This is part of the problem of being in New York though BKLYN was smart enough to lock up some cheap vet min contracts that had little leverage to play in the NBA or possible go to the D League (huge difference in salary)
As vets know, the property in New York is much higher than anywhere else with property taxes, that could be much higher than what they can make and save...
As part of this solution, maybe have Dolan have a BIG HOUSE near Weschester to rent out rooms or/provide transportation and living at a low/affordable rate..

Along with CA's health, leadership of Affalo/Lopez, and how we utilize the rest of the cap space/trade exemptions
I just strongly felt that we overpaid for both Lopez, Derrick Williams (feel he could be a decent player but had little leverage that we should have taken advantage of), and Affalo's age/health concerns (though he has the ability to POST UP (which is rare for a G/F) that can also play off the ball and hit high % FT's

Especially for Affalo, who I fear is in huge decline for someone approaching 30, though he could have had a bad year last season, he is a professional veteran that should not have been our #1 signing which limited our ability to get 2 quality starters and would be closer to a 7.5m player with no raises

For the acquisitions of Lopez, Affalo, (both of which are slightly overpaid) and Derrick Williams (greatly overpaid), we should have had TEAM OPTIONS on them for their final years on top of signing them on slightly smaller deals

Lopez - with a starting salary of 11m at best, if for 4 seasons, about 40m deal, especially considering that he could live with his brother, Brook Lopez, if not slightly more for a team option on 4th year (partial guarantee at best, for the salary he is getting paid now, he should be unguaranteed for his final year)

Affalo - closer to a 7 to 7.5m at best salary, with a TEAM OPTION on 3rd with 0 guaranteed
For that price, I would much rather take the risk on a YOUNG Aminu who has GREAT LENGTH/VERSATILITY/ATHLETICISM/SIZE/STRENGTH and could defend as a 1v1 defender or as a help defender for 3-4 positions, that can still improve
His weakness is shooting which he showed he really worked on last season on the Mav's, while we should sign another 1-2 players that could elevate our DEFENSE with him

Derrick Williams - closer to vet min, though 2m - 2.5m on a 2year deal and for 3m or higher, it should be TEAM OPTION for 3rd, with 200k guaranteed for 2nd year

Such moves would protect ourselves of these overpaid players and make them potential trade targets if things go wrong with less years that could cost us the opportunity to target FA's in our near future with that extra year
There is a premium value for players to the minimum a player could be worth, while we payed the premium for players that are not even #1, #2, or even #3 tier's for this FA market for this year alone, especially for Derrick Williams who we should have low balled, probably even signing a 3year deal with a team option for 9-10m TOTAL (what we are paying him for 2years of service and a PLAYER OPTION)
By paying a bit less for each player we would have more cap space to utilize, more importantly, protect ourselves with TEAM OPTIONS and trade baits with 0 to very little guaranteed to final years of their contracts

I think we should have signed some COST efficient YOUNG talents for value that could play PF/C like Biyombo on a 2year 6m deal or even Lavoy Allen/Ajinicia or Brandon Wright/Koufus from the range of 4m-7m

Well what I think we should do to improve this roster
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1- With the rest of our cap space, keep AB

maybe Byron Mullons if not, on a 2year vet min deal with 0 guaranteed
I can not believe I am saying this but resigning AB to a contract for about 2.5-3m, 2to3 year deal with team option on 3rd, as our PF/C, especially had we signed Biyombo, would have been a good fit who is 6-9/6-10 but has great length/mobility/reach and can play PF/C to compliment each other as KP develops

IF we are unable to sign AB to such a deal, consider Byron Mullons for a vet min deal (partial guarantee at best)
And then TARGET KJ McDaniels, Kyle O Quin (RFA) possibly Lin/Shved/Donal Sloan

2- Cole Aldrich
We have EARLY BIRD RIGHTS on him, therefor we can go over the salary cap and have the FULL MLE of about 6m with raises to utilize
Depending if there is a market for him, we can offer him a 2-3year deal, with partial guarantee on first year/team option for 2nd/3rd year, making him a trading chip, possibly CUT in the PRESEASON, just to link us to the 6m MLE
Just like JR Smith's contract, after we got his bird rights, the year he was recovering from surgery after our 54 game win season
We can keep him if needed, with first year guaranteed and unguaranteed on 2nd/3rd year (all dependent on if there is a market for him, as there are other options at Center including Thabeet/McGee/Larry Sanders for a unguaranteed/partial guaranteed deal (as he is getting payed 11m per year from The Bucks)

3- Wesley Johnson

For about a 5m deal with the MLE and 4year deal if so, if he wants more it would be for a 2/3year deal with a TEAM option for final year
Finish out our roster with Wesley Johnson who also played in the Triangle with Corey Brewer and Derrick Williams, for a 3-4 cap friendly deal (feel his game would help our DEFENSE much more than Derrick Williams and has more value and fills a need over Derrick Williams, especially if we signed Aminu over Affalo)

