanski decides to go with the direction of the team his skills will still be needed. Still, if the Sixers decide that Andre Miller is a bigger part of their future going forward, adding in someone like Korver to Reggie Evans or Willie Green could entice a team to take those players and their contracts off the Sixers hands, and could provide the Sixers with enough room to go after a max free agent next summer without moving their starting point guard.
It is possible Stefanski decides signing Andre Iguodala to a reasonable contract this summer is unlikely to happen, and rather than overpay him he could try to get value for him now. Considering Iguodala's reported contract extension requests during the offseason and uncertainty in what it will take to re-sign him come the end of the year, it is hard to imagine any team will make a serious push now. If Iguodala and the Sixers fail to agree to terms this offseason, the Sixers can use Iguodala's restricted free agency as leverage and work out a sign and trade at that time. The odds of Iguodala being traded during the season are likely very low.
Odds of being dealt:
Andre Miller: 60%
Kyle Korver: 30%
Reggie Evans: 15%
Willie Green: 15%
Samuel Dalembert: 10%
Derek Bodner can be reached at dbodner22@gmail.com |
