This all goes back to the CP0 contract and why its imperative his contract needs to be moved for the long term health of the team. If Tilman does not get under the luxury tax this year, it will only become harder for him to avoid the repeat luxtax penalty over the following 3 years thanks to CP0's contact. If CP0 could contribute to even half of his value in the coming years, we would not need the additional help. However CP0 will be dead weight and Harden will need the extra help. If Harden does not get the help he needs and Tilman is not willing to pay the repeat luxury tax penalty, Harden will demand a trade. If we get under the luxury tax this year, then the team has more options over the next 3 years to navigate around CP0's albatross contract and avoid the repeat penalty.
I don't see the math. We're $4 million over and Stauskas and Baldwin add up to just over $3 million and we've made it clear we intend to sign a buyout candidate. Would need Clint to miss his bonuses for sure. Maybe @BimaThug can lay some math on us to see how feasible it is that we'll be under the tax this year.
I think Harden is loyal to the T. Could imagine him wanting to avoid the Rox as much as he can and transferring to the East. Can't imagining him leaving though.
Yes, this is correct. @The Cat have one of our few disagreements about this. It's not that CP3 contract keeps you from having cap space, it's that his FULL MAX makes navigating the luxury tax minefield nearly impossible without making some really difficult decisions. That we didn't get even a slight discount is disheartening. The stuff about the trade demand and all that isn't worth responding to.
The Cavs had to do it with Lebron still there. They ended up with a $43M tax penalty after last season. Clippers were going to owe $56M if they had kept Chris Paul. Big part of the reason they let him go. Thunder, Wizards, and Warriors are all getting close to paying it. Wiz look like they're blowing some things up to ensure they don't. Thunder are probably going to be looking to get rid of folks after the season. Warriors have to make a decision on whether they can afford to keep that core together.
I find it funny that everyone is bashing Tilman and somehow believe Les was some big time spender. Also did everyone forget that Les basically shook down Tilman with a $2.2 BILLION sales price. Again, $2.2 BILLION with a B, the highest any NBA team as ever sold for.
