Even with Rice's contract off the books, we'll still be over the cap, so we won't be signing any big name free agents next offseason unless we're able to dump alot of salary between now and then.
hopefully we will be able to deal rice to a team needing capspace and it isnt working out w/ their quality player (SAR? ODOM)
From ESPN: Marc Stein Chat Wrap Jake (Milwaukee): Do you see the Jazz making any trades in the near future? Or do you think they will sign a couple of role players just to meet the minimum salary requirements. Is AK-47 due for a breakout year, Stevenson?? Marc Stein: The Jazz, Nuggets and Heat will all have plenty of trade opportunities in coming months -- everyone will go to the teams with cap room to try to facilitate their deals. What I'm sure the Jazz would love to do now, if they can pull it off, is try to acquire guys in the last year of their contracts -- like, say, a Glen Rice from Houston -- along with a future first-round pick. That way the Jazz can get to the minimum salary without hurting its cap flexibility for next summer while also stockpiling picks. Of course, those trades aren't easy to make. It's a lot to expect to ask another team to give up a last-year contract and a pick. The Jazz might be forced to take guys with more than one year left on a deal because they're going to keep struggling to attract free agents to SLC.
Since there are no trades in the air, I have assumed that the roster is as is for JVG's 1st Rox campaign. Rice will be the 'ticket' to deal for midseason help IF the right player is available to help put the Rox into May.
