FanPost

Phoenix Suns Free Agency: What Can Be Spent?

Christian Petersen

I see a fair few people on this board who are unsure of Phoenix's current salary situation, so I will break it down to make it easier on everyone.

Salaries + Cap Holds

(as they stand, assuming Barbosa and Okafor are renounced and also pending P.J. Tucker's signing, which has yet to be formalised)

Player

2014/2015

2015/2016

2016/2017

2017/2018

2018/2019

Goran Dragic

$7,500,000

$7,500,000

N/A

N/A

N/A

Isaiah Thomas

$7,238,606

$6,912,869

$6,587,132

$6,261,395

N/A

Eric Bledsoe

$6,566,183

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Alex Len

$3,649,920

$3,807,120

$4,823,621

$6,396,121

N/A

Gerald Green

$3,500,000

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Markieff Morris

$2,989,239

$4,134,118

N/A

N/A

N/A

Marcus Morris

$2,943,221

$4,094,020

N/A

N/A

N/A

P.J. Tucker

$2,875,130

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

T.J. Warren

$1,953,520

$2,041,080

$2,128,920

$3,152,931

$4,385,726

Tyler Ennis

$1,325,600

$1,385,252

$1,447,588

$2,171,383

$3,039,936

Shavlik Randolph

$1,227,985

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Miles Plumlee

$1,169,880

$2,109,294

$3,113,317

N/A

N/A

Archie Goodwin

$1,112,280

$1,160,160

$2,094,089

$3,141,133

N/A

Anthony Tolliver

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dionte Christmas

$816,482

$1,147,276

N/A

N/A

N/A

Michael Beasley *

$777,778

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total

$48,645,824

$37,291,189

$20,194,667

$21,122,963

$7,425,662

Shavlik, Ish and Dionte are all on team options, while Michael Beasley had the stretch provision used on him. Eric Bledsoe has a cap hold as a free agent equal to 250% of his previous year's salary, having been below the league wide average salary. Larry Coon's CBA FAQ explains this and more well for those interested.

P.J. Tucker has unofficially signed with Phoenix, on a 3 year, 16.5 million deal which is expected to be front loaded, with 3.8 million of the final year unguaranteed (this doesn't currently affect the cap situation):

Player

2014/2015

2015/2016

2016/2017

P.J. Tucker

$5,755,095

$5,496,115

$5,248,790

It is also noteworthy that we have currently reached our maximum amount of players in our roster with 15 (assuming team options are taken) - which means that in order to sign more players a team option will not be taken.

This year's max cap figure is $63,065,000, so as of right now Phoenix has $16,426,741 of cap space. The difference between the minimum cap hold ($500,000) and any team option will be used as additional cap space (due to our full roster). Assuming Shavlik Randolph is the player to go, this would leave $17,654,726 of cap space. ($16,426,741 -$500,000 + $1,227,985) (ED: This only applies when less than 12 players are signed onto the roster)

So McDonough realistically can offer $17,654,726 as the maximum contract, or alternatively Phoenix can absorb a significant salary a la Emeka Okafor.

Another figure to look at is the minimum salary figure of $56,758,500 of which current salaries is still 10 million shy. While the only punishment for this is that the is difference split between current players, other asset acquisition is obviously preferable. This is in the unlikely case Bledsoe is not resigned without further roster moves.

A link to the remaining free agents on the market is here or here. If anyone is interested in what that money can be spent on. All figures barring P.J. Tucker's and Tyler Ennis' are per Shamsports.

EDIT: With the waiving of Ish Smith, Phoenix can offer $17,419,176 as a current maximum, with his salary no longer holding space in the salary cap. Upon further reading the $500,000 cap hold only occurs with less than 12 players. Phoenix now has 14.

EDIT 17/7: Anthony Tolliver added to cap list. Max offer is now $14,419,176.

I will update this post as new information comes to hand. I hope that helps to clear up any confusion!