Rockets actively shopping Luis Scola (UPDATE: Rockets, Nets talks fell apart)

I really dont think Scola's contract is that bad , its only guaranteed for the coming season - totally unguaranteed in the final season which I think begs for a buyout (or being waived) which would equate to cap savings?

So you rent him for a full season then have the option to trade , waive or buyout .... Could be a semi-significant trade piece in the next offseason.

Someone correct me if Im wrong with this line of thinking ....

I dont see a need for Iggy , much as I love his game , as I believe they drafted a guy with many of his qualities in Royce White , not to mention having Parsons at that spot , who has a lot of room for improvement.

Also seems a bit cost prohibitive with him being owed $30.6m over the next two seasons (player option for the second).

 

I like this one. We get cap space and a high second rounder, which Morey has a good track record with. And Scola goes to a good team like he deserves. He’d be a great mentor for Sullinger, just like I think KG will be for Fab.

 

Do you think that is all the market will bear?

We got the 18th for Bud (yea, he had a nice contract). The Bobcats 2nd rounder is probably going to be the 31st pick.

Wouldn't we have to take back salary? A player?

 

Agree with Clutch. Think moving Scola is to open up money to make a move. Remember, the goal is playoffs next season even if it doesn't look that way right now..

 

Agreed. For one thing, the Rockets need to open up some salary space (a few million $ above and beyond what can be done by waiving partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed guys) if they hope to sign Asik to a contract worth more than the MLE.

Salary table below:

Spoiler

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<table class="tableizer-table">
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th> Name </th><th> Notes </th><th> 2011-12 </th><th> 2012-13 </th><th> 2013-14 </th><th>2014-15</th><th>2015-16</th></tr> <tr><td> Kevin Martin </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $11,519,840 </td><td> $12,439,675 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Luis Scola </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $8,591,793 </td><td> $9,408,207 </td><td> $10,224,622 </td><td>$11,041,037 </td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Kyle Lowry </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $5,750,000 </td><td> $5,750,000 </td><td> $6,210,000 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Courtney Lee </td><td> Cap Hold </td><td> $2,225,093 </td><td> $5,560,000 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Goran Dragic </td><td> Cap Hold </td><td> $2,108,000 </td><td> $4,010,000 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Patrick Patterson </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $1,959,960 </td><td> $2,096,760 </td><td> $3,105,302 </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Marcus Morris </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $1,823,280 </td><td> $1,905,360 </td><td> $1,987,320 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Chandler Parsons </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $850,000 </td><td> $888,250 </td><td> $926,500 </td><td> $964,750 </td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Greg Smith </td><td> Partially-Guaranteed </td><td> $473,604 </td><td> $762,195 </td><td> $854,389 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td> Derek Fisher </td><td> Waived </td><td> $3,400,000 </td><td> $644,005 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Courtney Fortson</td><td>Waived</td><td> $473,604 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Diamon Simpson</td><td>Waived</td><td> $473,604 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Marcus Camby</td><td>Renounced</td><td> $11,071,500 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Earl Boykins</td><td>Waived</td><td> $762,195 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>12th Pick</td><td>120% Slotted</td><td> </td><td> $2,020,200 </td><td> $2,111,160 </td><td> $2,202,000 </td><td> $3,034,356 </td></tr> <tr><td>16th Pick </td><td>120% Slotted</td><td> </td><td> $1,645,440 </td><td> $1,719,480 </td><td> $1,793,520 </td><td> $2,751,260 </td></tr> <tr><td>Donatas Motiejunas </td><td>120% Slotted</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $1,361,400 </td><td> $1,422,720 </td><td> $1,483,920 </td><td> $2,288,205 </td></tr> <tr><td>18th Pick</td><td>Trade-Cap Hold</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $1,485,000 </td><td> $1,551,840 </td><td> $1,618,680 </td><td> $2,489,530 </td></tr> <tr><td>Jon Leuer</td><td>Non-Guaranteed</td><td>$473,604 </td><td>$762,195 </td><td> </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Jon Brockman</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>$1,000,000 </td><td>$1,000,000 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>Shaun Livingstone</td><td>Partially-Guaranteed</td><td> $3,500,000 </td><td> $3,500,000 </td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr> <tr><td>SUM</td><td>Add Lee/Dragic</td><td> $56,456,077 </td><td> $55,238,687 </td><td> $30,113,333 </td><td> $19,103,907 </td><td> $10,563,350 </td></tr> <tr><td># of Players</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>15 </td><td>16 </td><td>9 </td><td>5 </td><td>3 </td></tr> <tr><td>$ below $58.04 mil Cap</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td> $1,583,923 </td><td> $2,801,313 </td><td> $27,926,667 </td><td> $38,936,093 </td><td> $47,476,650 </td></tr></table>

So I would not be surprised if the Rockets actually get nothing in return or even pay somebody to take salary off their hands due to the possibility of an immediate need for cap space.

