Just saw this on Twitter. @kc1nyk: #Rockets GM said report of them planning on offering stash PG-SG Llull a 3 yr $17 m deal is not true. Said they may have interest in future.
1. That doesn't look like a reputable account 2. There was a similar back-and-forth between Morey and Papa before he agreed to come over. Nothing is written in stone this early
I remember Morey saying the same thing in an interview when the report first came out. Things could change fast though.
But, that is wrong. They could offer him part of or all of the MLE, which is essentially what those contract numbers hypothesize.
I've been wondering if all this fuss has just been preparation to include Llull's rights in a trade. I don't know what other GMs think of him though
That's ok for the offseason, but he's not allowed to offer him a contract other than the minimum at this point. it's probably more to do with how contracts in european sports are fickle, and speculation of contract offers and transfers are massive paparazzi activity
It may be true that the Rockets have not offered Lull a contract , however Calvin Watkins is wrong here in the second twit. They do have the MLE which they could use to bring him over. Not to say its likely , just pointing out Mr. Watkins error. Then again , if Llull hasnt been made that offer , it probably does affect their ability to retain Josh Smith & KJ McDaniels with that MLE ..... Would you be alright with the same roster coming back to start next season , no upgrade at the point ?!
Watkins was talking about THIS CURRENT SEASON. As in, the season that is currently being played. Apparently, there was some question over whether Llull could be signed for this playoff run (which he technically could have been). Watkins CORRECTLY noted that the Rockets only have the vet minimum to offer right now for this season. This July, however, the Rockets would (potentially) have the MLE available to sign Llull for NEXT season.
Edit: BimaGreat beat me to it. They can't offer the MLE. Not now, not a month ago when this originally surfaced. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Getting questions re: rumored deal for Sergio Llull (3yrs, $17M). That's approximately the full Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception...</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/581268189817876481">March 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>...(1) Rockets CANNOT give that to Llull this season; and (2) if they give him MLE this summer, HOU may lose Smith & McDaniels...</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/581268431472861184">March 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hmmmnn.... If we keep that pick at 18, there are some decent point guards available. Be nice to know what it would take to keep Josh Smith this season. You know he wants to be here.
Calvin is not wrong. Rockets used have already used their MLE for 2014/2015 which is what he was referring too. KPap received 4.8 million on the MLE last summer. The Rockets can use their 2015/2016 MLE in the off-season to bring him over if they want but that is not what Calvin Watkins was talking about.
Too old rumor! The Rockets hasn't salary cap to sign him this year, maybe Morey can bring him here in 2016
