That 2014-15 salary includes eight players on the roster since Salmons would need to be waived to lose the other $6 million of his salary. It also, of course, doesn't include any of those (many) restricted free agents: Vasquez, Thomas, Cousins and Patterson. The way things currently look, whether or not the teams can turn Thornton into Ellis, the Kings won't have much space after locking up Cousins, if the team locks up Cousins. Trading Hayes or Thompson could allow enough space for a player just above the mid-level after accounting for a lottery pick. (That's not a pessimistic statement, just a conservative one.)

One thing to note for this season: using the amnesty clause on Salmons leaves the team with just two passable small forwards: Mbah a Moute and Outlaw. And both might be better as small fours. Hello, three-guard lineups!

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