Houston Rocket Salary Cap Mini-Update

[Carl Herrera]

Given that the team's cap situation is changing a few times a week with all the recent deals, I though it'd be useful to provide an summary of where things stand and update as deals are made:

Here's the salary picture right now:

The Rockets are about $4M short of being able to make the reported offers to Asik ($8.36M cap hit) and Lin ($7.2M Cap Hit) if they make the reported NY trade and sign all their rookies to their expected rookie contract. They will also have 19 guys under contract after the latest Camby trade (21 if including Lin and Asik).

They can clear the necessary cap space to make the Lin/Asik offers by waiving Shaun Livingston (only $1M out of $3.5M guaranteed) and 3 of the non-guarateed guys (or waiving 2 non-guaranteed guys and delay the signing of a 1st round pick until the Lin/Asik contracts are matched or not matched).

They cannot however, sign another player while Lin/Asik situations are pending without making additional salary clearing moves. My guess is that this would be a moot point given that at least the Lin contract is expected to be rather quickly matched.

Anyhow, see table below:

Name	Notes	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
Kevin Martin		$12,439,675
Luis Scola		$9,408,207	$10,224,622	$11,041,037
Courtney Lee	Renounced
Goran Dragic	Signed with PHX
Patrick Patterson		$2,096,760	$3,105,302
Marcus Morris		$1,905,360	$1,987,320
Chandler Parsons		$888,250	$926,500	$964,750
Greg Smith	50% Guaranteed in 12/13	$381,098	$854,389
Derek Fisher	Waived	$644,005
Courtney Fortson	Non-Guaranteed
Diamon Simpson	Non-Guaranteed
Earl Boykins	Waived
Jeremy Lamb	120% Scale	$2,020,200	$2,111,160	$2,202,000	$3,034,356
Royce White	120% Scale	$1,645,440	$1,719,480	$1,793,520	$2,751,260
Donatas Motiejunas	120% Scale-Signed	$1,361,400	$1,422,720	$1,483,920	$2,288,205
Terrence Jones	120% Scale	$1,485,000	$1,551,840	$1,618,680	$2,489,530
Jon Leuer	Non-Guaranteed
Jon Brockman		$1,000,000
Shaun Livingstone	$1M Guaranteed	$1,000,000
Gary Forbes		$1,500,000
Jeremy Lin	Offer Planned	$7,200,000	$7,200,000	$7,200,000	$7,200,000
Omer Asik	Offer Planned	$8,360,000	$8,360,000	$8,360,000
Toney Doublas		$2,067,880
Jerome Jordan	Non-Guaranteed
Josh Harrelson	Non-Guaranteed
SUM		$55,403,275	$39,463,333	$34,663,907	$17,763,350
# of Players		16	10	7	4
$ below $58.04 mil Cap		$2,636,726	$18,576,667	$23,376,093	$40,276,650

[Billionzz]

Nice post, thanks for the breakdown.