 

Pretty much, it's all about contract. The Rockets don't want to take $ back.

 

If it's only a money move. The Rockets are getting lowballed on every trade offer for Lowry and/or Martin?

 

No, it isn't. It's a typical vet contract for the numbers he puts up.

 

Mayo, Randolph, and Beasley are now unrestricted free agents. Anyone want any of them?

 

I don't think the Rockets make a "money move" (i.e. cap space creation move) with Lowry. His value is much higher due to better play and more attractive contract.

The same cannot be said about Martin and Scola. I am thinking the Rockets prefer to make a cap space creation move with Scola first due to the position duplication (many PFs) and the fact that Martin's expiring contract is a better tool for balancing salaries in a trade (a team like Orlando would prefer not to take on any salary in future years if/when they trade Dwight Howard).

I am thinking a more likely move, though, might be Martin to Minnesota for Brad Miller, Martell Webster (partially guaranteed contracts) plus a draft pick (they own MEM's 2013 lotto protected pick).

I'm sure Minnesota probably prefers using their cap flexibility and these two partially guaranteed deals for a bigger trade (reports said Derrick Williams was offer for Gasol), but if by the end of the moratorium no such trades or FA signings become available, Minny might be receptive to taking Martin.

Also, see news below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Wolves reached agreements with Martell and Miller, extending dates to pick up team options into July while they continue to work on trades</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda(@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/219214761773109250" data-datetime="2012-06-30T23:44:06+00:00">June 30, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

I'm a big Scola fan so I will admit bias.

But I am not liking where trading Scola takes the team. I doubt any team contending would want him that badly to give us a quality player in return or a draft pick above the second round.

The 'plans' for Dwight Howard and/or Derron Williams should be scrapped right now and we should be working on building the best team possible with the players we have and moving the ones that have given us problems. Aside from his diminishing rebounds, Scola has been a steady producer for our team in scoring and given the minimal amount of problems.

The only problem related to Scola is that since he is the only player on our team with post moves that sees time on the floor, it screws our offense, when teams game for that and double team him. Which is why I would have hoped Montejunas or White could develop into a Carl Landry type of player so that like during the best run in the Morey era, we'd have a strong front court. But unless we can snag Brook Lopez, I don't see a C or player of any position within our reach via trade or FA that would be worth losing the consistency that Scola brings.

 

Welcome to the land of tank.

 

I HOPE you are being sarcastic....

 

Apparently you are the only one who feels that scola at this point in his career is worth 10 million. The guy is on the decline, and does not play a lick of defense. If you think he is worth 10 milliion per year i'm not sure what to tell ya.

 

could be like a development league team, but with all rookie power forwards playing with Dragon.

 

Need to get rid of Lowry and Martin along the way.

 

He only hits $10M once in the last year of his guaranteed contract.

Full MLE deals pretty much end up near that figure.

We get it, you don't like him. Were not discussing that. It doesn't change what the salary figures are in the NBA.

 

Your figures are off according to this site. He is definitely not worth that type of money, and any rational person can agree to that.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm

 

You know what might be a funny way to open cap space to sign Asik?

Trade Leuer, Livingston and Brockman back to Milwaukee.

A team is allowed to reacquire a player it traded away after the season ends. The 2011-12 season ends midnight Eastern tonight. If Milwaukee doesn't bring back Eliyasova (who is unrestricted and expecting a big offer from the Nets), they'll have something like $7 mil in cap room, not quite enough to sign a big FA, but enough to take back the salary of Leuer, Livinston and Brockman.

Apparently, MIL is quite fond of Jon Leuer-- a rookie who got into the rotation and played pretty well. So maybe they'll take him back along with the other two.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/leuer-trade-hard-to-make-hammond-says-005ubhi-160630005.html

 

I see now. You're trying to argue, while being ignorant on the subject.