Full MLE for Celtics??

[Smitty77]

Please tell me if this is correct.  Thanks, Smitty77.

This from Hoopsworld:

Jason Fleming – 12/02/2011 12:12am EST

Want to throw out some info, something just to keep in the back of your mind. The new CBA has the MLE “apron” for teams with over $69 million in commitments. At that dollar amount the value of a given team’s MLE goes down (the calculation is that current commitments plus the MLE is limited to $74 million, but the total value of the MLE offer will not drop below $3 million (three-year deal if a team gets a reduced MLE).

So, which teams are currently limited to the “mini MLE”? Ignoring potential amnesty cuts, which could change a team’s status, here they are (assume first-round picks are included in the team’s salary total):

Los Angeles Lakers
Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs

These teams will have the full MLE, a four-year deal starting at $5 million (some of these teams are under the cap but have cap holds for restricted free agents that, when combined with the MLE amount, put them over the cap, so they receive the MLE):

Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Bobcats
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami HEAT
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz

And these teams get the new two-year, $2.5 million exception, given to teams who use all their cap space to sign free agents (assuming they DO use that cap space):

Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
New Jersey Nets
New Orleans Hornets
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards

There is wiggle room in this last group depending on what each team does with their own Bird Rights free agents and where exactly they sit in relation to the cap. For example, should the Hornets use Bird Rights to re-sign David West for a deal starting at $9 million, they would have the MLE. If someone else signs West, they stay where they are.

[Roy H.]

It's technically possible for us to have the full MLE.  However, it's not likely.

Right now, our committed salary is around $64 million.  That doesn't count Jeff Green's $5.9 million qualifying offer, approximately $2.5 million in cap holds, etc.

Once you do account for those, we're over the tax line, and can't use the full MLE.

[Smitty77]

Thanks for clarifying Roy.  That is depressing:-))  I had gotten a little excited.

Seriously, thanks for bringing me back to earth.

Smitty77

[Surferdad]

In that scenario Jeff Green effectively gets the "full MLE" money.  You can decide if that's the right move for a backup 3/4, or if you would rather use that money on a backup center.

[dmny5000]

In that scenario Jeff Green effectively gets the "full MLE" money.  You can decide if that's the right move for a backup 3/4, or if you would rather use that money on a backup center.

I think it's easily the right move since you cant afford a similar talent for the MLE this year. No Centers anyways. Who would you get that 3 mil doesn't buy except for maybe Kwame?

[Celtics4ever]

eek.  Chris Johnson here we come.

[dmny5000]

eek.  Chris Johnson here we come.

Please no I don't want a center that weighs less than me. He was pretty bad last time we gave him a shot. I think da will at least get someone that can hold his own.

[footey]

I'm surprised Miami has the full MLE. That stinks.

[Who]

I'm surprised Miami has the full MLE. That stinks.

They might have to let Mike Miller or Mario Chalmers leave to keep it.

Things get pretty tight for them financially when you factor in Chalmers' new contract.

[byennie]

What happens if we deal Green? For example, suppose we offered Green, O'Neal, Bradley and our #1 picks this year for Nene (S&T), signed to a new deal 4 yrs $40M ($9M this year)?

That would get us a starting C, and drop our cap number by almost $5M. Could we then use the full MLE to fill Green's shoes, with say Caron Butler?

I'd rather have Nene & Butler than Green, O'Neal, draft picks, and $3M to spend.

[Roy H.]

What happens if we deal Green? For example, suppose we offered Green, O'Neal, Bradley and our #1 picks this year for Nene (S&T), signed to a new deal 4 yrs $40M ($9M this year)?

That would get us a starting C, and drop our cap number by almost $5M. Could we then use the full MLE to fill Green's shoes, with say Caron Butler?

I'd rather have Nene & Butler than Green, O'Neal, draft picks, and $3M to spend.

I'm not sure if that deal would be enough to get Nene here, and I haven't run the math.  In theory, though, if we're shaving off $5 million from our payroll, we should be able to use the MLE.  So long as we can fit all our team salary below the $74 million hard cap for MLE users, we should be fine.  (Apparently, veteran minimum contracts *do* count toward this hard cap, contrary to earlier reports.  No word on whether trade exceptions would, as well, but I assume so.)