Does anyone actually think Sarver will use the MLE?

[da_suns_fan]

Ive seen a couple of scenario rosters some posters have thrown out there where I keep seeing MLE.

Sarver has stated that the league is moving away from using the MLE and it would take a "special situation" for the Suns to use the MLE this year.

Translation: Short of Lebron James being cut by the Cavs and wanting to sign with no one else but the Phoenix Suns for 1/4 of his market value, the Suns aren't going to be spending the Mid level Exception.

Sorry.

 

[jandaman]

Correct me if I am wrong, I dont pay much details to MLE and Luxury tax etc.

But from my basic understanding, if you are over the luxury cap and you use the MLE, technically you really are paying twice the MLE.

Is that correct?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Correct me if I am wrong, I dont pay much details to MLE and Luxury tax etc.

But from my basic understanding, if you are over the luxury cap and you use the MLE, technically you really are paying twice the MLE.

Is that correct?

You can use the MLE every other year, and it should be exempt from the luxury tax IIRC.

 

[abomb]

The common belief among NBA front offices is that there arent going to be a lot of players worthy of the full MLE.

 

[abomb]

You can use the MLE every other year, and it should be exempt from the luxury tax IIRC.

I think you are thinknig of the bi-annual exception. MLE is different.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#12
(search: Summary of Salary Cap Exceptions)

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think you are thinknig of the bi-annual exception. MLE is different.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#12
(search: Summary of Salary Cap Exceptions)

You're right.

It can be used every year.

 

[The Commish]

Will Sarver go above and beyond to win a championship? No.

 

[da_suns_fan]

The common belief among NBA front offices is that there arent going to be a lot of players worthy of the full MLE.

Im not even saying the "full" MLE.

I don't think Sarver will use ANY of the MLE!

Thats what people don't understand about DJ Strawberry. The only reason he's even on the team is because he makes the least amount possible for an NBA player to make under the CBA.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think he's gonna use it, but you never know. If I were a GM for an NBA team, I'd do everything I can to avoid using it- who wants to pay a $5 mill player $10 mil? It makes no sense at all. Suns need a backup PG, backup Center and another SG/SF type player. They have a draft pick, 2 TEs, Barbosa and possibly Diaw.

If they get Rush with #15, and manage to get their hands on a point guard using Barbosa and TE's, you can probably sign Skinner for LLE, and leave MLE alone.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

We will probably have to use it unless Porter is happy with another marks and piatkowski on the end of the bench.

Even if we turn barbosa and diaw into two players each we will still need like 2 more people. And I dont think kerr/porter are going to be content with another piatkowski/marks trailing our roster.


p.s. Josh Childress with the MLE ftw!

 

[sunsallday]

Sarver is a piece of ****

 

[Maligzar]

He's not going to use it, he laid the ground work for not using it last month when he said that most owners were getting away from the practice of using it.

Maybe someone should point out to him that most owners haven't won an NBA championship either?

 

[Treesquid PhD]

From the AZ republic article I keep quoting, it's all there http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/05/17/20080517sarver.html

He (Sarver) said the NBA trend is to use the midlevel exception less and that it would take a "special situation" for Phoenix to use a slot of up to $5.4 million in salary. Phoenix has nine players under contract.

 

[Irish]

My thought is that they might use a slice of the MLE in the same way thay used it to get Hill. We talk as if they used the LLE on him since that was the amount, but it made no difference.

The kind of scenerio I could see would be to offer KT about $2 million, rather than the vet minimum of $1.2 million. The slightly larger contract means it can be made multi--year. It costs the Suns more because of the way vet minimum bets subsidized by the league, but the number is not unreasonable.

Offering KT more than vet minimum probably doesn't get him, but it does mess with the Spurs.

 

[da_suns_fan]

My thought is that they might use a slice of the MLE in the same way thay used it to get Hill. We talk as if they used the LLE on him since that was the amount, but it made no difference.

The kind of scenerio I could see would be to offer KT about $2 million, rather than the vet minimum of $1.2 million. The slightly larger contract means it can be made multi--year. It costs the Suns more because of the way vet minimum bets subsidized by the league, but the number is not unreasonable.

Offering KT more than vet minimum probably doesn't get him, but it does mess with the Spurs.

I understand your logic, but I have a hard time believing the Suns would risk having to pay KT 2 million just to mess with the Spurs.

The Veterans minimum is just under 2 million, but half of it is covered by the league (when you sign a player for the minimum). Youre talking about a big jump when you pay a player any more than the minimum.