4- sign Thanasis to a 3year deal
For part of the MLE, pay Thanasis a starting salary of about 1m deal with raises as he took much less to go to the D League to develop and learn off the Triangle
We have to reward him by doing so and it sends a message to the rest of the league that we will reward players to sacrifice for the team

As a LATE 2nd rounder, it also prevents us from a future poison pill, with a 3year deal with TEAM OPTION for 3rd year (though I do not mind making it a 3year guaranteed deal if needed rather than just a 2year deal)

5- possibly trades Shved/Acey/Early for Net's 2nd rounder in 2016 especially to Clippers who need a backup PG and roster spots, and could be ideal for Shved to learn of CP3 as Darren Collison has and rewarded after to The Kings

6- OTHER TRADES, like with trading for James Johnson/ Randy Foye/Hickson/Wilson Chandler if possible who would be a 2.5m expiring contract (as we would own his Early Bird Rights to help us have the FULL MLE, NEXT Summer, as we can also resign either Lou Amundson/Jason Smith/Ledo as well to make sure we have options for the FULL MLE next summer (which could be 7-8m + with the rise of the cap of 20m)

7- Filling out roster with vet min players with SHOOTERS, Undrafted FA's, D League talent, players waived/amenstied etc, possibly vet min vets, as well as unguaranteed spots for future possible targets
Aaron Harrison, Quin Cook, Robert Upshaw, Cliff Alexander, the 3 players I have been suggesting from the D League, veterans such as Shawnee Williams, Jeremy Evans, JO/Reggie Evans, Caron Butler (who may have some experience in the Triangle as he was part of the Shaq trade to The Heat) Thabeet/Larry Sanders/McGee

1- Jerrelle Benimon SF, SF/PF, strech 4, maybe a Lamor Odom type player as a triple double threat SF/PF like Covington, maybe even Center in small ball
2- Jarell Eddie, G/F, a Danny Green type talent on shooting, SG/SF
3- Scotty Hopson, G/F, another G/F that can shoot and score/penetrate/facilitate, decent versatile game as well, SG/PG in the Triangle

Thabeet could be ready to break out as a solid DEFENSIVE/REBOUNDING Center, being this year's Whiteside on DEFENSE and comparable to Hibbert's best years as he was drafted based on potential

I wrote this before the Kyle O Quin acquisition
Wesley Johnson is a player I think would elevate our DEFENSE and would serve as a mentor for Thanasis's who has similar skills/weakness's that could play with Thanasis and give advice on how to work on his game/adapt to the NBA/transition his strengths + weakness's to the NBA with advice for on the court, off the court, as well as work out/in the gym/locker room
Johnson has experience with the Triangle as well, with Kurt Rambis, and is a versatile defender, and great length/versatility/athleticism and willing DEFENDER

Development Staff/Coaching staff
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upgrading our development coach/staff, PROVEN trainers with success as well, Development Equipment as KP looks forward to work on his game with a house near Weschester on his own

Getting Rasheed Wallace for KP would be ideal
Billups/Ron Harper for a PG, especially Galloway

AK47 /Shane Battier/James Posey for DEFENSE coaches

ALL of which are solid DEFENDERS, GOOD TEAM DEFENDERS, and would provide leadership and pass it on to our young guys
In addition to some Phil Jackson disciples like

Kukoc/Pippen/Grant/Cartright/ Brian Shaw promoted to LEAD assistant

some other Vet min signings
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1- Jeff Adrien and/or possibly Jeffery Taylor to vet min deals, 2years and either team option or unguaranteed if possible on 2nd

2- Justin Hamilton at PF/C who was drafted by The Heat

3- Joel Anthony (signing him as a 3rd string PF/C for DEFENSE, he lead was a VERY GOOD SHOT BLOCKER in very limited minutes last season, as well as a solid rebounder, with Prince Onuaku off the D league

TPercy wrote:Thanasis is already signed isn't he? We already drafted him so he is ours right?

we own his rights but we didn't sign him yet...

In order to prevent a future poison pill and wasted time/picks in his development, we should sign him with cap space or part of our MLE in order to prevent future poison pills and make it hard for use to match
He also took much less to stay in the D League last year to learn under the Triangle, so we should reward him, which also sends a message to future undrafted talents to come over to our D League to develop

Orlando Sanchez, like Galloway, who also played for Saint John's is playing for Toronto this summer, I think he is a PF that would do very well in this system with comparisons to Jared Sullinger and can score in the paint, mid post, facilitate, and capable of hitting 3pt shots, though he is about 27 years of age already