Quoting: Richard88
Moving Compher/Donskoi and replacing them with a minimum contract barely gets them below the $81.5m ceiling. They're going to need much more space than that to cover performance bonuses/overages as well which could become a real issue. The more I think about it the more likely it seems that they're going to have to move Johnson somehow. Worst case scenario we're stuck with $2m on the books for 4 years. Trading him with $2m retention would be the next best option. Getting Seattle to take his contract would probably cost a 1st.
$2M of dead money on the books for 4 years is unacceptable, especially in a flat-cap world. The Avs will get Seattle to take one of Graves/Donny/Compher (Graves is most likely) one way or another. I consider it highly unlikely they move Johnson, with or without retention and if this recent injury is severe enough, he may actually retire.
It is possible they might even leave someone like Bura unprotected in which case Seattle takes him. In this scenario, you get:
1. Almost $5M off the books (which allows you to re-sign Saad) for a guy they probably won't keep around long-term anyhow
2. Space to bring in Newhook in top-six wing role
3. Now you can use some of those other guys as trade assets and get something back for them. Graves would fetch a decent return, Compher less so
To me, that's actually better asset management than allowing them to take Graves for nothing