Knickoftime wrote:grillco wrote:I agree with this scenario, but I can't see why Denver wouldn't want either or both of these guys and losing them along with Felton destroys the foundation that they built and the gelling starts anew. Not the worst thing in the world, but far from ideal.
The Billups scenario comes into play IF Denver can't get a king's ransom from the Knicks and they have to look for value elsewhere.
In a trade where Minn. acts as a facilitator, and nets the Nuggets say "Chandler, Felton, Brewer and say Azubuike, and a couple of draft picks, on the surface it looks like they got raped for having to give up 'Melo and Billups, but consider the financials.
Let's say they also send back Balkman to the Knicks. Melo-Billups-Balkman = $32m. Chandler-Brewer-Felton-Azubuike = just $16m.
Now by the trade deadline mor than half of the salaries have already been paid, so they aren't pocketing $16m (more like $8 ish), but we haven't factored in the luxury tax savings.
The 2010-11 luxury tax level is $70.31 million. Nuggets current payroll is $83.5m. Subtract the FULL salaries levels and NOW the Nuggets are UNDER the luxury tax level, that means at the end of the year they WON'T get a bill for $13.19m from the NBA.
So their bottom-line savings for this season is like $20-$21 million dollars.
In fact, let's take it to the next step. Not suggesting this is what is being discussed at all, but if Denver REALLY wants to save $ this year and next and knows its hand is forced:
Trade #1:
Denver gets: Chandler, Brewer, pick(s), $3M.
Twolves get: Curry, $3M, AR
Knicks: Melo.
In this first trade, Denver moves their salary number to either near or at $70M, which I think would save a lot more than $20, more like $26+M.
Trade #2, executed separately but at same time.
Denver: Felton, Azu, $3M.
NY: Billups
Why the #2 trade (technically teams may have to add extra bit part players but numbers work to within ~250k)? Denver gets the additional $3M cash, would realize maybe ~$1M in the Azu deal because of insurance, AND would save an additional $3M by NOT having to pay difference in Billups-Felton/Azu salary. Also, if they are hesitant to pay Billups $14M next year or buy him out for the $3.7M, that's a realized savings too, all the while only paying Felton $7.5M next year, which is reasonable.
I've said it before, but I have a hunch that there is an outside chance that Felton has a team option for third year at $10M. That would be huge for Denver as further incentive over the Billups situation.
So, Denver saves anywhere from $25-29M in first trade. And realize another ~$7M in the second, all the while getting a PG who is almost a decade younger.
I want to say that perhaps NY/Den/Twolves could swap picks in such a way that NY gets a lowlevel 2012 so that they could move BOTH their 2011/2013 picks to Denver. That would be a way to up the anti from the Knicks side of things to Denver.