[Chron] Tilman Fertitta determined to do "whatever it takes" to improve Rockets

And asks for change.

 

Chuck Norris of penny pinching.

 

Tilman says that he has no problem to pay luxury tax. I think everyone completely misunderstands him.
Two things that I really don't understand are that
1. Why not buy draft picks last 2 years? Jazz spent 2 million to buy 58th pick. Every piece has a value.
2. Why not spend full taxpayer MLE last 2 years? $5 million is too expensive?

 

We had used most of our cash allotment and didn't have enough cash left to pay more than about ~500K for a pick this year - if I remember correctly.

Not sure what's going on with the MLE though.

 

I don't think anyone knows. Maybe @BimaThug. Fertitta knows, but all he'll say is, "I'll spend whatever it takes!"

Sure.

 

tilman: I'll do whatever it takes!

morey: it usually takes more than minimum contr....

tilman: ...ben Macklemore! Splash! Fireworks!

 

The Rockets used most of (what would be) the Taxpayer MLE to re-sign Danuel House. The remainder of the Taxpayer MLE is hardly more than the vet minimum for a vet with only a few years experience. Odds are, that remaining MLE money will be used to lock up fringe guys like Clemons and Ponds long-term (as they did with Hartenstein, Clark, Chiozza and Frazier last season).

Had the Rockets used the "full" Non-Taxpayer MLE, they would have been hard-capped. However, at this point -- given that the Westbrook trade wasn't expanded to add more incoming salary and that a Shumpert S&T is becoming increasingly unlikely -- I'm not sure why the Rockets didn't just use the full Non-Taxpayer MLE (or whatever was left over after re-signing House) to go out and get another key rotation piece. Odds are, the Rockets won't end up exceeding the tax apron level.

Maybe it was just crappy timing (not knowing that Westbrook would truly be available until all of their top MLE targets were off the board). Or maybe it is just an unwillingness by ownership to pay luxury tax on non-stars. Tough to say.

P.S. The Rockets could actually still use (the rest of) the Non-Taxpayer MLE during the season if they wanted to, as long as they don't exceed the tax apron level at any point. However, the MLE will begin prorating downward on January 10. Still, don't be shocked if Clemons or Ponds get four-year deals later in the season using the Non-Taxpayer MLE.

 

Thanks, Bima. Answered my questions and more, as per usual.

 

Don't worry guys, Tilman is a make of result, as a made man.

 

Did we use the full MLE last year? If not, how much did we have left?

 

Bima,
do you think the rockets just wanted to take the flexibility of taking the non-taxpayer MLE option into the season for potential buyout candidates?

 

Shut up and listen. Damn it.

 

If Tillman really wants to make this team legit he'll not find a way to get Kevin Love on this team, he'll find a way to get Blake Griffin. A big 3 of Westbrook, Harden and Griffin may be enough to overcome the West, that is only, if you still have Capela.

 

Maybe. More likely, they stick to the Taxpayer MLE and try to duck the tax. Just my gut feeling.

 

Last year they used part on Hartenstein ($838,464) & Clark ($596,872), while ($3,901,664) went unspent.

This year they have used ($3,492,063) on House.

They have either ($2,225,937) T-MLE or ($5,765,937) NT-MLE left.

 

I'll be shocked because it is either Clemons or Ponds. Both are undersized.

Those have too similar of a skillset.

 

Rockets always get undersized, similar skill set player. Nothing new here.

 

Back to back years of publicly lying about paying into the tax. I can’t believe it. Lmfao.