How Do They Do It?

That�s the refrain on many message boards of late now that the Shock have signed four-time WNBA All-Star and US Olympic point guard Shannon �Pee Wee� Johnson as a free agent. The �it� of which they speak is the signing of so many name players despite the hard salary cap in the WNBA. In other words, how does the Shock fit everybody underneath that cap?

As in other leagues, WNBA rules prohibit teams from revealing individual player salaries, so we can�t say specifically how Detroit massages its specific situation, but we can speak in generalities and give folks an idea of how the cap works.

First off, the salary cap this season is $728,000. A team can have anywhere from 11 to 13 players on its roster, so let�s assume the Shock is squeezing every last drop of toothpaste out of the tube and planning on just 11 players this season.

The maximum contract a player with more than four years of WNBA experience may sign is worth $93,000 a year. The minimum for a player with more than four years is $49,134 and the minimum for a player with fewer than four years of experience is $32,400.

WNBA Salary Cap Basics
2007 Salary Cap	$728,000
Veteran (4+ years) Maximum	$93,000
Veteran (4+ years) Minimum	$49,134
Rookie (3- years) Minimum	$32,400

So given those parameters, could a team conceivably pay five players the max amount of money? $93,000 times five is $465,000, which leaves $263,000 left in the till for the remaining six players for an average of 43,833. So it is possible to pay five players the max if a team is willing to then surround itself with a half a dozen players who are under several combinations of minimum contracts.

Five Max Players Scenario
2007 Salary Cap	$728,000
5 Max Veteran Players	$465,000
Total $$ Remaining	$263,000
Average $$ Remaining (6 players)	$43,833

Okay, but could you pay six players the max? $93,000 times six is $558,000, which leaves $170,000 for the five remaining players for an average of $34,000 per player. So it is still do-able as long as those five players are making minimum �rookie� contracts.

Six Max Players Scenario
2007 Salary Cap	$728,000
6 Max Veteran Players	$558,000
Total $$ Remaining	$170,000
Average $$ Remaining (5 players)	$34,000

So the key to dealing with the salary cap in this extreme situation is to go with the minimum number of players and eliminate the middle class - All-Star veterans surrounded by players who are battling for recognition. The other keys to this being a successful strategy is to 1) keep those max players healthy, and 2) make sure you are giving maximum contracts to maximum talent players, because you haven�t left yourself much wiggle room

Given that a six-max player roster is mathematically possible, it isn�t much of a leap to figure that a four-max player roster is very realistic and probably typifies most rosters in the league. Four max players leaves a team an average of almost $51,000 for each of its seven players left on the roster. Throw in two lower level rookie contracts, and you can have about $58,000 for the other five players. Add a veteran minimum deal, and the four other players can each get close to $60,000.

So which of these scenarios represents the Shock roster? We�re not permitted to say. But for those who think that the league office is letting the defending champs play fast and loose with the cards, think again. Detroit�s roster construction is legit, and ready to defend its title.