(11-02-2023, 09:18 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Another year under the LT seems unrealistic. For planning (and speculation) purposes, the second apron is probably the number to worry about.
I wouldn't assume they will exceed the LT. As the old expression goes, where there's a will, there's a way -- and Cuban's track record shows a consistent desire to avoid tax.
I think they'll work hard to find a way to shuffle the deck and lower the numbers by a bit, given that if they do nothing except add a rookie FA, they will be at or within a hair of the LT line (perhaps under) with 14. With a bit of effort, avoiding tax is going to easily be within their reach.
I will also add that it would be incredibly unlikely for them to return 13, even if they have 13 under contract for next year. That is to say, I expect some shuffling is inevitable -- which then opens the door for some salary slicing here or there.