Boki Saves The Day!

[Klashnekoff]

NJ Nets: Boki Saves The Day

by Dave D'Alessandro/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday July 08, 2009, 4:58 PM

http://blog.nj.com/nets_impact/2009/07/medium_nachbar.jpg

 

Because they have set aside money to retain free agent Boki Nachbar's rights, the Nets are over the salary cap and therefore can use their mid-level exception.

 

If you were one of those fans who saw the salary cap figure come in last night and had your jaw drop to your ankles because the Nets are suddenly $17,000 under the cap instead of $373,000 over it, rest easy.

 

They may be under the magic number of $57.7M (the payroll: $57.673M), but they still can use their midlevel exception this summer.

 

How can this be, when the MLE is supposed to be a tool only for those teams over the cap?

 

You've heard of "cap holds" before -- those are the semi-official and quasi-hidden expenses that reside on their ledger for players whose rights they want to retain. In the Nets' case, they have to plunk down (but not really) a few million to retain the rights for free agent Boki Nachbar, even if they know they don't want him. So their payroll actually goes over the $57.7 fault line until they renounce him or let him skedaddle, and that makes them eligible to use the MLE.

 

And now that you've sweated that out, let us remind you of something we've said for about a month: They probably won't spend that MLE at all. Or most of it, anyway.

 

* * * *

 

Think about it: They've been pretty thrifty the last few years, they're still going to have a small payroll for 2010, and adding $4-5 million to this year's budget isn't exactly going to hurt much. They're entitled to splurge a little.

 

But if there's a vivid sign that they're going to sit on their wallets, it can be explained in two words: Brandon Bass.

 

Honest, we thought this was the one kid the Nets were going to make a pitch for. He's tough, he runs, he plays bigger than he is, he's got a midrange game, he's active, he's skilled, and he's aggressive.

 

Most of all, he's unrestricted, and starting quality on a team such as this.

 

But did the Nets make a single inquiry?

 

"I have not spoken with them," Tony Dutt told us Monday.

 

And: "I have not spoken to them," Tony Dutt told us Tuesday.

 

All we can say is, we're not really surprised. But it wouldn't have killed them to give the kid the midlevel for four or five years. He's not likely to get that from Orlando, Portland or Detroit.

 

* * * *

 

So they're still in wait-till-somebody-drops mode.

 

Maybe they spend some of the MLE, maybe they don't.

 

They still have to lop a salary or two off the present roster, anyway, before they realistically add another. Their most likely target is an extraneous 4 from a team trying to dodge the luxury tax - such as Carl Landry, who is a shade more consistent than Bass, without the same upside.

 

* * * *

 

C.J. Miles? The same C.J. Miles who has $11M coming to him over the next three years? The one who in the last two postseasons is shooting 32 percent and has one assist in 84 minutes? The one who plays the same position as the three young guys the want to build the team around?

 

Pass. The kid has talent, but we wouldn't waste a trade exception on him.

 

Of course, if you were to ask us if they should spend a few bucks on the market for Udoka, Barnes or Carney, that's another issue. But for now, a four remains the priority.

 

Interesting read.

 

Your thoughts?

Edited July 10, 2009 by Klashnekoff

[Guru]

"I have not spoken with them," Tony Dutt told us Monday.

 

And: "I have not spoken to them," Tony Dutt told us Tuesday.

lol

[Universe]

I don't want anyone for five years now unless they have been consistant for awhile now.