Just as I was told. The $17 million rumor was a story planted by Noel's agent. No interest from any teams. Restricted free agency is killing these guys that aren't max worthy.
I had a feeling Noel would not settle and Rich Paul took Noel the QO route. Totally expected. He will get paid as a UFA next year. Good chance he leaves Dallas. Thing is, Dallas gave up nothing to get him so that won't be that huge a loss, but still. Will be nice to have Capela as an RFA in this market.
If Capela improves again this coming season, being an RFA won't matter because a team will just offer him the max early on. I understand the comparisons between Noel and Capela, but don't take any comfort in what's happening to Noel this summer and apply it to 2018. Capela's career trajectory is higher than Noel's and I believe he has much more value. Both guys will make their own beds over the next 82+ games and I believe Capela will show separation from Noel (unless Noel is better than I think he is). Rockets could have a tough decision to make between CP3 and Capela next year.
Man the life of an NBA project; turns down $70 million like it was an insult. And to think the things most of us on this board would agree to do for that kind of money is truly depressing.
RFA will matter. Because teams will approach the UFAs first. Just like this offseason. And there will be a larger supply of UFA centers.
Unless and until Noel develops a substantial three point shot I can't see any team paying him over $15 million a season next summer. IMO, for him to even get over $12 million a season next year he's going to have to knock it out of the park defensively.
Agreed, especially considering the supply of centers next summer. I am not holding out hope Noel will develop a 3pt shot. If he can maintain production in the DeAndre Jordan / Hassan Whiteside level, then he will get a nice payday. We'll see.
IMO, Brook Lopez & Greg Monroe are irrelevant to Capela because neither represents a long-term starting C. Boogie and DJ, valid points. Boogie will be an interesting case. Even if he has a good year, I wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole. Way too risky for $150+ million.
Not totally irrelevant because they are UFAs. If a team feels they can get them cheaper than having to "over pay" Capela, they might take that route. Teams will be cautious with money and there is a supply of Cs. This will depress the market some.
I hope you are right. If Capela proves he can be a key piece on a championship-level team, it would be a shame if the Rockets had to choose between him and CP3 next summer.
No. One team's desperation. However, I actually believe Hardaway has a good chance of either outperforming that contract or at least justifying it.
True the Knicks was desperate/stupid, but the RFA status did help Hardaway. Even the Knicks admitted that they over payed to scare away the Hawks from matching.
Agreed. But, crazy as it sounds, Jr. has the talent to earn it if he'll work and improve. He has improved over the last year, noticeably so. Whether he will continue his improvement after getting big bucks.....that's an untold story that USUALLY doesn't turn out well. We'll just have to wait and see on him.
This QO contract is great news for us. If we can't get Capela at a price we want, we might end up doing a S&T for Noel. I think they're similar players, but Capela is in a better system so his value will appear higher than he's worth to us. Noel has the opposite.
