Looks like Bobby Marks changed his math. At first he was tweeting that the Rockets got 2.4 million under the tax threshold with the move. At 2.4M over, with the caveat that Capela's bonuses will change the numbers somewhat, and per the Trade Machine, the Rockets have 14 players under contract, plus House in the G league unconverted and whatever status Edwards has. Shump makes 11.0 and is expiring, Stauskas and Baldwin make ~1.5 each and are expiring too. Then you have Nene at 3.6 this year, and 3.8 the next I think you'd have to get rid of Nene to get under the tax, which appears to be Morey's goal throughout this whole process. So much for improving the team by taking salary back on a deal... LOL at people who think the Rox are going to be aggressive with this year's MLE in the buyout market. They've gone to this much trouble to dump salary and people think the Rockets are going to go out of their way to add salary?!
Seriously! Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I don't mind trading Ennis away. We got Shumpert now
I'm cool with this trade if the primary purpose was opening up a roster spot chained into another move . However , until that move is done ... this move reeks of lux tax savings in return for losing depth . So ... not a fan
Obviously this trade is just about getting under the tax. Given their young core, it's highly unlikely that the pick swap in 2021 would be executed. I don't like this trade as a fan. While Ennis was inconsistent and not great in general, he was capable of playing well in spurts and more depth is always a good thing, even if he isn't in the rotation with a healthy roster. Injuries happen.
Teams already knew. It wasn't a big secret. I have even posted about it and I believe someone else (Deuce maybe) has as well. Back in July Tillman said no to the repeater tax and almost every other team has avoided it like the plague. Hell, the trade or Melo and MCW to Chicago gave it away. Well I have known all along that Gordon was far from an untouchable but this particular case it is my guy. If we need a 4/5, then that may require moving Gordon, which can get us a 4/5 and get us under the luxury tax... that also opens up room to be very aggressive in the buyout market. Then this summer we would be in a spot to use the Bird rights on Shumpert and the MLE.
If Harden asked for help, this is not enough help. They better not be toying with the idea of risking Harden's happiness by betting on these deals making a bigger impact than expected. We've traded Knight, Chriss, Ennis, a 1st and a 2nd for Shumpert, Baldwin and Stauskas. I would say that's just fine. But fine ain't gonna do it. I'm hoping there's another trade in the works or one of the primary buyout candidates has given Harden/Paul an indication that they're in.
#NeverAgain I let ClutchFans convince me how good James Ennis was and how he was going to be much better than Ariza. Remember how well he defended Harden? Oh yeah. Plus he is a good 3 point shooter from the left corner after catching the pass at exactly 2.3 mph on a full moon night and a defender exactly 4.2 feet away from him. Never Again!
good pickup for the sixers. to me, ennis is not a bad player. he's just not a a starting caliber SF. as a backup sf on the sixers with simmons, embiid, butler, harris, where he wont have as much responsibility as we expected from him at the beginning of the year when he was starting, he should be solid.
So $8,155,000 total in Trade Exceptions ... Isn't there some rule limiting the combination of multiple players & TEs in deals? I know Shump can't be combined with other players ... what about TEs? If not ... we're not necessarily out of anything until the deadline Look at what that 8.2 of total exceptions could net us in incoming salaries when combined with some (possibly) expendable players: EGo 13.5 = 21.7 Iman 11 = 19.2 PJ 8 = 16.2 Nene 3.7 = 11.9 Baldwin Stauskus GG all 1.5 = 9.7 Would still like to revisit MEM about Green (7.7) Would REALLY love to see if they're interested in moving 3yrs left on Kyle Anderson (8.6) deal now that full rebuild and he's back healthy again Any of the 3 $1.5M guys + TEs would get you either of those Heard IND hasn't been thrilled w Tyreke (12.4) Maybe Oladipo's injury convinces them to sell off expiring for a little savings? Nene + TEs gets that done ... unless you can't combine multiple exceptions with players in trades??? A Lil Help here Bima
Ennis just didn't work out and Morey moved on from him. We tried, glad we have a GM that is capable of fixing things when they don't work and not having us stuck long term with mistakes. Give him some cred for that. So let's see if there may be another move or what the buyout market looks like. I think this move would make a buyout player look at us more favorably since we have a potential starting spot on the wing open now.
The only thing that would suck if we move Gordon and take back a low salary player, is that we're definitely out of any opt in trade scenario for this summer...i know that a lot of people don't like Butler but, i still think he was likely the only possible third star we could've get going forward...
he totally did in hindsight. I think the hope was the "best versions" of Ennis, MCW and Melo showing up every night, but the actual versions of the 3 of them showed up every night. At least the midseason pickups have been good which has probably saved this season after the injuries,
