How The Raptors Can Be Creative This Offseason
3. Free Agency Wizardry
So far in this hypothetical scenario, we’ve seen Masai wheel and deal, freeing up cap space, while acquiring high level talent. That was the easy part, believe it or not. Now comes the tricky mechanics of the salary cap which would allow the Raptors to eat their cake and have it too (because anyone can simply have their cake and eat it too) — i.e. resigning DeMar DeRozan and/or signing a superstar level talent.
Based on the scenario, Masai has approximately $68.8 Million in committed salaries, or $25.2 Million in cap space. This also assumes that DeRozan has opted out of his contract as expected. We’ll deal with the two time All Star in a moment. We’ll also assume that because of trades and the draft, Biyombo can’t and won’t be resigned.
The biggest free agent on the market not named LeBron James is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. There’s very little indication on what Durant’s plans are, so any of the top teams are considered in play, including the Raptors. Furthermore, any team that’s not the Thunder can only offer him a contract of no longer than 4 years at no more than $110 Million.
Now normally, a player would prefer to take the full scale of their contract extension, in Durant’s case being $27.5 Million per season. Add to the fact that the salary cap is scheduled to rise again after next season, and that would cause most to assume that a player of Durant’s caliber would be greatly inclined to sign a 2 year deal with the second being a player option. That notwithstanding, Durant did say in his exit interview after losing to the Golden State Warriors that money is always everything. We’ll go with that for the purposes of this scenario.
We’ll assume that Masai is able to work his charm (along with utilizing Global Ambassador, Drake) in luring Kevin Durant to the land of the Six. Because Durant projected salary would be approximately $27.5 Million per season, Masai would likely offer a back loaded contract. It would be a 4 year, $110 Million contract with the 4th year being a player option. The first year would be valued at $24.5 Million, with the remaining years valued at $28.5 Million.
What this allows is for the Raptors to utilize their Bird rights on DeRozan, allowing them to go into the luxury tax to resign him. We will assume that DeRozan will give Toronto a hometown discount, resigning for approximately $15 Million per season for 3 years. We’ll also assume that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – comprised of both Bell and Rogers – would be willing to pay taxes for a team that now boasts a legitimate superstar and is in position to an NBA Finals contender.
The depth chart for the Raptors after all of Masai’s wizardry would look like this:
PG — Lowry/Joseph/Wright
SG — DeRozan/Powell/Joseph
SF — Durant/Carroll/Powell
PF — Noel/Patterson/Carroll
C — Valanciunas/Noel
However, I do suspect that either my math is slightly off, I misunderstand that workings of the cap rules, MLSE would be reluctant to pay well into the luxury tax (long live the almighty Canadian Dollar), or some combination of the three. I may have a solution, however viable it is remains to be seen.
Next: Final Thoughts