I figured this would be more valuable here than in NBA dish, but to keep it R-related, 1. who do you want? 2. who do you want, and be realistic? NBA free agents From staff reports NBA free agents and potential free agents for the summer of 2004: RESTRICTED (typically, players with four seasons or less of NBA experience) Courtney Alexander, Hornets Chris Anderson, Nuggets Robert Archibald, Raptors Carlos Arroyo, Jazz Matt Barnes, Clippers Lonny Baxter, Wizards Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Cavaliers Michael Bradley, Hawks J.R. Bremer, Warriors Jamison Brewer, Pacers Ernest Brown, Celtics Rasual Butler, Heat Maurice Carter, Hornets Jarron Collins, Jazz Jamal Crawford, Bulls Marquis Daniels, Mavericks Keyon Dooling, Clippers Ronald Dupree, Bulls Obinna Ekezie, Hawks Desmond Ferguson, Blazers Marcus Fizer, Bulls Richie Frahm, Sonics Alex Garcia, Spurs Manu Ginobili, Spurs Gordan Giricek, Jazz Jason Hart, Spurs Trenton Hassell, T'Wolves Britton Johnsen, Magic Linton Johnson, Bulls Kenyon Martin, Nets Chris Mihm, Celtics Darius Miles, Blazers Josh Moore, Clippers Mehmet Okur, Pistons Jannero Pargo, Bulls Morris Peterson, Raptors Joel Przybilla, Hawks Zeljko Rebraca, Hawks Quentin Richardson, Clippers Paul Shirley, Bulls Bobby Simmons, Clippers Tamar Slay, Nets Leon Smith, Sonics Darius Songaila, Kings DeShawn Stevenson, Magic Stromile Swift, Grizzlies Etan Thomas, Wizards Jeff Trepagnier, Nuggets Jake Tsakalidis, Grizzlies Hidayet Turkoglu, Spurs Mike Wilks, Rockets Maurice Williams, Jazz Loren Woods, Heat UNRESTRICTED Rafer Alston, Heat Kenny Anderson, Pacers Stacey Augmon, Hornets Brandon Armstrong, Nets Vin Baker, Knicks Brent Barry, Sonics Jon Barry, Nuggets Travis Best, Mavericks Corie Blount, Raptors Rodney Buford, Kings Mitchell Butler, Wizards Brian Cardinal, Warriors Calbert Cheaney, Warriors Keon Clark, Suns Omar Cook, Blazers Michael Curry, Raptors Hubert Davis, Nets Derrick Dial, Magic Vlade Divac, Kings Michael Doleac, Nuggets Adonal Foyle, Warriors Tremaine Fowlkes, Pistons Kendall Gill, Bulls Dion Glover, Raptors Horace Grant, Lakers Tom Gugliotta, Jazz Darvin Ham, Pistons Zendon Hamilton, 76ers Donnell Harvey, Suns Fred Hoiberg, T'Wolves Lindsey Hunter, Pistons Steven Hunter, Magic Mark Jackson, Rockets Mike James, Pistons Avery Johnson, Warriors DerMarr Johnson, Knicks Damon Jones, Bucks Brevin Knight, Bucks Toni Kukoc, Bucks Sean Marks, Spurs Tony Massenburg, Kings Darrick Martin, T'Wolves Amal McCaskill, 76ers Antonio McDyess, Suns Stanislav Medvedenko, Lakers Oliver Miller, T'Wolves Mikki Moore, Jazz Lee Nailon, Cavaliers Mamadou N'diaye, Hawks Greg Ostertag, Jazz Doug Overton, Clippers Scott Padgett, Rockets Wesley Person, Hawks Mark Pope, Nuggets Sean Rooks, Magic Michael Ruffin, Jazz Ansu Sesay, Sonics Jabari Smith, Kings Steve Smith, Hornets Rod Strickland, Raptors Robert Traylor, Hornets Gary Trent, T'Wolves Jacque Vaughn, Hawks Samaki Walker, Heat John Wallace, Heat Rasheed Wallace, Pistons Rodney White, Nuggets Chris Whitney, Wizards Eric Williams, Cavaliers Scott Williams, Mavericks Shammond Williams, Hornets Wang Zhi Zhi, Heat TEAM OPTIONS (team has choice to terminate contract or enforce it for next season) Carlos Boozer, Cavaliers Robert Horry, Spurs PLAYER OPTIONS (player can choose to terminate next season - the final one - and become a free agent) Bruce Bowen, Spurs Troy Hudson, T'Wolves Karl Malone, Lakers Zaza Pachulia, Magic (he would be restricted) Gary Payton, Lakers Anthony Peeler, Kings Brian Skinner, Bucks Charlie Ward, Spurs EARLY TERMINATION (player can terminate the remainder of his contract which has one or more seasons remaining) Kobe Bryant, Lakers Marcus Camby, Nuggets Erick Dampier, Warriors Derek Fisher, Lakers Penny Hardaway, Knicks Steve Nash, Mavericks Vitaly Potapenko, Sonics Latrell Sprewell, T'Wolves Nick Van Exel, Warriors Antoine Walker, Mavericks http://www.thestate.com/mld/charlot...42.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
