Here is what seems super clear to me:
1. We won't sign or trade for anyone with $ past this year (unless it is a Beal-type blockbuster). This appears obvious after Richardson (expiring), Dunn (expiring), Fernando (expiring), passing on Fournier, Kanter (1 year deal), and the lack of movement on using the 5.9 exception (many deals so far include that 2nd year player option, which I assume we have not been willing to offer).
Here is what is still up in the air:
1. Is the plan max cap space next summer (I hope not), or is the plan to load up on expiring contracts to make it easier to make a big trade (now? deadline?) in advance of next summer (my hope).
2. Are we willing to pay the tax this year even if we are not willing to take on future $? If we are not, that would be a pretty [dang]ing indictment of Wyc in my opinion since there is no reason we can't both pay some tax this year to give our team a legit shot to be competitive and still have the flexibility and cap space moving forward. I am worried that Wyc has mandated no tax this year. We supposedly traded TT for Dunn/Fernando instead of Delon Wright. Wright is a better player and better fit for us than Dunn, but he makes 1.8 more than them. Also, we have not used that 5.9 exception. Maybe we use it in the next couple of days, but if we don't use it at all (or only use a portion of it to sign Yam), that is a major failure to add a veteran rotation player to the team at the cost of nothing but $. I hope I'm wrong, and we are willing to pay some tax. If they expand the SAC/ATL deal to take back more salary and use the 5.9, I will rescind my recent criticism of Wyc. But he seems way too willing to "pay the tax next year when we're a real contender", but there's mounting evidence that next year keeps rolling over.