Laker is trading real big like AD, Kawhii, Bulter, to form big 3. why Morey trade some non big to Houston?
The only way the Rockets can sign Jimmy Butler to a full max this offseason is by having $32.7M in cap space to offer him as a free agent, which would require dumping $49 million in salary. They can trade for him if he picks up his $19.8M player option, which is how they acquired Chris Paul two summers ago. However, you are right that it really should just be considered a trade, not a sign and trade.
Are you saying they can't trade CP3 to get space and then trade Gordon to Philly for Butler? Or do it as a 3 team trade?
The only way the Rockets take this deal is if Chris Paul goes nuclear like Jimmy Butler did on the Timberwolves or Morey thinks Harden and Paul absolutely can’t work together anymore. By taking such a deal, the Rockets are slamming the door shut on competing for a championship this season. It simply makes no sense. Also, with Anthony Davis off the table, the rest of the 2020 free agent class is very underwhelming. The best players include Draymond Green, Andre Drummond, DeMar DeRozan and Kristaps Porzingis. Green is not suited to be the second best player on a championship team, and Porzingis, while intriguing, is unlikely to leave Dallas for Houston.
Yes, technically they can. However, why would the Rockets do it when they can trade Gordon, draft picks and contract filler (Nene, etc) to Philly for Butler without losing CP3. If they did what you described above and Butler agreed to take his $19.8 million player option, the Rockets would have Jimmy Butler instead of Eric Gordon and about 22 million to replace CP3 with available free agents. If Butler demands the max instead, the Rockets would only have $3.6 million to fill out the remainder of their roster.
Sounds like they can do it but you just don't like it. If the number really is $22MM that's enough for additions like Pat Bev, Danny Green, and minimum contracts. Which would leave you with a rotation of Bev/Harden/Butler/PJ/Clint with D. Green as the 6th man. The rest would just be minimum guys which Morey seems to get pretty well. But I'm not sure that $22MM number is right. They can only do what your are recommending if Jimmy is willing to opt in and risk injury. If he wants his max my way is an option.
Your way does get Jimmy Butler a max contract this offseason, but it’s not in the best interests of the Rockets. Also, why would Butler want to join a Rockets team without both Chris Paul and Eric Gordon? The only way Butler gets a max deal is by declining his player option and signing as a free agent. Unless they traded Paul, Gordon and either Tucker or Capela for no salary in return, the Rockets will not able to sign Jimmy Butler to a maximum contract as a free agent and have more than $8 million to offer other free agents. If the Rockets can’t get Butler via trade, they aren’t getting him. Not to mention, to have the money needed to sign Danny Green and Beverley, they would have to trade Capela, Tucker or both for no incoming salary. It simply isn’t happening.
How does trading CP3 to a third team, Gordon to the 6ers, and getting Butler not allow him to get his max contract? That's $52MM outgoing dollars for the Rockets.
Draft picks. They have nearly $57 million in cap space to pursue a different elite player to pair with Simmons and Embiid if they let Butler walk, and CP3 is a terrible fit with Ben Simmons.
You’re right that Butler could get his max contract in your scenario, so I stand corrected. However, I stand by my original premise that if any team trades for Butler it means he accepted his $19.8 million player option for next season. The Sixers won’t want to take at least $24.5 million back in the trade when they simply can use their $57 million on other free agents, and teams with the cap space to offer Butler the max have no reason to give up assets for him.
Yes you can. That's what a sign and trade is. Butler signs his contract and is immediately traded to the Rockets.
Yet people wonder why the Rockets are trying to get into the first round... rotational player on a rookie deal. Easiest way to fill a crucial 10-16 min. gap when you’re stretched thin financially. If they can’t beat GSW, then they must think like them. Give up some, get back more and fill the roster.
He barely dribbles because James Harden holds the ball almost all 24 seconds of the shotclock. When he does dribble Harden takes himself out the play.
