Most teams these days carry on the payroll a salary cap expert -- a "capologist," if you will -- to battle through the dense swampland that is the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Usually this role is played by an assistant general manager or someone else affiliated with a team's basketball operations staff.In Orlando, the role has been filled by Scott Herring, a senior vice president of basketball administration who had been with the club since before it existed. (No small feat!) Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reported Monday that the Magic have eliminated the position and Herring's job, however.
Just one more victim in Rashard Lewis's expensive reign, it seems -- why pay to tell your cap figure is screwed when you know perfectly well that your cap figure is screwed? In all seriousness, the Magic are basically capped out until 2011. Even then, with $36 million devoted to Lewis and Dwight Howard, there will be little real maneuverability. But that's when knowing the cap becomes really important -- when you have restricted means to add talent and need to add talent.
On one hand, someone in Orlando completely botched the team's cap flexibility last summer by doing things all out of order. On the other, this valuable slice of Herring's job -- obviously difficult and nuanced -- now gets handed over to the franchise's CFO. Way to go, Orlando.
[Via Matt from Blog-a-Bull.]
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-01-2008 @ 1:30PM
Basketball.org said...
What does cap flexibility down the road matter to the Orlando Magic? They are putting their best foot forward to be a contender. They have Rashard Lewis, Hedo and a superstar in Dwight Howard. They only need to add role players or another piece which they can get in the draft or through the mid-level exception. What veteran wouldn't want to play with these three? Lets remember Howard is only 22 and averaged 20pts 14rebs last year. Scary.
Reply
7-01-2008 @ 1:41PM
jesse said...
Not to mention they get lucky in the draft one year and get a decent number pick they have Hedo as a good trading chip. Not to mention Nelson. I think its very possible a team going through a wholesale would give up a star for Hedo, Nelson, and a 1St round draft pick or two. They get someone like T-Mac you cant tell me him, Lewis, and Howard wouldnt be an elite team. Let me know what u think....
Reply
7-01-2008 @ 7:16PM
Basketball said...
I completely agree. The Magic have a ton of potential and are in a strong position. They are a couple of role players/trades away from being the elite team in the East.
Reply
7-02-2008 @ 4:03AM
jesse said...
Not to mention J.J. ( lot of teams think he is a valuable unused asset) and they just got Lee .
P.S. In the above one i wasnt saying they could get Tracy i was just using him as an example of a star that looks to be out of options on their current team.
Reply