It can be worked out so that Houston can absorb the entirety of Dwight's contract without giving Orlando any salary. For example, if (1) the Rockets trade away Dalembert and Lowry (plus picks or whatever) to TOR and SAC while only getting draft picks in return (which can be done given that both TOR and SAC have plenty of 2011-12 cap room), and then (2) trade Martin for the 18th pick plus salary fillers Brad Miller and Martell Webster (the two of them have largely non-guaranteed contracts for next year), while (3) paying a team with 2011-12 cap room (can be TOR, SAC, IND or CLE) to take on the minimal ($645K or $800K) guaranteed for one of Webster or Miller, the Rockets will end up with around $18.2 million of salary cap room for the 2011-12 season, which will allow them to take on Dwight's contract ($18.09 million this year) while giving ORL nothing but draft picks back. This will allow Orlando to have cap space for the 2012 offseason right away or, conversely they can use a $18 million trade exception to facilitate deals.
I wonder if 14+ Martin could net us more in return for number 18. I know Martin's contract is a little bloated, but there is no denying the guy's talent. I have to agree with some other posters here. Seems like he's worth a little more. Martin +14 for any of Ridnour/Beasley/Randolph/Johnson+18? Going out on a limb here. Maybe Martin+14 for Dwill +18? Martin, Dalembert +14 for Peko +18?
If they trade Martin for the partially guaranteed contracts of Brad Miller and Martell Webster, then waive those two guys, they'll open up an extra $10 million or so in cap room. If they can also deal Lowry for a top pick, they'll either be able to trade Dalembert for Howard straight-up, or if they trade Dalembert to SAC or TOR, they may be able to absorb Howard for just picks and maybe minimal salary. If they've got a Howard trade lined up and need to open up cap room to absorb Howard, I would probably do Martin for Webster/Miller/#18/MEM 2013 pick we gave them for D-Mo last year.
Dragic doesn't matter to this calculation. His current salary is already included in reaching the $18.2 million+ cap room number in case the Rockets are able to trade Lowry, Dalembert and Martin for no 2011-12 salary in return.
There's a big drop off in talent between no.1 and no.2, then another big drop off between no.5 and no.6. What makes this draft deep are the pool of players in the teens and twenties with the same level of ability.
Webster and Miller won't help with 2011-12 cap room, so that won't help much in the Howard trade itself. However, it will help greatly to clear 2012-13 cap room for a pursuit of Deron Williams.
Thanks CH, Bima -- appreciate the breakdowns. Still think the Rockets would want to have some cap room in being able to at least offer something to Deron, so I don't know if using all their cap room in absorbing Howard's contract is the goal. Granted, given how long the Rockets have been in a superstar famine I doubt they'll hesitate if there are no other options, but I would think they would want to keep some room. I guess there is always the (unlikely) option of amnestying Scola.
I understand this. However, two of those picks would be in the teens, giving us a lot of value there. We can take a flyer on Drummond and potentially MKG/Lillard. That sounds like the start of a quick rebuild to me.
Man, Kevin Martin has GOT to be worth more than a #18 pick. The Rockets will just draft another Dan Langhi-esque type of player In an attempt to free up room for a jabroni like Dwight Howard.