 

[SirStefan32]

I understand your logic, but I have a hard time believing the Suns would risk having to pay KT 2 million just to mess with the Spurs.

What risk? Suns need somebody who can back up Shaq, and they aren't gonna find anybody better than KT for that kind of money. There is no risk.

 

[Bigdez22]

The way I see it....

The suns have said that they need a back up big, back up pg, and a wing that can defend and shoot the three. There is no way you are going to get that with the 15th pick and a 2nd.

I have always defended Sarver when everybody was calling him cheap. If he does not use the MLE or part of it, I will join thë bandwagon

This is the last chance to win it all. Lets go balls to the wall!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[da_suns_fan]

What risk? Suns need somebody who can back up Shaq, and they aren't gonna find anybody better than KT for that kind of money. There is no risk.

I think you misunderstood.

KT might be well worth 2 million, but the Suns aren't going to pay that. They are already at 70 million with only nine players under contract. You figure after their draft pick, they will be over the luxury tax.

The Suns are going to try to get players for MINIMUM contracts. This is partly due to the fact that the league picks up around half the costs of the minimum contracts (and the team pays the rest).

Thus, its not believable that the Suns would offer Kurt Thomas more than a minimum contract just to hurt the Spurs. The risk is that the Spurs would back off and the Suns would actually have to pay him what they offered (Spurs call the Suns bluff).

 

[Irish]

IMHO, Rush is the best prospect in the later lottery/ mid round range for the Suns purposes. He's quick enough to backup the SG slot and long enough to backup the SF position. He can shoot, run the court, and is effective off the ball. People complain that he doesn't try to "take over the game", but on the Suns that's actually a good thing.

If they don't get him, the IMHO the next best wings are Chris Douglas Roberts and Courtney Less. Neither are worth the #15, but both have game.

Chalmers is the best PG left on the board at #15. I'm not sure he's a real PG and he's small (6'1" 190 libs). But he has played the position and is a good defender (2.5 steals per game) for his size and a 45.2% shooter for three. His only had 4..3 assists per game and rotated with some other guys at point.

IMHO, these guys are the only ones who can fill their needs. I just don't see a Nash backup in this draft.

 

[joshstmarie]

Thats what people don't understand about DJ Strawberry. The only reason he's even on the team is because he makes the least amount possible for an NBA player to make under the CBA.

come on man, the kid has shown great potential and he plays better defense than 75 precent of the nba players since the second he stepped on the floor. just because his offense isnt polished doesnt mean he has no future.

the fact that dantoni actually played him late in the season should tell you that the coaching staff really likes his upside.

 

[elindholm]

Why would Kurt Thomas come back to the Suns for a measly $2 million? They already told him they thought he was worth -2 first-round draft picks, and now he'd have to back up two arrogant scorers who are far too cool to play defense, instead of just one. Thomas has too much class for that.

 

[Bigdez22]

Why would Kurt Thomas come back to the Suns for a measly $2 million? They already told him they thought he was worth -2 first-round draft picks, and now he'd have to back up two arrogant scorers who are far too cool to play defense, instead of just one. Thomas has too much class for that.

 

[Joe Mama]

Why would Kurt Thomas come back to the Suns for a measly $2 million? They already told him they thought he was worth -2 first-round draft picks, and now he'd have to back up two arrogant scorers who are far too cool to play defense, instead of just one. Thomas has too much class for that.

You beat me to that one. The idea that Kurt Thomas would come back here for $2 million is laughable. We would have to overpay him by $2 million per season to get him to even consider it.

The Phoenix Suns aren't going to use the mid-level exception unless it's going to get them a super bargain. They might use a part of it. If I was a betting man I would put my money on not spending any of it.

Joe Mama

 

[Irish]

You beat me to that one. The idea that Kurt Thomas would come back here for $2 million is laughable. We would have to overpay him by $2 million per season to get him to even consider it.

The Phoenix Suns aren't going to use the mid-level exception unless it's going to get them a super bargain. They might use a part of it. If I was a betting man I would put my money on not spending any of it.

Joe Mama

My suggestion was a scenerio where extending into the LT would make sense. Since the Spurs are well below the LT, it is not likely they will fail to give him engouh to keep him, but it can't hurt to ask.

 

[Griffin]

If the Suns use any part of their MLE, they will find a way to reduce their overall payroll elsewhere, via trades or selling picks. Sarver commented that they sold picks so that they could pay players like Grant Hill's salary. I seriously doubt that our payroll will increase significantly from last season, no matter what we do.