Roster Building / Cap Discussion

OKI used the following for salary cap projections and contract information:

- Assuming Kessler gets $35MM
- Assuming 2026 draft pick gets $10MM
- Assuming Keyonte gets max extension at 25% of cap

Here is what I'm seeing:
2026/2027 - Cap = 166MM LT=201MM1st Apron = 211MM2nd Apron=234MM Lauri + JJJ + Kessler = 130MM 6 additional players under contract for 45.9MM Total = 176MM for 9 players = 25MM for 6 players to stay under the LT35MM to stay under the 1st Apron

2027/2028 - Cap =174MMLT=212MM1st Apron = 221MM2nd Apron = 234MM Lauri + JJJ + Kessler + Keyonte = 178.8MM 5 additional players under contract for 36MM Total = 214MM for 9 players = 9MM for 6 players to stay under the 1st apron20MM for 6 players to stay under the second apron

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE help correct me where I went wrong on this!!!!!

Start Walker at $33m and have it descend by 8%I think it ends up being about 5/140. I think you can afford to start Keyonte at $45m but only if it descendstoo.

Med_Phys said:

Start Walker at $33m and have it descend by 8%I think it ends up being about 5/140. I think you can afford to start Keyonte at $45m but only if it descendstoo.

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Unfortunately I think Walker's contract is out of our hands at this point. It would have been nice to negotiate a descending contract like that though.

I meanwe won’t have cap and we won’t hit the taxso the TLDR; is they should do their damnedest to sign the best player they can with the MLE such that they can trade it later for returning value (because Key + Walker are probably going to push us into the tax after next year and you want the optionality to ditch out on some spending AND generate an asset).

SoberasHotRod said:

Unfortunately I think Walker's contract is out of our hands at this point. It would have been nice to negotiate a descending contract like that though.

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Mehany other teams out there specifically built a roster to Maximize Walker Kessler? Would YOU go to the Bulls? We are going to be fine.

Kessler may not get the blockbuster contract he wants and Jazz know it
Jazz just wait and match

I’m probably in the minority herebut I don’t love the thought of giving Key the max this offseason

framer said:

Mehany other teams out there specifically built a roster to Maximize Walker Kessler? Would YOU go to the Bulls? We are going to be fine.

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I don't know what Walker will getbut what I do know is that it is out of the Jazz's control at this point. He will be an RFA and very likely another team will determine his next contractnot the Jazz.

Can someone smart tell us how many teams have 35+ million to offer in free agency this season?

David Stern said:

I’m probably in the minority herebut I don’t love the thought of giving Key the max this offseason

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It's at the very least scary.

From this article it sounds like only the LakersBullsand Nets have over 35+ million in space to offer.

I think one of those teams will throw a huge contract at Watson (Denver's finances are more strict than Utah's and Watson will be easier to get if you dont mind throwing a big offer out)so I think Walker will only have two true suitors outside of the Jazz.

Nets still have Nic Claxton on a 20+ million dollar contract for the next two seasons. Doesnt mean they cant sign Walker. They could probably trade Claxton without too much troublebut it at least makes it a bit less likely they target him.

I will never pretend to know what the Bulls are doing. There are several decent UFAs on the market. Maybe they decide to go for another 41-41 season in 2026-2027 and sign a bunch of mid tier veterans to fill out their roster instead of spending a lot on Walker.

Mitchell Robinson is also a UFAand when healthyon a similiar level to Walker.

Also have to consider that Washington/Chicago might want to tank another year and put off signing a veteran who will push wins.

David Stern said:

I’m probably in the minority herebut I don’t love the thought of giving Key the max this offseason

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You have company with me. I think that would be a mistake.