I totally forgot Detroit is still paying Josh Smith 5 million a year for the next 3 years.
When I look at their roster, their biggest issue is they are paying 22 million to 3 backup bigs (Leuer, Baynes, and Marjanovic). Maybe they get lucky and Baynes opts out? That should be a Jazz lesson, dont ask for the Jazz to pay money to anyone backing up Rudy.
I guess they are tighter to the cap than I expected. Their best players are on decent deals, but they have a lot of mid priced players who dont really make sense and are just slightly overpaid, but it adds up (plus the Josh Smith thing lol). Van Gundy just made some stupid deals, like giving Ish Smith 18 million for 3 years. I didnt realize he overpaid this many guys who are just backups. Luckily none of them are terrible, so I think he can get out of this relatively easily. Think he just has to move one player and he is good for next year (especially if Baynes opts out which is up in the air from what I've read).
They will be at 107 million after they renounce the rights to Bullock (seems likely). The LT will be at 122 from what I've read and Baynes contract is 6,500,000. So they get lucky and he opts out, they are at 101 million before having to pay KCP, who could get maxed. This is when that 5,000,000 they are paying Smith really hurts them lol.
They'll move on from Bullock. Baynes could go either way with his option. They'll still have to pay one or two rookies in addition to KCP. They'll be toeing the line with the LT, but they're basically a treadmill team.
If Ntilikina makes it to 12, they'll be pretty tempted to take him there. Otherwise, I think they could be tempted to move the pick.