The Spurs, as previously outlined, have a ton of hoops they'll need to jump through in order to clear space for a max-contract star such as Aldridge. If both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili return—likely—they need to hope both take the requisite pay cuts. They'll then have to dump at least Tiago Splitter via trade, and it's entirely possible Danny Green, a free agent, becomes collateral damage of an Aldridge signing. Giving chase to Aldridge is simpler for the Mavericks, though, it will involve more than practiced handshakes and charismatic smiles. Nine-year veterans are eligible for max salaries that account for 30 percent of the salary cap in the first year of any new deal, according Larry Coon's CBA FAQ. Basketball Related Income (BRI) does come into play and usually drags that salary below the 30-percent threshold, but that initial figure is still a good baseline. Thirty percent of next season's salary cap—$67.1 million, per Draft Express' Jonathan Givony—is roughly $20.1 million. This is the amount of cap space for which the Mavericks must aim. That doesn't appear to be a problem when looking at their books. They have just under $28.1 million in guaranteed commitments on next season's ledger. But that $28.1 million is being doled out to three players: Devin Harris, Chandler Parsons and Nowitzki. Gal Mekel, whom the Mavericks waived using the stretch provision, represents some of that hit, but since he's not on the roster, we can still roll with just the three players. This doesn't take into account the nearly $4 million player option Raymond Felton has already exercised. For the sake of having bodies, let's also assume the Mavericks bring back Dwight Powell at his roughly $800,000 salary. They need to pay their first-round draft pick as well. The No. 21 pick in this year's selection extravaganza will earn around $1.2 million, per RealGM. Tack on the extra $6 million they'll have to pay Felton, Powell and No. 21 to the $28.1 million from before, and the Mavericks will have $34.1 million devoted to six players. Even after factoring in the requisite minimum cap holds—$525,093 for every open roster spot below the league-imposed minimum of 12—the Mavericks can have as little as $37.2 million in contracts on their books. That leaves them with more than enough wiggle room to accommodate Aldridge. Here's the thing: This assumes the Mavericks will renounce the rights to, and then part ways with, free agents Al-Farouq Aminu, J.J. Barea, Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis (player option) and Rajon Rondo. While Rondo is good as gone, it's beyond unlikely they bid farewell to each of the other three. Aldridge can spend some time at center, but he doesn't provide the rim protection or defensive leadership of Chandler; Aminu proved to be a defensive boon during Dallas' five-game playoff journey and posted the second-best net rating of any rotation player, behind only Barea; Ellis led the team in scoring last season; and Barea himself plays well under head coach Rick Carlisle. At the same time, the Mavericks, it seems, are open to anything. MacMahon says that if Ellis opts out of his deal, the team is prepared to let him walk. That, if nothing else, is proof of the Mavericks' flexibility. The best way to determine what an Aldridge signing would entail, then, is to just throw his projected salary onto the pile and move forward. Below you'll see what the Mavericks could be working with at most after landing Aldridge: Signing Aldridge will leave the Mavericks with around $10.6 million to spend before accounting for the returns of Aminu, Chandler and Ellis, which isn't even close to enough for all three. If Ellis opts into the last year of his deal, the Mavericks will have just $2.9 million of breathing room. There's no guarantee that's even enough to re-sign Aminu, who is due for a raise from the $1.1 million he's slated to earn next season. Successfully wooing Aldridge kills the idea of bringing back Chandler altogether. The Mavericks could cut it financially if Ellis leaves, but there isn't room for Aldridge, Chandler, Nowitzki and Parsons in the same starting lineup. Pursuing Aldridge is basically an admittance that they're going to run him out at center. They can sign him, theoretically retain Ellis and Aminu and then field a starting lineup consisting of Aldridge, Nowitzki, Parsons, Ellis and Harris, with Aminu, Felton and their first-rounder coming off the bench. And that's not a horrible place to be. The Mavericks would still project as a wildly explosive offensive team. But they would regress defensively, and they were already strained on that end of the floor. Using their first-rounder—the player they actually end up with, since they owe their 2016 selection to the Boston Celtics and cannot trade draft picks in consecutive years—to pawn off Felton's expiring pact could open upward of $5 million in cap space. That's money the Mavericks can reinvest in Barea and some second-unit rim protection, perhaps making a run at Ed Davis or, on the even lower end, Cole Aldrich and Joel Anthony. Now, if Ellis leaves and the Mavericks are able to pull off the Felton salary dump, they'll have more than $15 million to still burn through after paying Aldridge. But at that point, they would still need to re-sign Aminu, nab a starting shooting guard, add some rim protection and land at least one more point man. None of that is especially appealing. It is, however, necessary. With so much money tied up in Aldridge, Parsons and Nowitzki, the Mavericks would be married to a shallow rotation, irrespective of whether they retain Ellis. Which, truthfully, makes some sense for them. They can tread water for another season and hope to pitch free agents on a core of Aldridge, Parsons and Nowitzki in 2016, when the salary cap is set to spike. Does it make sense for Aldridge? That's the real question. As Kurt Helin writes for NBC Sports: Aldridge has some decisions to make. How much does going home to Texas matter? At age 30, how much does the fifth guaranteed year that Portland alone can offer matter? In terms of legacy and getting a ring, would he be closer in Dallas with Nowitzki than in Portland with Damian Lillard? This is Aldridge’s last big kick at the can in terms of salary. He’s got to get this one right. Getting to Dallas won't be an issue. If Aldridge wants it to happen, the Mavericks have the means to make it happen. It's what comes next, leading into 2015-16 and beyond, when the Mavericks will be tasked with filling out the rest of the roster to a championship degree before Nowitzki retires, that's the problem. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...s-could-make-a-lamarcus-aldridge-signing-work
Hope DAL tells LMA that he has to play Center. Because if they do that then he is going to say thanks but no thanks!
