Assuming that is the case that we get Durant and Horford, won't the cap increase the following season will be spent on retaining Harden?
Harden isn't a free agent until the Summer of 2018. The Rockets also will have the right to go above the cap to resign their own player with Bird rights IF the Rockets are able to resign him.
Sergio Llull: I re-signed last year for another six seasons, and you do that to stay [in Madrid], you don’t do that to stay one year and then leave the next one. I’ve said many times that I’m very happy here, I haven’t received any offer and I only focus on playing at my highest level to help the team. http://www.marca.com/baloncesto/nba/2016/03/30/56fbd506e2704e86168b45c1.html
http://www.marca.com/baloncesto/nba/2016/03/30/56fbd506e2704e86168b45c1.html Article translated to English:
Well, if he's happy there, he's happy there (unless a better offer might have moved the needle). Hopefully we bring in a player in the off-season who can really facilitate movement. Someone who might average 5 assists or better. Doesn't have to be a point guard, since he would have to mesh with Harden (as Llull would), but maybe a Teague type would do the trick (especially if Schroder is squawking about being a starter).
LULZ at those hoping LUL signs with the Rockets. The dude is LLULLing at you y'all crying and hoping he comes to Houston.
Yes, that's the one question I have. I know he got low-balled last summer; the Rockets didn't have the money then. Maybe Morey pulled that "you can make up for it in endorsements / Anta shoes!" chestnut out of his ass. But if the offer were, say, at least Patrick Beverly-esque.....would he change his tune? He'd have to walk back some statements, but money talks. In any case, let's pencil him out of our lineup. Unless we hear otherwise in June or July.
I think the most important thing to consider is that Llull and to a certain point Gentile (although this applies more to Llull as his salary offer would have to be taken from salary cap), are low priority in the Organization's July plans to pursue. You have higher priority targets - A. Durant B. Horford C. whoever/Dwight D. Trades E. etc. However, as I've said before, this is a great offseason to sign your foreign prospects if they are "salary cap stashes" where they won't fall under the normal rookie scale salary rules. You aren't competing against the NBA salary market for these guys. The new NBA salary cap market vs. what exists in Europe isn't going to be even close this Summer. Last year and prior, there were reasons for players to stay overseas.... now... its a no brainer financially, and from the NBA teams' perspective, if a player like Sergio Llull is likely going to be a quality rotation player, you could get a significant value contract AND still be blowing the Euro contract offer out the window. I think signing Gentile should be a no-brainer as he's a relatively low paid player in Europe. The BAE SHOULD get him over here one would think. Sergio Llull... it has to do with him being lower priority where the Rockets won't know what they have left to offer. Could only be the MLE, or it could be 10 Million bucks a season (not that we'd want to pay that). From Llull's standpoint he HAS TO operate under the assumption that the Rockets will first sign a max contract or two, and only be left with the assumed salary coming from an MLE type of exception. Llull's people need the Rockets to strike out in free agency left with money to spend to get the leverage to get a deal that makes sense for both parties to get married.
You could probably get Gentile with the 2.8M "room exception." But yeah, with Llull, you would have to dip into the 2 MAX cap room funds. And that is not going to happen unless the Rockets strike out on plan A/B etc.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sm9ZRhBT8t8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3IIyvyUtFPY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Clutchs old video of him asking Pau Gasol about Sergio Lull and Rockets drafting him and the other video is Rubio being asked if he thinks Sergio Lull will come over to the NBA.
title should read - sergio lol will not accept an opportunity of a lifetime to play basketball in the best league in the world. this thread should be in the dish. even if he does come here it will be in his mid 30s and he'll be next to useless.
