N/P Okafor and Ariza expected to opt in for 2014

[Mr. West]

Link

Not Pelicans, but I'd just like to take a minute and thank our lucky stars we found a way to unload both these guys in one trade.

Okafor will earn about $14.49MM in the final year of his deal, while Ariza will be in line for a salary of about $7.73MM. Even though there's a chance both players could earn more long-term money if they were to opt out and sign new multiyear deals, they'd be taking significant pay cuts for '13/14 in that scenario.

With Okafor and Ariza locked up for next season, the Wizards will have just over $57MM committed to nine players, making them a good bet to be an over-the-cap club.

Mother of God, those contracts.

[supermati]

I've always thought Ariza's contract was fine. He was our best defensive player.

[Mr. West]

Tony Allen is the best wing defender in the league barring perhaps Lebron, and he is paid less than Ariza.

[Pelicans_fan_504]

There was no way those 2 were going to opt out of those contracts

[ImSorryMonty]

I always thought that Dell unloading them for an expiring contract was his greatest stroke of genius.

I mean, not only did he find a sucker to take Okafor, he got that same sucker to take Ariza too!? Just pure hilarity. We'll enjoy our cap space while they enjoy their luxury tax this summer.

[Smow-]

I'm surpised Michael isn't here banging his "amnesty Oakafor and trade Ariza" drum that he was banging last summer.

While I agree it was a better option in a purely basketball sense, it's hard to tell an owner that he should've swallowed an extra million and risk paying more millions in the event Ariza couldn't be moved elsewhere.

Plus we got a decent 2nd rounder to boot, hopefully Miller develops into solid bench material.
I would be ecstatic to see him become our backup 3.

[da ThRONe]

I always thought that Dell unloading them for an expiring contract was his greatest stroke of genius.

I mean, not only did he find a sucker to take Okafor, he got that same sucker to take Ariza too!? Just pure hilarity. We'll enjoy our cap space while they enjoy their luxury tax this summer.

I agree 100%. I've been very critical of Demps, but this deal was a homerun.

[Eman5805]

Only a Supervillain could've pulled that trade off. I bet Demps had the Wizards GM's wife held suspended over a vat acid.

[Pelicans78]

I've always thought Ariza's contract was fine. He was our best defensive player.

But his offense was brutal. Really negated his defense.

[nolaslim213]

Don't forget we ended up getting Darius Miller out of the deal. Okafor + Ariza for D. Miller and $20 million in cap space?


Dell is a baaaaad man

[Kurgan]

Now, you don't say?

[NOLa.]

Dell is a baaaaad man

Was about to post a link to song, but I'm not sure of rules so I decided on this instead.