NBA: Stockpiling cap space is vastly overrated for most teams
Why stockpiling cap space is overrated in the NBA for most teams.
With all the talks of trades, free-agent signings, and Ben Simmons requesting a trade with multiple years left on a contract, I couldn’t help but think that the strategy of acquiring talent in free agency may not be for everyone in the NBA.
In fact, for most teams besides a handful, I think it’s the wrong move.
Signing players to shorter deals, or dumping contracts, and maneuvering all these different things to have all this cap space so that you might be able to sign a big-name free agent seems like a gamble that is so risky and puts a huge stranglehold on your franchise.
We’ve seen the cap space strategy work, but there is a formula. First, if you’re doubling down on the cap space strategy, you have to be a big market team. Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and New York to name a few. Second, you increase your chances if you’re a relevant team, as far as wins and losses.
The LA Clippers struggled to acquire anyone for years, but after a great draft pick in Blake Griffin and a blockbuster trade for Chris Paul, the Clippers became very appealing.
But look at the New York Knicks, they’re arguably the biggest market in the league and have struggled mightily to acquire top talent in free agency. Now, they may be on the upswing after a playoff appearance last year, but it wasn’t that long ago when they thought they were going to sign Kevin Durant, draft Zion Willaism and flip him for AD, and then sign Kyrie Irving.
How’d that end up working out again? Oh yeah, they signed a log jam of forwards and didn’t get any stars other than Julius Randle who has made himself into an all-star level player this past season.
For the smaller market teams, hoarding cap space, I ask, “what are you doing?” The top teams with cap space heading into the 2021 offseason are as follows:
- New York Knicks – $52.6 million
- San Antonio Spurs – $48 million
- Dallas Mavericks – $33.5 million
- Oklahoma City Thunder – $30 million
- Memphis Grizzlies – $24.4 million
- Toronto Raptors – $22.1 million
- Miami Heat – $20.4 million
- Charlotte Hornets – $16.8 million
There are some bigger markets amongst those listed but San Antonio? Come on now. Are we really talking ourselves into Damian Lillard signing with San Antonio? Here is a Twitter notification you’ll never get, “Breaking News: Damian Lillard signs 5-year max with the Memphis Grizzlies.” It’s just not in the cards for certain markets to attract certain players in free agency even with all that money in cap space.
Take a look at New Orleans, They’re in a tough market, have struggled to win games, have had three coaches in as many seasons, but they have their prized possession that they need to keep happy, Zion Williamson.
New Orleans, enjoy Zion while you can. And don’t breathe a sigh of relief when he signs a long-term deal with the Pelicans. We’ve seen this before. In fact, agents are advising players to take the guaranteed money now, if it doesn’t work out, request a trade. It’s happening over and over again with top players.
Simmons is the latest example; he still has multiple years left on his deal with Philadelphia. James Harden blew it up last year with Houston, still under contract. Anthony Davis before that. The contracts don’t mean anything, other than guaranteed money for a player. If a player signs a five-year deal for $25 million a year, the only thing that is guaranteed is exactly that, one year into that deal, said player can request a trade for any reason whatsoever and hold out until he gets his way.
Granted, this sort of power move can only happen if you’re a big-name player. A two-way player cant really flex the same muscle.
Next. NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers willing to make big offer for Ben Simmons?. dark
So, yes, cap space is overrated. The best way to acquire talent is to draft well, acquire picks, and trade for a star, preferably a disgruntled one so that way you can buy low. Trades give you the benefit of knowing exactly what you’re getting in return. Cap space gives you and your fan base the illusion that you’re going to sign the best free agent of that class.