All that article told me is we can pick up Ellis and Chandler to add to our roster from last year and part ways with kaman and the d league kid.
The Mavs won't be a contender during Aldridge's career span, so there's no chance he's even considering them.
Aldridge is smart enough to realize that he and Dirk can't really coexist. LMA hates playing center, and Dirk is too slow to play SF and too soft to play C. It's just a bad fit. It's arguable that he'd be any more closer to a ring than he is in Portland, and he has to take a pay cut. The Spurs are the team that worries me. If LMA wants to chase a ring on a team that has a perfect fit for him, it's San Antonio. He gets to be The Man, he doesn't have to play center (that's what Timmy does), and he has a nice supporting cast and the best active coach on the planet. I don't really understand why he'd look anywhere else, other than Portland. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I'd probably go to the Spurs. It's nice and all to be remembered as the greatest player in franchise history (which he would be if he stayed in Portland). But do you think Charles Barkley wouldn't trade that for a ring or two? Think Garnett regrets leaving Minnesota? More money is always better. But how much money can you spend in a lifetime? How much incremental happiness can it bring? In the end it's all about winning titles.
Great post Sly! And this is why, I think winning a ring is more important than the money. So he loses approximately $25 mill on the last year of his deal? So what he still is gonna get close to a 9 figure contract. $70-$90 mill? That is plenty of money to support your family. To think he needs that extra year to pad his bank account isn't how I see LMA. He has never come across as a materialistic person to me. More concerned about stats, status and winning. The main reason I think LMA says no to this and Dallas, is because he has learned by playing with Rolo, how important a defensive, in the paint, big is to his game. In all honesty, I would think it would be more important for LMA to have Dallas keep Chandler than Dirk. Didn't Dirk say he was willing to come off the bench if LMA was on the team? That's how they coexist. Can someone answer this? I am not sure about the rules and regulations regarding existing contracts and the ability to scrap and start over? In other words, if LMA is truly interested in Dallas and lets them and Dirk know, can Dirk then go to Dallas and say, lets renegotiate my contract. "Ill take a few(3-7) million less. Let's get LMA AND resign Chandler and the other missing pieces?" Is there any type of legitimacy to that thought? If, and I say IF, this is an option and Dirk is open to it, I would be very concerned if I'm a blazer fan thinking LMA is the ticket. For that matter, what if LMA AND Dirk negotiate for nicer healthy contracts, but still leave room to bring most everyone back, even if Ellis opts in? Again, great post Sly, but dammit, now that you break it down, I'm more concerned than ever!!! They COULD make it work. I know most think the Spurs, but I'm thinking the Mavs if they work together. UGGH. DAMN YOU SLY! WORST POST EVER!
For some reason this makes me feel better about keeping LA. Literally the only reason he'd choose Dallas or San Antonio is to be closer to his family. Portland next year is a better basketball situation and financial situation than either of those places. Both teams would be gutted in order to sign him and he'd likely have to play center more, while losing more. If he leaves then he really didn't want to be here anyways.
How any team could land aldridge: give him lots of money. Oh wait thats every free agent so stop fear mongering.
I don't think Timmy does either. He is very much like LMA in that regard. He is adamant about being called a PF and not a center. And they have Splitter and Baynes in there at center doing the dirty work. Like LMA however, he will play center in crunch time if they go small.
