that's why it really only makes sense for us to use the rondo trade exception before the deadline, right?
OTherwise, what use is it if we're going to have 12-21 mil in cap space anyways?
That's why I think it makes sense to take on 2015 salary in Bass/Green/Wright etc. trades if it nets better assets. We're not signing a single max player next summer, and we have a choice of either cap space or exceptions. Every year there are useful players with future salary committed who get traded with young/future assets -- we traded Courtney Lee last year and gave Memphis a second, and he's a solid player. Toronto got Nogueira for being willing to take on Lou Williams. Thornton was certainly worth Zeller and a first. If someone wants Bass and is willing to give up more if we get a rotation-level player who's got salary committed next year, I'd much rather do that than preserve cap room that's only marginally larger than our trade exceptions. If we're able to convince a max player to sign, I'm sure we have the assets to move contracts if necessary, and the cost wouldn't be much different from what we'd receive for taking on the extra salary to begin with. We're much more than one player away. No use pretending otherwise and making decisions that represent a non-existent reality.
TP - I've been meaning to start a thread on this very subject, but since I don't ever star threads, I haven't gotten around to it.
Not only would taking on 2015-16 salary preserve a very sizable TPE, it would also likely provide additional assets. Everybody always talks about how we would need to give up a first (or two) in order to get rid of Gerald Wallace, but what if we took on a guy like Eric Gordon. That's got to be worth at least a [decent] first, right?
I definitely think it's important not to take on any salary after 2015-16, but since next year is also likely to be a rebuilding year, I say, why not? And if Danny somehow has several moves up his sleeve, we would have a huge TPE, several expiring contracts, and tons of first round picks.