Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DanSchwartzgan]

After the Lauri extension today, Lauri's active roster is at 133 mil with 32 mil of cap holds in Kira Lewis Jr and THT. They've managed to give Lauri an extra 18mil to his current salary so they've crossed the team minimum salary threshold you've pointed out.  

I think you mean they added $24mm to the $18mm he was going to make to take him up to a full 30% Max in 24/25 of $42mm. They had to let go of the Lewis/THT cap holds to do this deal.

The extension starts at a 30% Max also, but there is a small step back in 26/27 when they project to have space (and before they pay George).  Then, it grows by 8% again the final two years.  It ends up being about a $12mm discount from what he could have gotten had he just gone with straight 8% raises the whole time.  So, in essence, they split the $24mm raise in 24/25 with Lauri giving half of that back over the out years of the extension compared to his full max.  Also of note, this ends up being a 'declining' contract, not in real terms, but in terms of percent of cap.  The final year of the deal is 26% of the cap.

I can see something based around Collins for Ingram as you suggest, but I can't see Ainge giving up much of value to complete the deal.  Who else is going to pay anything of value for the privilege of overpaying Ingram a year from now with the possibility he can walk?  It is more likely to me that its Eubanks or some filler salary.  Or, if it is Kessler, that NO has to send something else to Utah.  Whatever happens, NO needs to drop some salary to get under the tax and needs a center from somewhere (Utah or a 3rd team).