I know he is starting to get up there in age, but I would love to see that Rocks pick up Jon Barry. He is a guy who brings infectious energy off the bench, leadership, a deadly outside shot and good passing. He could easily fill backup roles at either guard position and give us a lot of flexibility. I doubt the money would work on this and it is a big gamble, but I would like to see what the Rocks could do with McDyess. I know he is injury prone and hasnt been the same since his last injuries, but we need help at the PF position. Again, if the money works he could be a very solid backup at worse. Its much more of a gamble than Jon Barry, but it could pay huge rewards if he can return to a fraction of his former self.
Stromile Swift & Mehmet Okur: if they finally get enough playing time, I think both could have breakout seasons next season Damon Jones & Brent Barry: two steady point guards to possibly replace Steve Adonal Foyle & Keon Clark: two adequate replacements for Cato in case the Rockets get an offer they can’t refuse
Not reallistic, its widely known West will match any offers for Swift and that Okur will either be resigned by detroit or denver will go after him. In any case both will be expected to get offers for more then the MLE
I hope the Rockets try to move up in the draft, its not a very strong class this year so teams might be looking to get some proven players for immediate help. I like Luke Jackson's game, he has a good shot and good size, reminds me of bigger and stronger Brent Barry.
Any of these guys...(Addressing PG/PF needs)... Marquis Daniels, Mavericks Manu Ginobili, Spurs Kenyon Martin, Nets (First Option) Chris Mihm, Celtics Mehmet Okur, Pistons Stromile Swift, Grizzlies Jake Tsakalidis, Grizzlies Brent Barry, Sonics (Third Option) Jon Barry, Nuggets Adonal Foyle, Warriors (Fourth Option) Avery Johnson, Warriors (on our coaching staff ) Robert Traylor, Hornets Rasheed Wallace, Pistons (Fifth Option) Carlos Boozer, Cavaliers (Second Option) Steve Nash, Mavericks
Unrestricted Free agents , we can get : Pg Damon Jones Mike James Rafer Alston Rod Strickland Brevin Knight Kenny Anderson Travis Best Sg B.Barry J.Barry Fred Hoiberg Lindsey Hunter Steve Smith DerMarr Johnson Sf Toni Kukoc Rodney White Pf Rasheed Wallace Antonio McDyess Samaki Walker C Adonal Foyle Vlade Divac Keon Clark
Just in case you may have forgotten, for any RFA left unprotected in the Expansion Draft.... * Any eligible restricted free agent selected by the Bobcats shall immediately become an unrestricted free agent. * Unrestricted free agents are not eligible to be protected nor are they eligible to be selected by the Bobcats. * Charlotte will be permitted to select players in the Expansion Draft without regard to the Salary Cap. (I take this to mean that CHA is free to negotiate with all 29 players they select once signings begin on July 14th and that no player becomes a UFA until they are waived or CHA has a full 14 player roster). * Charlotte will be permitted to sign any restricted free agent it selects in the Expansion Draft using the same “Bird,” “Early Bird” or “Non-Bird” Exception that the player’s prior team would have had. * A team will not be permitted to reacquire a player that it loses in the Expansion Draft prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the Expansion Draft, unless the player is waived and not claimed by any other team. IOW, there could be as many as 15 UFA's not already on the list FA list. It's not likely to reach 15, but there will be 1 or 2 unexpected unrestricted FA's for sure. I used to feel that the Rockets TE would not be that valuable to the Bobcats, but it appears that Charlotte's $30m cap is very soft since they will get Bird Rights transferred with each player. Once CHA goes over the cap signing it's roster, they could move a $4m-$6m player to HOU for a future draft pick and have a year to use the transferred TE. The Rockets are in a very good position to add roster depth. I hope they are aggressive. The deadline for protecting players is June 12th...less than a month away.
