The Stoudamire Trade - Certainly not about Basketball

Image via Wikipedia

The Suns are struggling for playoff position and their payroll is above the luxury tax threshold. So for every dollar they are above that threshold, it costs them an extra dollar that goes straight to the NBA. According to ESPN, their payroll is at $75,762,000 (about $4 mill over the threshold).

Using what the Bulls can offer as an example, Sarver can save at least $2.5 in payroll this year. So that saves him $5mill in money that goes right to his bottom line. That's nothing to sneeze at. For next year, the expiring contract will save him even more. If it's Drew Gooden's $7mill that comes off, it should put them below the threshold (I don't know what salary increases the Suns players will get for next year). So it could save them $10 million next year.

Trade:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=bnoo3n

Keep in mind I'm not saying this trade would make basketball sense (and I'm not saying the Bulls have the best offer). But did the Pau Gasol trade make basketball sense? Everything in the NBA right now is about money.

Now the Suns did just fire Terry Porter, and presumably that was not motivated by money, because it means Sarver has to pay for an extra coach for a couple years. I don't know if that puts more pressure on him to save money, or if it means he's digging in for the long haul.

From a Bulls' fan's perspective, I certainly hope he is going to save money.

Related articles by Zemanta

• That's Amare (chicagoist.com)
• Suns Likely to Move Amar'e- But Where to? (armchairgm.wikia.com)
• Underachieving and in Flux, Suns Appear Ready to Fire Porter (nytimes.com)
• The Shootaround (myespn.go.com)