look at the math in my post, I did a spreadsheet to figure it out. We have to unload Jack and release Gee to clear the space to sign LeBron (without giving up Andy), so he's not still around for a sign and trade for Melo.
Indeed, my point was not literal, but in your math you are saying Jack is gone simply because you kept Andy's $9M contract. If we just renounce the rights of our free agents and trade Andy we'd have $31.2M in cap space. We could offer LeBron $19M and be left with $12.2M in capspace. Take out Wiggins' $6M and we'd have $6.2M.
We'd still have Jack, Thompson and Karasev on the books. That's $13.25M. We could then trade those 3 players for Carmelo Anthony at $19M.
We do not need to send out $15M. There are quite a few ways to do this, but
in this particular scenario, sending out $13.25M and taking back $19M
leaves the Cavaliers below the cap, and thus
any trade with New York, regardless of salary, is valid.
We have to send out 15 million in contracts in the sign and trade to take back 20.
Not necessarily. If we stay below the cap, we do not need to pay attention to the traded player exception salary rules. It's why I've said before, the Cavaliers should be doing whatever they can to clear cap space. An S&T with New York can be centered around draft picks as that's all they would get anyway, and we still have the ability to sign Melo outright. The only reason (in this conservative estimate) to do the S&T is because it makes the trade simpler and New York is compensated; but we don't have to S&T to take back Melo, we can sign both he and LeBron outright and clearing the cap wouldn't be an issue.
However it is to New York's benefit to accept the S&T prior to us finding a partner to take Jack/TT/Karasev and an unprotected first. Any team, or combination of teams, takes that deal and we can sign Melo without New York -- they aren't putting us over the cap. Thus, they have very limited leverage in any deal and are best with taking back picks and young talent.
I'd like to keep Kyrie, the #1 pick, Andy, Dion and Bennett. But we only have 11.6 million in contracts beyond that. Someone has to go, and the trade has to be something the knicks will take. They aren't doing a sign and trade where they get only get back our worst players
You're right, we can't keep all those guys. Andy has to go,
or, we'd need to find something to entice New York to take back $15M in salary so that we can go over the cap.
I'm not willing to trade Bennett just to keep Andy for another year. I think Bennett will be highly productive in the future and on a reasonable contract. It makes no sense to trade him when you can get Melo and LeBron at almost what LeBron is making if he opts in.