Good information GATER. Very interesting. You should probably save this post since that information will become handy again closer to the Expansion draft.
Gater, What about the prospects for a three-team two-step trade that involves Charlotte selecting a restricted free agent (or even an unprotected player who is not a RFA) then trading that player on the college/international draft day for one or more players under contract, with or without draft picks added. For (a silly) example, might Charlotte pick Brian Grant (presuming he is unprotected) in the expansion draft, collect $3 million cash from the Heat and the Heat's 2004 draft choice as an incentive to take on Grant's contract, then trade Grant and either their own or the Heat's draft choice and/or another player to Houston for Steve Francis and the trade exception?
Most knowledgeable posters (among others that means you aelliott ) don't think the Bobcats will tie up their $30m cap with 1 high dollar player and thus won't select one. I'm on the fence. The Bobcats are not going to be a FA hot spot for some time to come so staying at or near the $30m ($33m in season 2) could be a secondary issue for them. Thus, given that Bird Rights transfer, it is not too unreasonable to assume they will easily go over their cap. Therefore, I tend to think that a player who is on a bargain contract or one who has trade possibilities may interest them. The Bobcats are unique and without precedence in the manner in which they are coming into the league. I don't think they will take on a big contract, but if it happened, I would not be totally awestruck.
Gator (or anyone else), If the ROX stand pat and don't trade anyone or release a big contract player - how much cap room will they have next year to actually sign free agents?
Relativist - You'll still see posts by NIKEstrad and aelliott. They're in lurk mode. It's understandable since a lot of threads/posts these days seem to pit Yao vs SF3 or JVG vs Rudy T or other devisive subjects. Kudos to SamFisher for a timely, non-devisive and comprehensive subject.
From Bobcats pronouncements I have to agree that there are very few rich contracts they would like to assume -- unless they got lots for them, ie $3mil + draft choices... then released them, freeing their cap exposure (but still owing the $). What player would fit in the pay high category? UNC Vinsanity? UNC Jameson? MJ???
GATER, Judging by that first rule, is it possible that Charlotte would pick Stromile Swift, then he would bcome unrestricted? Could they pick him then send him to us, re-signed or otherwise? Basically, we know the Grizz won't deal with us. So what needs to happen for Charlotte to snatch Swift, then for Swift to become a Rockets? Doc Rocket said Francis for the #4 pick. I would be a bit more willing to do it if it was Francis for the #4 plus a re-signed Stromile Swift. Anyway that could work? I'd appreciate it if you could map out the series of events that would need to take place.
If the Rockets want Grant and Miami wanted Francis, then why involve Charlotte? Why not just do a two way deal directly and keep from having to compensate Charlotte? Charlotte is only helpful if a team is looking to dump salary. The problem is that Charlotte isn't going to take on any really big contracts and they're not going to draft a player just to release since they still have to pay off all the guarenteed money that the player is owed. For example, Charlotte wouldn't take a 1st rounder from us to draft Taylor. While they could release him and he wouldn't count against their cap, they would have to shell out the $30+ million that is left on his contract. That's way too much to pay out for a 1st round pick. If a player has a salary in the $3M to $6M range and only a year left on his deal, then Charlotte would probably be willing to select the player in return for a 1st rounder. Anything above that is doubtful.
