Good stuff.

It really speaks to what consistent spending will do over time. With the new changes to the CBA, let's hope they still find a way to continue to spend.

This has been discussed in other threads, but there is still a tremendous benefit to ignoring the restrictions, forfeiting their first round pick every year, and spending $10+ million. Take a look at it this way... How truly valuable is one pick in the high 20's every year, especially if they receive a supplemental pick? Just using the last few drafts, these are the type of players they have been able to land:

Supp- Anthony Ranaudo- $2.5 million
2- Brandon Workman- $800k
3- Sean Coyle- $1.3 million
4- Garin Cecchini- $1.31 million
5- Ryan Westmoreland- $2 million
6- Kendrick Perkins- $600k
7- Madison Younginer- $975k
etc
etc

The penalty is 100% tax on overage and loss of 1st round picks in next two drafts.  If they are given $5 million to spend, and spend $8 million, that will bring their total bill to $11 million, where they have been before. Spending $8 million without having to give $1.5 million to a first round pick is certainly doable, and you land some extremely talented players in the process. It's the only way to maintain an edge in the draft, and continue what they started 10 years ago. Hopefully they agree.