[BigMaloe]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera Given that the team's cap situation is changing a few times a week with all the recent deals, I though it'd be useful to provide an summary of where things stand and update as deals are made: Here's the salary picture right now: The Rockets are about $4M short of being able to make the reported offers to Asik ($8.36M cap hit) and Lin ($7.2M Cap Hit) if they make the reported NY trade and sign all their rookies to their expected rookie contract. They will also have 19 guys under contract after the latest Camby trade (21 if including Lin and Asik). They can clear the necessary cap space to make the Lin/Asik offers by waiving Shaun Livingston (only $1M out of $3.5M guaranteed) and 3 of the non-guarateed guys (or waiving 2 non-guaranteed guys and delay the signing of a 1st round pick until the Lin/Asik contracts are matched or not matched). They cannot however, sign another player while Lin/Asik situations are pending without making additional salary clearing moves. My guess is that this would be a moot point given that at least the Lin contract is expected to be rather quickly matched. Anyhow, see table below: Name Notes 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Kevin Martin   $12,439,675     Luis Scola   $9,408,207               Courtney Lee Renounced     Goran Dragic Signed with PHX     Patrick Patterson   $2,096,760 $3,105,302 Marcus Morris   $1,905,360 $1,987,320     Chandler Parsons   $888,250 $926,500 $964,750   Greg Smith 50% Guaranteed in 12/13 $762,195 $854,389     Derek Fisher Waived $644,005       Courtney Fortson Non-Guaranteed $762,195       Diamon Simpson Non-Guaranteed $762,195       Earl Boykins Waived         Jeremy Lamb 120% Scale $2,020,200 $2,111,160 $2,202,000 $3,034,356 Royce White 120% Scale $1,645,440 $1,719,480 $1,793,520 $2,751,260 Donatas Motiejunas 120% Scale-Signed $1,361,400 $1,422,720 $1,483,920 $2,288,205 Terrence Jones 120% Scale $1,485,000 $1,551,840 $1,618,680 $2,489,530 Jon Leuer Non-Guaranteed $762,195     Jon Brockman   $1,000,000       Shaun Livingstone $1M Guaranteed $3,500,000       Gary Forbes   $1,500,000       Jeremy Lin Offer Planned $7,200,000 $7,200,000 $7,200,000 $7,200,000 Omer Asik Offer Planned $8,360,000 $8,360,000 $8,360,000   Toney Douglas   $2,067,880       Jerome Jordan Non-Guaranteed $762,195       Josh Harrelson Non-Guaranteed $762,195                 SUM $62,095,347 $29,238,711 $23,622,870 $17,763,350 # of Players   21 9 6 4 $ below $58.04 mil Cap   $(4,055,347) $28,801,289 $34,417,130 $40,276,650

i swear i wish i could rep you CH...

it seems we share the same schedule and everynight you post atleast 3/4 things i would rep... definately one of the top posters and well informed and intelligent///

[YaosDirtyStache]

Originally Posted by BigMaloe i swear i wish i could rep you CH... it seems we share the same schedule and everynight you post atleast 3/4 things i would rep... definately one of the top posters and well informed and intelligent///

Since you cant rep him...he appointed me his rep sponge. Any time you want to rep him and youre unable, I will accept it and put it in the piggy bank and rerep him myself.

[Carl Herrera]

Another note: The Rockets also need to get rid of Courtney Lee's cap hold before making offers to Asik and Lin. So, if a Lee S&T is coming, it has to be done either within the next 2 days or after one of the Asik/Lin offers is matched (the Rockets can "unrenounce" Lee at that time and S&T him again).

Chances are they want to get thing settled within the next 2 days. Also, the Rockets need watch out how much guaranteed $ they bring back. They do have enough non-guaranteed contracts to clear additional space if need be, but there's a limit to how much can be cleared this way.

[Jmcballer88]

Isn't scolas contract longer than one year?

[BigMaloe]

Originally Posted by YaosDirtyStache Since you cant rep him...he appointed me his rep sponge. Any time you want to rep him and youre unable, I will accept it and put it in the piggy bank and rerep him myself.

i cant rep period yet...

[tjpatel2]

Nice post! However, i have a question. Technically speaking, don't the Rockets still have Courtney Lee's cap hold of ~5.5M on their books because they never renounced his bird rights? They just withdrew his qualifying offer i thought.

If this is the case, doesn't it make a Courtney Lee sign-and-trade in the next day very likely since they would want to resolve his cap hold before 7/11 (first day Asik and Lin can sign).

[BigMaloe]

CH since nyk is paying toney douglases salary we still foot the cap hold correct?

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by Jmcballer88 Isn't scolas contract longer than one year?

So it is. Thanks for noticing. Edited.

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by BigMaloe CH since nyk is paying toney douglases salary we still foot the cap hold correct?

NY likely paid HOU cash, but his salary still counts on HOU's payroll.

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by tjpatel2 Nice post! However, i have a question. Technically speaking, don't the Rockets still have Courtney Lee's cap hold of ~5.5M on their books because they never renounced his bird rights? They just withdrew his qualifying offer i thought. If this is the case, doesn't it make a Courtney Lee sign-and-trade in the next day very likely since they would want to resolve his cap hold before 7/11 (first day Asik and Lin can sign).

