If we are truly "all in"...

[Roy H.]

... then Brad needs to use our TPE.  And more specifically, he needs to use it soon.

The TPE is worth $6,202,500.  By itself, that's not going to bring back anybody too exciting.  Most of the guys making that amount are still on rookie contracts, or just aren't very good NBA players.  The list (scroll down):

https://hoopshype.com/salaries/players/

So, anybody at Javon Carter's salary (220th) or lower.

But, if Brad acts fast and smartly, he can gain us a lot more flexiibility to add a big down the road.  To do that, he needs to use the TPE on an expiring contract now, and then combine it with other players who are eligible to be traded after December 15.

I'm not sure who that player would be, but let's use old friend Aaron Nesmith as an example.  He makes $5,634,257.

Around December 15, we could trade him plus several other minimum salary players for a big man.  So, let's say:

Nesmith ($5,634,257) + Svi ($2,346,614) + Banton ($2,019,706)   

In combination, those three could return a player making up to $11 million.  That opens up flexibility quite a bit, allowing us to "match" salaries for guys like Larry Nance, Jr., Isaiah Hartenstein, or old friend Daniel Theis (hypothetically; Nesmith couldn't be traded back to the Pacers).

==========================================

Or, we can just use the TPE to bring in a guy like Jalen Smith, assuming the Pacers aren't that high on him.  If he works out, fantastic.  If not, we proceed with Plan A above.

[Surferdad]

Doesn't using that TPE put us over the 2nd apron? I know, I know, we are "all in".

[Roy H.]

Doesn't using that TPE put us over the 2nd apron? I know, I know, we are "all in".

It does, but the second apron is largely meaningless for us this season.  We could exceed the second apron and still have total salary commitments less than last season, and the draft pick penalty for second rounders doesn't kick in for a couple more years.

The one thing we can't do is use any portion of the MLE, because that would hard cap us.  But using the TPE doesn't have that same issue.

[Kernewek]

Doesn't using that TPE put us over the 2nd apron? I know, I know, we are "all in".

It does, but the second apron is largely meaningless for us this season.  We could exceed the second apron and still have total salary commitments less than last season, and the draft pick penalty for second rounders doesn't kick in for a couple more years.

The one thing we can't do is use any portion of the MLE, because that would hard cap us.  But using the TPE doesn't have that same issue.

We won't be hard-capped but I believe I remember reading that teams over the first and second apron have 110% and 100% limits, respectively, on the return salary of the player coming back when they use TPEs. So a mild inconvenience more than anything else.

[celticinorlando]

Use everything you can to add a decent big

[Kuberski33]

Use everything you can to add a decent big

There's no rush. They have a roster right now that can navigate the regular season and win plenty of games. Brad can afford to wait for the right opportunity.

[Roy H.]

Use everything you can to add a decent big

There's no rush. They have a roster right now that can navigate the regular season and win plenty of games. Brad can afford to wait for the right opportunity.

He can't wait too long, though.  For instance, we have to wait 60 days to trade a player we get with the TPE, assuming we're aggregating his salary with that of other players.  Since December 15 is a significant date on the NBA calendar (as many free agents signed this summer can be traded), it would be ideal if Brad could make an initial trade by October 15.

[mobilija]

My understanding -and I definitely could be wrong- is that its nit the worry of being over the 2nd apron due to penalties about this year or next but its the penalties incurred from being over for several years in a row, or 3 out of 4 or something similar. And next year and the following, with Jaylens extension kicking in, we are guaranteed to be over.

So, going "all in" this year, effectively shortens the window of keeping the core together by 1 year. So whats more important a better 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (depending on quality available) man this year or keeping your top 5 togethwr 1 more year?

[Roy H.]

My understanding -and I definitely could be wrong- is that its nit the worry of being over the 2nd apron due to penalties about this year or next but its the penalties incurred from being over for several years in a row, or 3 out of 4 or something similar. And next year and the following, with Jaylens extension kicking in, we are guaranteed to be over.

So, going "all in" this year, effectively shortens the window of keeping the core together by 1 year. So whats more important a better 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (depending on quality available) man this year or keeping your top 5 togethwr 1 more year?

The "repeater" penalties don't go into effect this year (meaning the clock doesn't start running on them yet).  I can't remember if they start with the 2024-25 season or 2025-26, but there's time to trim payroll to avoid that in future seasons.  And if not, oh well.  You pay the cost to be the boss.

[mobilija]

My understanding -and I definitely could be wrong- is that its nit the worry of being over the 2nd apron due to penalties about this year or next but its the penalties incurred from being over for several years in a row, or 3 out of 4 or something similar. And next year and the following, with Jaylens extension kicking in, we are guaranteed to be over.

So, going "all in" this year, effectively shortens the window of keeping the core together by 1 year. So whats more important a better 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (depending on quality available) man this year or keeping your top 5 togethwr 1 more year?

The "repeater" penalties don't go into effect this year (meaning the clock doesn't start running on them yet).  I can't remember if they start with the 2024-25 season or 2025-26, but there's time to trim payroll to avoid that in future seasons.  And if not, oh well.  You pay the cost to be the boss.

So you are saying this year doesn't count towards "repeater" penalties?

And repeater penalties are just monetary and not roster building penalties?

[Roy H.]

My understanding -and I definitely could be wrong- is that its nit the worry of being over the 2nd apron due to penalties about this year or next but its the penalties incurred from being over for several years in a row, or 3 out of 4 or something similar. And next year and the following, with Jaylens extension kicking in, we are guaranteed to be over.

So, going "all in" this year, effectively shortens the window of keeping the core together by 1 year. So whats more important a better 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (depending on quality available) man this year or keeping your top 5 togethwr 1 more year?

The "repeater" penalties don't go into effect this year (meaning the clock doesn't start running on them yet).  I can't remember if they start with the 2024-25 season or 2025-26, but there's time to trim payroll to avoid that in future seasons.  And if not, oh well.  You pay the cost to be the boss.

So you are saying this year doesn't count towards "repeater" penalties?

And repeater penalties are just monetary and not roster building penalties?

1.  Yes, this year does NOT count toward second-apron repeater penalties.

2.  Second apron repeater penalties do have roster building consequences, namely it can send your #1 pick to the last pick of the first round seven years in the future.  But, that's not in play this season.

Separate from this are "repeater" taxes for exceeding the luxury tax.  Those have been in place for years, and are purely financial.

[mobilija]

My understanding -and I definitely could be wrong- is that its nit the worry of being over the 2nd apron due to penalties about this year or next but its the penalties incurred from being over for several years in a row, or 3 out of 4 or something similar. And next year and the following, with Jaylens extension kicking in, we are guaranteed to be over.

So, going "all in" this year, effectively shortens the window of keeping the core together by 1 year. So whats more important a better 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (depending on quality available) man this year or keeping your top 5 togethwr 1 more year?

The "repeater" penalties don't go into effect this year (meaning the clock doesn't start running on them yet).  I can't remember if they start with the 2024-25 season or 2025-26, but there's time to trim payroll to avoid that in future seasons.  And if not, oh well.  You pay the cost to be the boss.

So you are saying this year doesn't count towards "repeater" penalties?

And repeater penalties are just monetary and not roster building penalties?

1.  Yes, this year does NOT count toward second-apron repeater penalties.

2.  Second apron repeater penalties do have roster building consequences, namely it can send your #1 pick to the last pick of the first round seven years in the future.  But, that's not in play this season.

Separate from this are "repeater" taxes for exceeding the luxury tax.  Those have been in place for years, and are purely financial.