1 year ago today....

[Louis]

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/johnson_traded_050819.html

Suns Receive Diaw and Two 1st Round Draft Picks
Johnson Trade to Atlanta Completed


Posted: Aug. 19, 2005 The Phoenix Suns today completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks that will send restricted free-agent guard Joe Johnson to Atlanta in exchange for guard/forward Boris Diaw (pronounced DEE-ow) and two future first-round draft picks. This trade also leaves Phoenix with a $6 million trade exception for their use in future dealings.


The Suns will receive Atlanta's own first round pick no later than the 2008 NBA Draft. That pick which is "lottery" protected (1-14) in 2006, has protection through No. 3 in 2007 and has no protection in 2008. In addition the Suns will also receive a conditional first round pick via either the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics from an earlier trade between Boston and Atlanta. The Laker pick which is subject to protection through No. 10 in 2006, protection through No. 5 in draft years 2007-2010 and unconditional in 2011, is owed to Boston from yet another previous trade. In the year that the Laker pick is conveyed to Boston, Phoenix will receive the least favorable of Boston's own pick or the Laker pick.

The Suns have since traded one of the first round picks.


The trade exception will expire shortly (if the next few days) if not used. $2.4 million of the $6 million was used to acquire James Jones. Leaving the Suns with approximately $3.6 million to use.http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_18439.shtml

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#68

The Traded Player exception is the primary means used by teams over the cap for completing trades. It allows teams to make trades that leave them over the cap, but it places several restrictions on those trades. Trades using the Traded Player exception are classified into two categories: simultaneous and non-simultaneous. As its name suggests, a simultaneous trade takes place all at once. Teams can acquire up to 125% plus $100,000 of the salaries they are trading in a simultaneous trade. For example, a team trading a $5 million player in a simultaneous trade can receive one or more players whose salary is no more than 125% of $5 million, plus $100,000, or $6.35 million in return.

Boris Diaw is set to become an RFA after this season passes.
The Suns still hold the Atlanta Hawks' pick which is protected 1-3 next year and unprotected in 2008.

The potential expiration of the trade exception is disappointing.

Bryan Colangelo went on the books early and said they would use it to improve the team.

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/colangelo_chat_051004.html

Noah (Santa Monica, CA): What is your strategy with what's left of the Joe Johnson trade exception? Do you want to wait and see what the team needs come the trading deadline?

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Bryan Colangelo: You make an interesting point. Utilization of the exception does have a life of 12 months. By saving a majority of what is there, in terms of 3.6 million dollars, it gives us flexibility to add a player, as you point out, in the middle of a playoff race. Or after assessing our performance, we can address a need, whether short-term or long-term. Also, being able to get a player of that salary magnitude, it gives us the ability to facilitate trades with other clubs late in the season. Whether it's an acquisistion of a player or assets, it can be of help. If not, then in the next offseason, we have one more card to play, if we still have that exception.

The Suns knowingly entered the past season with Amare injured and having Brian Grant on the roster (BG is injury plagued). Early they experienced significant injuries to the bench (Barbosa and Grant). Prior to the trade deadline Kurt Thomas injured his foot and it became apparent Amare wasn't going to return as expressed after his surgery.

The Suns however did not address a dire need at the big position, instead they fought through inter-office turmoil as the 2 in charge of the team opted to battle each other regarding the contractual status of the GM.

This resulted in the reigning EOY leaving the team in mid-season and no move being made.

Tim Thomas was later signed to a minimum contract after being waived by the Bulls and was very helpful, if not a godsend, in the Suns' playoff quest.

The playoffs came to an end in the WCF during which the Suns again suffered a significant injury in Raja Bell.

Depth again became an issue for the team.

This offseason saw 2 1st round picks and Tim Thomas (anybody remember the Tim Thomas Fund?) part in favor of Eric Piatkowski, Sean Marks, and Marcus Banks. "D'Antoni said they did not want to "get a young player who's going to eat up some room and just sit there and not get any time and not develop. "http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0629sunsmain0629.html

Currently the Bobcats are looking to dump Melvin Ely ($3.4 million salary for 1 year). Who could be had easily for the TE and a future pick, the lesser of the 2 1sts next year between the Cleveland and Phoenix pick would likely suffice.

Will the Suns make that move and address what is still a rampant need at the big position?

 

[boisesuns]

We need to resign Diaw.....

 

[Mainstreet]

We need to resign Diaw.....

Why not both? Ely has an expiring contract and Diaw's extension would not kick in this coming season anyway. The Suns may just decide to sell that potential third first round pick. Who knows?

Let's board the ship mates, kick off the accountants, and win that first Championship.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I'll take both, thanks.

 

[Joe Mama]

I find it hard to believe that the bobcats are trying to "dump" Ely for a draft pick. If I understand correctly they are well under the minimum team salary for next season. In that case they need to add salary not get rid of it.

Oh yeah, part of the trade exception has already been used to sign James Jones.

Joe

 

[Errntknght]

I seem to recall that the Bobcats still have a lower cap figure than other teams...

 

[George O'Brien]

I seem to recall that the Bobcats still have a lower cap figure than other teams...

It was being increased each year, but I don't know how much for this year.

Frankly, it was a very weird deal. Apparently the established teams did not want the Bobcats muddying the free agent market with $$45 to $50 million in one shot. The result has been a strategy of rookie contracts and short term deals as they wait before going hard into the market.