You are absolutely right... as the table indicates, the numbers are how things are assuming Lee is renounced. So, as you said, they will most likely need to either renounce him or S&T him before 7/11.

They can "unrenounce" him if Lin or Asik is matched. However, I doubt they wait for that to happen before resolving Courtney Lee's situation. A S&T, if one can be worked out, will need to happen in the next day or so.

[BigMaloe]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera NY likely paid HOU cash, but his salary still counts on HOU's payroll.

thought so... thank you..

[meh]

One interesting note, looking at the above numbers, is that should OKC really have to let Harden go because of tax issues, the Rockets can actually get some really sick stuff done. They can offer OKC several young guys on cheap contracts(say Lamb, Patterson, and Toronto's 1st) and get Harden. Then have max capspace for perhaps a run at CP3 or a RFA elsewhere. Not outlandish if the Rockets actually get lucky and get into the top-3.

That said, McHale and his assistants better work their collective asses off to develop our young guys. Because there will be no veteran presence to fall back on like previous years.

[teebone21]

wow all these bench players and rookies and we still dont hve much cap space smh. Morey needs to stop collecting assets and waive some people

[tjpatel2]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera You are absolutely right... as the table indicates, the numbers are how things are assuming Lee is renounced. So, as you said, they will most likely need to either renounce him or S&T him before 7/11. They can "unrenounce" him if Lin or Asik is matched. However, I doubt they wait for that to happen before resolving Courtney Lee's situation. A S&T, if one can be worked out, will need to happen in the next day or so.

Thanks for clarifying! I didn't realize your could "unrenounce" a players rights like that. I guess that's a nuance in the new CBA.

Also, i believe the league-minimum salary floor for this season is around 46M. It's interesting to note that even if Lin and Asik are matched and Courtney Lee is renounced, all the rockets would have to do is guarantee all of the non-guaranteed contracts on the roster to meet that floor i believe. The only problem is that they would need to consolidate some of the players because you can't have 18 players on a roster. But i'm sure maneuvering like that isn't very difficult, and at least the Rockets won't have to make a huge offer to an undeserving free agent just to meet the salary floor.

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by teebone21 wow all these bench players and rookies and we still dont hve much cap space smh. Morey needs to stop collecting assets and waive some people

He'll most likely be waiving people soon enough. Until July 11th, when people can officially sign contracts and offer sheets, he doesn't need to be waiving anybody. In fact, a couple of these guys (Harrelson and Jordan) are not even officially Houston Rockets yet and cannot be waived by the Houston Rockets.

[No Chance]

Carl Herrera or any of you with good memory don't we owe a couple of second round picks to other teams.

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by tjpatel2 Thanks for clarifying! I didn't realize your could "unrenounce" a players rights like that. I guess that's a nuance in the new CBA. Also, i believe the league-minimum salary floor for this season is around 46M. It's interesting to note that even if Lin and Asik are matched and Courtney Lee is renounced, all the rockets would have to do is guarantee all of the non-guaranteed contracts on the roster to meet that floor i believe. The only problem is that they would need to consolidate some of the players because you can't have 18 players on a roster. But i'm sure maneuvering like that isn't very difficult, and at least the Rockets won't have to make a huge offer to an undeserving free agent just to meet the salary floor.

The unrenounce thing only works in one situation: When you renounced a guy for the specific purpose of going after another team's restricte FA-- and it applies here since both Lin and Asik are restricted FAs.

[ZTiger87]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera They can "unrenounce" him if Lin or Asik is matched. However, I doubt they wait for that to happen before resolving Courtney Lee's situation. A S&T, if one can be worked out, will need to happen in the next day or so.

You don't think they will wait until the Dwight situation gets resolved? Its always been thought that we would keep Lee around because he is a good friend with him. We will also probably lose Martin and Lamb in a trade for Dwight.