Cash Considerations

Stromile Swift: Player Profile

Stromile Swift is a retired NBA player who was drafted with the 2nd pick in the 2000 Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies. Stromile was an uber athletic undersized forward who was touted for his athletic ability. His career highs are nothing to note, with 31 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 8 blocks being his highs. Stromile is a little below the average center across all major metrics, so Stromile seemingly so average why is his name known by far more than the average fan?

Dunks on Dunks on Dunks on Dunks

Looking back at Stromile Swift play you can say undoubtedly how much better he would fit into the current era of basketball as a small ball center. His quickness, switching ability, finishing and defense would make him more of a Clint Capela type player in this modern era, which if you ask the Houston Rockets is very valuable.

A busy night for Cash Considerations

Looking back to 2017 we saw a flurry of 5 deals trading NBA players for Cash Considerations. The highest ever amount of Cash based trades in one day. The Trail Blazers traded Tim Quarterman to the Rockets for cash considerations. Then the Pistons traded Darrun Hilliard to the Rockets for cash considerations. Then the Mavericks traded DeAndre Liggins to the Rockets for cash considerations. Then the Hawks traded Ryan Kelly to the Rockets for cash considerations. And the Sixers traded Shawn Long to the Rockets for cash — and a 2018 second-round draft pick

Unlimited Potential for Cash

The Washington Wizards acquired Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and a second-round pick in exchange for cash considerations from the LA Lakers. This was a interested trade by Washington as they took advantage of the Lakers necessity to clear cap room to acquire Anthony Davis. They managed to obtain two struggling but very young players with the potential to grow for cash. This is low risk high reward trade for the Wizards and a great example of the value of cash in the NBA.

Mo Wagner is quietly have a fantastic season, putting up 30 and 15 in his last game, making him the first player to put up the stat line off of the bench since Yao Ming in 2002. And Wagner did it all in only 25 minutes as he battled through foul trouble to make 13-of-15 shots overall and shoot a perfect 4-for-4 from three.

Giants trade Holland and cash considerations to the Cubs for cash considerations

In one of my favourite recent trades the SF Giants send Derek Holland and cash considerations traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Holland, who was lugging around a 5.90 ERA in 31 outings (including seven starts), makes $6.5 million this year. He’s owed a $7 million team option in 2020 with a $500,000 buyout. Specifics of the cash amount for both teams was not made available to the public but this trade is a great example of when cash is traded for cash. These types of trades are becoming more and more rare these days so thank you to the Giants for making this trade happen. You can find Hollands farewell manifesto here.

How trading cash affects the salary cap

In the context of the NBA and MLB If a team sends cash along with players and/or draft picks in a trade, that cash is still counted as salary spending by the team sending the cash. This is not much of a problem in the NBA and MLB as it is in the NFL, which has a “hard cap” that can’t be exceeded for any reason at any time. In some cases, when a trade is made, a player’s old team is still “on the hook” for paying his salary, either fully or partially, and that is charged to the old team.

There are also trades, usually made after the trade deadline, where the new team negotiates a “buyout” of the player’s contract. But, in that case, the buyout money, while less than paying the player for the rest of his contract term, the new team takes the salary cap hit.

TJ Warren for Cash – How is TJ so far?

The Phoenix Suns traded TJ Warren to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations last year. A trade at the time was perplexing form the Suns perspective, TJ was arguable their second best player last year behind Devin Booker and they are trading him for…Cash. This was seen as a robbery for the Pacers acquiring an NBA starter for cash but so far this season the trade may have worked out in the Suns favor.

The Suns used the cash to sign Rubio and trade for Baynes who have been having their best seasons of their careers so far leading the Suns to a record of 7-4. While The Pacers sit at 7-6 in the eastern conference, TJ Warren hasn’t been playing up to the hype so far. This trade is a great example of the complexity of NBA transactions and how trades are never entirely as they seem.

Rebounding Wings

Rebounding wings are looking to be the next major scarcity in the NBA Market, good wings in general are hard to find and extremely valuable and rebounding wings are even more rare. Rebounding is so often an afterthought, it’s not sexy or exciting and there’s rarely rebounding highlights.

Attempting to understand a potion less game in such mathematical terms can be incredible difficult if not counterproductive altogether. But with big men shooting more and getting back on defense the ability for a wing to get a rebound and run the floor becomes an elite skill.

LeBron James is the obvious example of this as a wing who is phenomenal at getting boards and pushing the break or passing it over the defense to a teammate rolling to the hoop. Another player who is great at this Luka Doncic, similar in some ways to LeBron minus the athleticism is Luka who is averaging 28.5, 10.7 and 9 which are absolutely insane number for anyone let alone a 20 year old.

Cash considerations for goal tending depth

Across the pond the Chatham Maroons have picked up a new goaltender. They have acquired Bryce Walcarius from the London Nationals in exchange for cash considerations.

Listed at 6’3″ and 145 lbs, Walcarius is the second goaltender the Maroons have added in recent weeks — Chatham also acquired 6’1″ Kevin Linker from Welland on October 9, 2019. Walcarius is expected to play next Sunday at home against the LaSalle Vipers. Let’s hope the maroons can keep their two-game win momentum going into their next game.

Welcome back to the NBA Carmelo

The Portland Trail Blazers shook the NBA world by signing the former NBA superstar forward Carmelo Anthony. All time Bulls Legend Carmelo Anthony hasn’t played basketball since his last sting in Houston. The Bulls traded Melo to the Rockets for cash considerations in 2018. Is this signing a desperation move by the blazers? Or does Melo have some points left in the tank.

Ryan Anderson Waived by the Houston Rockets

The on and off Rocket has been waived. What seemed like a perfect fit for the Rockets bench, a big that can shoot 3’s has come to an end. Anderson previously spent two years with the rockets before a trade sent him to the suns in 2018. Anderson has suited up for a total of 14 minutes so far this season shooting 1-5 on threes. Anderson steady decline as a above average shooter seems to be meaningful.

Anderson was signed for the veteran’s minimum salary figure of around $2.6 million, but only $500,000 of that deal was guaranteed. By waiving him now, the Rockets have slipped back under the luxury tax threshold for the season.

Owner Tilman Fertitta has claimed that he is willing to pay the tax, but his actions since taking over the team tell a different story.