[Spanish Radio] Sergio Llull close to deciding to join the Rockets?

Yes, that is true, although they could do it easily.

 

Basketball in Spain is like college teams paying for collegiate wrestling. Sure, it's nice but you don't gut any part of the football program for just some wrestlers.

 

It's not a question of money but importance and priorities. Basket doesn't get any in Spain. Maybe Olympiacos would do it though.

 

Ibaka and Andrew Luck?

 

I think that money could be payed in installments. And apparently the Rockets have told the player that they will help him with the clause at different ways...

It seems in the last hours that the possibilty of leaving to Houston is gaining some momentum (some sources speak about 90% chances he's gone), as well as the rumours about the increasment at the contract offer.

 

If the Rockets are increasing their offer, that might mean the Rockets will operate "under the cap" and will renounce guys. Perhaps starting with Brewer. But if the Rockets go under the cap, they can also use that cap money on KJ McDaniels.

 

Had no idea Ibaka wrecked his motorcycle - luckily his jeans took all of the damage. (rimshot)

 

Ibaka, Mirotic and Real Madrid's Chairman, last Sunday.

 

Hehe yea I got the first two; didn't know who was the smaller one. Thanks for that

 

And that's why I'm ok with operating under the cap.

Everyone has made a big deal about losing Brewer, who we spent a good 2nd round pick to get. Guess what..........we spent TWO 2nds to get KJ (Canaan and #37 in this draft).

You can even keep Josh Smith at the same level you would've paid him operating over the cap by offering the Room MLE.

The real cost of operating under the cap is Brewer and the non-guaranteed deals of Prigioni and Papanikolaou. We may not even lose Kostas the player if we make him a RFA.

Here's a step by step of how this would work:

1) Trade TJones, Dorsey and Prigioni for no return salary
2) Make Papa a RFA
3) Waive rights to Brewer, Terry and Smith
4) Sign Llull, KJ, Papa, #18 pick and #32 pick

22.4 - Howard
15.8 - Harden
8.2 - Ariza
7.7 - Llull (estimated)
2.7 - Beverley (Cap hold - can be resigned to higher figure using bird rights)
2.5 - KJ (estimated - likely not this high)
2.3 - DMo
2.0 - Papanikolaou (estimated)
1.6 - 1st round pick
1.2 - Capela
0.8 - Johnson
0.6 - 2nd round pick

That's just under the projected $68 million cap.

5) Sign Beverley using his bird rights
6) Sign Josh Smith to the Room MLE ($2.8 million vs $2.5 we would offer if operating above the cap)
7) Sign Terry to vet minimum

Llull / Beverley / Johnson
Harden / Terry
Ariza / McDaniels
DMo / Smith / Papa
Howard / Capela

Plus the #18 and #32 picks.

By doing all of this, you've effectively:

1) Brought back the entire primary rotation minus Brewer and TJones
2) Added Llull
3) Kept KJ McDaniels

You did lose the trade flexibility that came with Papa and Prigioni's contracts, but you can still complete some big time trades using Beverley, Llull, Ariza, and a combination of younger players.

 

I live in Madrid and here we know that it is not easy for Llull to take a decision.
He was born in a small island in the Mediterraneum sea, but he is a Real Madrid supporter since he was a kid.
He arrived at Real Madrid at age of 19 when nobody knew him and now he is one of the player more loved by the fans, if not the most.
Although you think that basketball is not a important sport in Spain, you must know that is the second sport in attendance and that the crowd in Barclays Card Center, where Real Madrid plays is about 10.000 people each game.
Real Madrid is the European Club with more European titles in soccer (10) and in basketball (9), although they had not won this title since 1994.

Sorry for my english.

 

Don't apologize for your English. You did great. Thanks for the information.

 

Don't apologize! Your English is a lot better than you think. Thanks for your input!

 

Appreciate the info! FYI your English is very good no need to apologize. What's the feeling amongst people there regarding the Llull choice?

 

FWIW, it is highly unlikely that the Rockets would extend a qualifying offer to Papanikolaou to make him a restricted free agent if they opted to decline their team option (which is itself unlikely).

The qualifying offer for Kostas must be 125% of his prior salary, or nearly $6 million. No way the Rockets offer him that much.

If anything, they'd let him become an unrestricted free agent, but would still have Non-Bird rights to offer him up to 120% of his prior salary (~$5.76 million).

 

First, most of people though that Llull will stay, but now this have changed.
There is not better way of go out from Real Madrid that winning all the Cups of the season and now is very close.
Last Sunday the crowd chanted "Llull te queremos, Llull quedate" (We love you Llull, stay here").

 

Thanks for clarifying. So they could still bring back Papa at something like $2 million, but he would have to be a UFA? I don't see that as a big issue.

 

Well, they would have to renounce their rights to Kostas for cap room, meaning that they'd lose his Non-Bird rights. I was referring to what they could offer Kostas in the abstract (if they weren't trying to clear cap room but just wanted to bring him back). Under your hypothetical, they would have no Bird rights and could only offer him the vet minimum ($845k).

 

A little confused. Could they not decline his team option for next season, not make the QO, keep his non-bird rights, and sign him to a lower figure?