Jazz Save About $9 Million by Trading Harpring, Maynor to Thunder

Want a prime example of how important money is these days in the NBA? Utah on Tuesday parted with intriguing rookie point guard Eric Maynor, but is now in line to save about $9 million.

Here's how it works after some additional money crunching was done by FanHouse. By sending injured Matt Harpring's expiring $6.5 million contract to Oklahoma City along with Maynor, who makes $1.32 million, for the draft rights to Peter Fehse (who likely never will play in the NBA), the Jazz saved $7.82 million in luxury tax for the season.

Had the Jazz not made the deal, the team would have paid a total of about $13 million for the salaries and luxury tax for Harpring and Maynor, which includes getting back about $2.6 million insurance on Harpring, out for the rest of the season.

By making the deal, the Jazz only is responsible for approximately $2.7 already paid to Harpring and Maynor and the amount paid for a 13th player the team must add to fill out the roster, With that player likely to make about $500,000 the rest of the season, which is the pro-rated sum of the $825,497 minimum, and then adding the luxury tax on the player, that's about $1.3 million. Subtract $4 million from $13 million and the Jazz save about $9 million.

As far as the Thunder is concerned, it got a steal.

"He's a nice little piece,'' Harpring said in an interview with FanHouse about Maynor. "That just goes to show you how important finances are in the NBA.''

Harpring, who likely never will play again due to knee and ankle injuries, said he spoke to Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor on Tuesday afternoon. He said O'Connor told him the shipping of his contract is very helpful to the Jazz financially.

"He told me that this is strictly financial and that you're helping the Jazz,'' said Harpring, who had been with Utah since 2002-03. "He said, 'You're still a Jazz guy. We all know that' ... This saved them a lot of money, with the luxury tax.''

Maynor, averaging 5.2 points and 3.1 points, has a bright future. He was taken with the No. 20 pick in last June's draft out of Virginia Commonwealth.

But now that future will be with the Thunder, which has no luxury-tax problems and can absorb the salaries of the players without paying a penalty. To make room on its roster for the acquisitions of Maynor and Harpring, the Thunder waved reserve point guards Shaun Livingston and Mike Wilks.

The Thunder could use Harpring's contract in another deal before the Feb. 18 trade deadline. Due to it being an expiring contract and the insurance situation on it, it could be a very attractive piece.

"It doesn't matter to me,'' Harpring said about being on Oklahoma City's roster but not needing to report due to his physical being waived. "It just means my checks will come from the Thunder.''

The Jazz still has a payroll of about $75 million, above the luxury-tax threshold of $69.92 million. Fehse, a forward from Germany taken in the second round in 2002, likely never will play in the NBA.

"Trading Eric was a difficult decision," O'Connor said in a statement. "But, along with Matt's contract, it greatly helps reduce our luxury tax responsibility. Fortunately, with Deron (Williams) and a proven backup in Ronnie Price we feel that we have depth at (point guard).''

Because Harpring hasn't officially retired, his contract can be traded around.

"I haven't retired yet because it's not voluntary,'' Harpring said. "I'd like to play but I can't.''

Harpring said his career is likely over.

"You can't regrow cartilage,'' he said. "It's bone on bone on my (right) knee and my (right) ankle. Unless I wake up one day and suddenly feel great (Harpring is retired). But it would take a miracle.''

Harpring wants to get into broadcasting. He's already done six Utah games this season as a television analyst and he often has been an NBA TV studio guest.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.