The Spurs won 60+ games for the third time in four years in 2016/17, but any chance they had of knocking off the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals was stymied when Kawhi Leonard re-injured his ankle in Game 1 against Golden State. Even though San Antonio was the second- or third-best team in the NBA this past season, additional roster pieces may be needed to seriously challenge the historically dominant Warriors.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Spurs financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- LaMarcus Aldridge ($21,461,010)
- Kawhi Leonard ($18,868,625)
- Tony Parker ($15,453,126)
- Danny Green ($10,000,000)
- Kyle Anderson ($2,151,704)
- Tim Duncan ($1,881,250) — Waived via stretch provision.
- Davis Bertans ($1,312,611)
- Dejounte Murray ($1,312,611)
- Livio Jean-Charles ($1,035,200) — Waived.
- Total: $73,476,137
Player Options
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Bryn Forbes ($1,312,611)1
- Total: $1,312,611
Restricted Free Agents
- Jonathon Simmons ($1,671,382 qualifying offer / $1,671,382 cap hold)
- Total: $1,671,382
Cap Holds
- Manu Ginobili ($21,000,000)
- Patty Mills ($6,800,001)
- Dewayne Dedmon ($3,477,600) — Player option declined.
- Joel Anthony ($1,471,382)
- No. 29 overall pick ($1,404,600)
- Total: $34,153,583
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $22,856,803
- With seven guaranteed contracts, plus cap holds for a first-round pick and four empty roster spots, the Spurs’ team salary is $78,143,197. That figure doesn’t include Gasol or Lee, who could pick up player options, and also doesn’t include Ginobili, Mills, or Simmons, all free agents. Even if none of those players return, San Antonio would still have work to do to clear enough room for a maximum salary player like Chris Paul.
Footnotes:
- Forbes’ salary becomes partially guaranteed ($100,000) after August 1.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Parker and Green. Need to trade Green – I’m sure there would be interest in him given his fair salary, and redo Parker’s contract if possible. Gasol is the one who most likely would return, but opting out for a lower salary next year and add a year with an increase when Parker’s expires may help.
If I’m the Spurs, I’m looking to get creative however I need in order to sign CP3.
Can’t rework NBA contracts and Danny green is a bargain for top notch defense and solid three point shooting. Green and Leonard offer the best perimeter defense in the NBA. They want Paul this is how it would most likely go down. Parker is staying that’s pops third son. Gasol opts out and signs for less but for more years. Ginobili retires or takes near minimum. Lee and dedmon opt out. Bring over hanga on a rookie deal. Trade Aldridge for a more athletic big who is younger. That way you lose probably dedmon, Lee, Mills, Aldridge. Gain a younger big and cp3. All that being said I think it would only happen if cp3 took a little less. I doubt that.
Who is this young athletic big that costs less than LA? And why would a team trade away said player to take on a bigger contract? Also you have to factor in that the team would have to have a trade exception or have enough cap space to not have to match salaries
Stretch Parker! That gets you 95% the way to clearing room to sign Paul. Then re-sign Tony on a one-year minimum deal w/ player option. He makes more money over one year this way, too.
Is the amnesty rule an option here?