Orlando Salary Cap Info
thomas.mcguigan
The following is my best guess at the Orlando Magic's player payroll for
this year and next year. The 92-93 data comes from the June/July 93 issue
of Basketball Digest, the 93-94 figures are either my best estimates, or
were provided by the Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando Magic Estimated Salary ($M)
92-93 93-94
Anderson 0.80 3.00 (my estimate)
Bowie 0.90
Catledge 1.09 1.60 (reported by the Orlando Sentinel)
Green 0.14
Kerr 0.55
Kite 0.78
O'Neal 3.00 4.00 (reported by the Orlando Sentinel)
Reynolds 0.91
Royal 0.14
Scott 2.40 2.50 (reported by the Orlando Sentinel)
Skiles 1.35
Tolbert NA
Turner 0.70
Williams 1.01 1.30 (reported by the Orlando Sentinel)
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Total 13.76+ 17.0 (reported by the Orlando Sentinel)
Based on these figures, the Magic need to reduce their 93-94 payroll by
approximately $4M to sign the number one draft pick (assuming the salary
cap next year will be ~$15M). Jerry Reynolds, out all season recuperating
from neck surgery, is expected to retire this summer, and the Magic will
regain half his salary, about $750K, when he does. In an article in the
Orlando Sentinel, columnist Barry Cooper reported the following suggestions
to generate savings (I list the suggestions in [my ranking] the order of
their likelihood of occurring):
1. Convince O'Neal to restructure his contract. The Sentinel states
that the Magic could save up to $1.2M (of a 93-94 salary of ~$4M) if O'Neal
agrees. I expect O'Neal to agree to restructure if asked. Unfortunately,
I don't think that any more money will be available through restructuring.
Most contracts were restructured as much as possible last year to accomodate
the signing of O'Neal. The only other significant possibility (without
extending contracts) would be to restruction Anderson's extension, and I
don't know whether that is allowable under the cap guidelines.
2. Trade Brian Williams for a second round draft pick. Orlando is not
ready to give up on Williams, but this is very likely to happen. With
one year left on his contract, this would not be a terribly risky deal
for a club with room under the cap. And if Williams begins to play up
to his potential, this would be an incredible steal.
3. Waive the rights to Green, Kerr, Royal and Tolbert. The Magic almost
certainly will waive Kerr. Orlando might be interested in Tolbert if the
price was right but I think it is unlikely that he will stick. On the other
hand, the Magic are very interested in retaining Donald Royal and would like
to retain the rights to Green at least until the pre-season camp is
underway. These two will not be waived unless it is absolutely necessary.
4. Trade or waive Terry Catledge. As I stated in my team report, the Magic
need to move Catledge. It's one thing to decline to give up your number
just because O'Neal would like to wear 33; it's another to insist that
O'Neal mold his play to accomodate you instead of the other way around.
Catledge apparently has made little or no effort to adapt to O'Neal's
presence; the Magic can't afford to keep him around until he decides to.
Unfortunately, with three years left on his contract at ~$1.6M per year, it
is unlikely that anyone else would be interested enough to make an offer.
The Magic may need to face the prospect of eating $4.8M to create the room
to sign the number one pick.
In addition to the sugestions outlined by Barry Cooper, three other
suggestions:
5. Trade Nick Anderson. Next season Anderson's salary goes from $800K to
~$3M. The Magic could look for a similar quality player, young enough not
to have a big contract extension going into effect next year and currently
earning ~$800K (to make the trade possible under the salary cap guidelines).
If a suitable trade could be worked out before the draft, the Magic could
save that ~$2.2M increase. The first player that came to mind was Tim
Hardaway. Unfortunately, Terry Wong informed me that Hardaway also has an
extention that is about to take effect and that his salary next year will
be ~$3M so there would not be any savings. Other players who apparently
might be considered are Terrell Brandon ($682K), Dan Majerle ($700K-$800K),
and Clarence Weatherspoon ($800K). I have no idea of the status of the
contracts of any of these players, but this is a possibility if Orlando
becomes really desparate.
6. Trade Dennis Scott for draft picks. Dennis Scott's health and
motivation have been question marks since his second season. Still, he has
so much raw talent that he probably has trade value. Scott was the subject
of trade rumors just before the midseason trading deadline, and commented
in an interview yesterday that he would not be surprised if the Magic moved
him. While certainly a possibility, I don not believe that this is one of
Orlando's primary options. John Gabriel and the coaching staff still
believe in Dennis, and he is the team's only reliable (at least when he's
healthy) outside threat. If he is traded, the team will have to look for
another player either through the draft or in a trade to provide an outside
threat.
7. Trade Greg Kite. Houston showed interest last year, pulling out at the
last moment because Kite "failed" his physical. Kite has played with the
irregular heart beat for years, as have many other NBA players including
Olajuwon. Kite's contract expires in two years, and I think the Magic are
alread looking for his replacement. Brian Williams showed some potential
this past season as a back-up center, and Orlando may look to move Kite
rather than Williams as mentioned above. Certainly, if Williams turns
himself around a 4-5 rotation of Shaq, Webber, and Williams has a lot of
appeal. Williams and Shaq have been scrimmaging with a visiting European
team (I'm sorry but the exact team escapes me at the moment - this was
mentioned briefly in an article about Hurley's and Lindsey Hunter's draft
interviews). If Williams plays well, and demonstrates his desire between
now and the pre-season, a Kite trade becomes more likely.
Tom@Orlando