With the information out right now, it seems the most likely scenario is that we offered Gortat the full MLE right off the bat. Expecting that will be the offer he gets from all his suitors (maybe slightly more from a couple) but we are banking on the presentation and depth of interest to be the deciding factor. With the whole courting and email thing, you can obviously tell that Morey expects our offer to be competitive (because he wouldn't waste his time going out there at midnight and setting this whole thing up otherwise) yet very similar to what other teams will be offering. I believe in the end we will end up with Gortat here for the MLE, unless a team goes and does something ridiculous like the 76ers and Dalembert a few years ago.
Gortat's agent knows the he will make more money from Chinese endorsements if the Hammer signs in Houston, so if all his offers are for the MLE, I think we're the favorite to sign him. Because of that, I think it will take a team going over the MLE to snag him from us.
How about offering him the MLE less the shoe money . Because he's not going to get Chinese shoe money anywhere else. The Rocks get a few bucks to make your team better, Marcin. (Somebody would actually pay Marcin Gortat to wear their shoes?)
Good God! Same situation here. I catch them flipping around the AM dial on the way to lunch. Worst sports show on AM radio today in this city. 790 should just beg Charlie Pallilo to show up early and put Morons of the Midday out of their misery.
Here's a broader view of the teams pursuing Gortat: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4299705 It seems that Gortat and his agent were impressed.
He's already sponsored by Reebok: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/reebok-to-marcin-gortat-jordan-tattoo-wont-fly/
"He's brittle. It's over. Time to move on." As he (I assume your talkin about Yao) moves on so do the Chinese endorsements.
Good information there. Some gems like: Gortat has only two years of NBA experience, putting him into a category known as an "Early Bird" free agent. The "Early Bird" rules were changed in the last collective bargaining agreement after the Washington Wizards signed Gilbert Arenas to an offer sheet that the Golden State Warriors were unable to match because of their existing salary cap commitments. Under the new rules, no team can offer Gortat more than the mid-level exception (expected to be about $5.8 million for the upcoming season) in the first two years of any offer sheet. But a team could include a third year (and a fourth and/or fifth) at any number up to the maximum allowed under collective bargaining rules -- provided that the team tendering the offer sheet has enough space under the cap to absorb Gortat's new cap number, which would be different from his actual salary. (For instance, Oklahoma City could offer a three-year deal with salaries of $5.8 million, $6.2 million and $12 million, which would put Gortat on their cap for $8 million -- $24 million divided by three -- in each of the next three seasons. But if Orlando were to match such an offer, Gortat's actual salary, not his average, would go on the Magic's cap.)
Power of rockets fans! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/07/01/rockets.gortat.ap/index.html
Im not so sure about this. It's very likely, but it's also possible that the Rockets have built up a lot of equity and fans in china. The assumption is, if Yao moves on (worst case scenario), does Chinese bball fandom significantly decrease? My guess is it will probably decrease, but not significantly. And then, does the Rockets have enough equity in China to warrant continued interest in the team? Also, isn't Les an investor in Anta shoes?
Tanks 4 teh edumacashun. ur 3 months of additionul ClutchNut BBS expertease shore do make u smarterer. Yes, a day, geez. I was referring specifically to Morey's Lewis visit right before he was wined and dined by the Magic, in a rather lame Morey joke that I regret making enough as it is! As suspected, the Spurs are now trying to swoop in, and that would be very bad. Center is their main weakness right now, and this would be yet another infusion of youth for them.
I'm hearing we could do a sign-and-trade involving Chuck Hayes to Orlando for Gortat. Oberto is also interested in re-uniting with Scola.
Link or from your "sources"? Not saying you're wrong but its hard to believe someone when they say that unless they have or know an insider within the organization. But why would we need to do a S&T? Dont or cant we offer the MLE?
Oh yeah, we're going to do a S&T with a player we already have under contract. Wouldn't that be something...
