It's not even about cutting costs. The luxury tax savings won't be huge. The repeater tax is a big deal though. The way Morey's plan for team building works, eventually Les is going to have a team that is significantly over the luxury tax (unless Morey just never gets what he wants.) He has come close on multiple occasions to striking gold on his plans and those would have put the team significantly into the tax. Having the repeater penalty in place before you even get that team would be silly.
I don't care about Les' paycheck, I just care about not having to see Lawson stink up the joint every time he enters the game anymore. Matter of fact I would give $200 of my own money each to both Jones and Lawson if they would just leave the team.
I don't care about Les' bank account either, but if you can't understand his positioning then I don't know what to tell you. The Miami Heat FOR YEARS even when they were a contender were constantly moving 2nd rounders, and other players that help their team to cut costs and get them luxury tax savings. That's in one of the best markets, in a non state income tax city. The Rockets are a very very mediocre team this year that isn't winning jack sh#$ and will likely get blown up anyways this Summer. Why in the world some of you guys wouldn't understand why he would want to buyout a player like Ty Lawson who isn't even playing in the second half of key games is beyond me. Even if Les isn't asking Morey to do so for him, its probably a good thing for Morey to do anyways to show good faith to your owner. Not sure why this is such a big deal for you guys, and why you can't understand his side of the coin.
Les can use his cut of the revenue sharing pie to buy another second round pick on draft night. We know he isn't shy about spending money in the draft.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/TyLawson3">@TyLawson3</a> agent, Happy Walters, confirms he's continuing to discuss a potential buyout of Lawson's contract with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockets?src=hash">#Rockets</a>.No agreement yet</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/704708682613829632">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
if spending crazy amounts of money equated to winning the Knicks and Nets would be perennial champs. I believe Les would spend money if it meant wins but if the team doesnt end up winning then its better to minimize loss financially. Les was willing to eat McHale's salary because he thought it would mean a better team (unfortunately it hasnt) The return on the luxury tax - Les has used that money to help facilitate trades and purchase draft picks in an effort to make the team better. A mean Les was paying for contracts like Cato and Matt Maloney, Mo Taylor and all and no once seemed to care to call him cheap then. They were b****ing about what horrible deals they were. At some point you have to realize that some of it has to fall in Morey's realm. The premise of his philosophy is value and maximizing value. The best values in the NBA are rookie scale deals and superstars. So if you're not a super star or on a rookie scale deal its likely Morey is going to not want you. I mean everyone again is upset at his resigning of Brewer to a MLE type deal but no one is upset at Les having to be the one to pay Brewer. This season is a **** show from start to finish if Les wants to not have to pay on TOP of that - honestly its fine with me. Fans clearly haven't shown up to the arena this year so they aren't paying to see this team - I dont blame Les for doing the same. This year moreso than any other year when you essentially have the same core of players as last year with actually fewer injuries. IMO this year isn't on Les and his "spending habits" its on the players, coaching staff and GM. It is IMO foolish for people to place blame on the owner for that in not having to spend money and have players "stick it to Les" when it could hamper the team from making future moves potentially to hopefully make next season better than this year.
I think that was the plan. If he could squeeze out a championship he'd have been able to boost the value. maybe even start a bidding war.
How is using revenue sharing to offset the cost of McHale's $5m/yr called "WELFARE." Revenue sharing isn't welfare. It's what you helped the NBA to earn. Tax for spending more of your earnings than most teams is what makes the Salary Cap work.
The rockets are one of the most profitable teams in the league. I am sure he could get a good amount for rockets. I hope he sells. He is a crappy owner.
I'm starting to see Les clearly now. It's not primarily about winning a championship but about getting stars to attract investors and fans. It's about money and that's why Les is so infatuated by stars and refuses to tank to build from the draft. His philosophy is not conducive to building a sustainable winning culture. It's about making enough smashing to keep folks interested in the team and spending money in Toyota Center.
