The Rockets have made clear to multiple rival teams that they plan to accept the best offer to move Robinson and eliminate his $3.52 million salary for the 2013-14 season. ... Houston is competing mainly with Dallas – and possibly Golden State – to lure Howard once free agency commences on July 1. Howard has become increasingly intrigued with the Rockets as a possible destination, sources said. Houston's supporting cast, including James Harden and Chandler Parsons, is one of the reasons. The Rockets are targeting teams with the cap space to absorb Robinson's contract. The Rockets are trying to cobble together a package that could include assets such as a trade exception, a draft pick or non-guaranteed contracts that they can be unloaded, sources said.
Damnit! I like T-Rob, wanted to see him grow as a Rocket. However, the Rockets may be confident that Dwight is coming here, or else they wouldn't do this right off the bat.
Does it diminish his value at all to announce it like this? If everyone knows you are trying to trade a player, seems to lessen your likely return. Unless of course he thinks it will start a bidding war for him, but I just can't see TRob commanding all that much.
It's starting now to let the bidding war go wild. It will uncover a hundred different trade scenarios for Morey, most of them including other players of course, so Morey gets to see what trade value his other youngsters (DMO/TJones) have as well. Personally I want to see us put together a package to get Cody Zeller. TROB, plus one of DMO/TJones plus our 14 first rounder should get it done. Perhaps less.
Sounds like they are doing a semi-open auction to the highest bidder. Question now is -- how much do we get for him? There are a lot of dynamics involved. On one hand everyone knows we want and even need to move him -- so, on that note they could really rob us on the deal (no pun intended). On the other hand, teams are bidding against each other to get him -- so that could drive the price up from nothing to something. My guess is that the Rockets get a highly protected 1st round pick (maybe protected from top 20 picks) . I think a good team like the Spurs will trade a future 1st rounder to get a player with the type of youth and potential they typically can't get since they draft so high.
Surprising but they still have a month to go before they can legally talk as an organization to Dwight. Making a move like this gives them more teams to talk to now - as draft night closes in there will be far more posturing going on and moves trying to be made. They may get more value right now for Robinson even if its just a late first round pick I dont know if they are confident that Howard will sign in Houstonbut they have to like their chances - they need to make the moves that are necessary to be able to sign a player of Dwight's caliber. Unfortunately the issue with Robinson was that he was competing against two younger players who were making less than him at the same position that also needed the minutes to develop. His higher salary (relative to Motiejunas and Jones) and having the two of them here made it a no brainer to have his contract moved. Its the same reason why Garcia's option was declined and most likely Delfino's will be as well. It will be interesting to see how free agents in general not just Dwight will react towards Houston now that we have franchise type guy in Harden and attractive pieces in Lin and Parsons to build around. I am glad the front office is being aggressive in its pursuit. Howard is a classic case of 'buy low' right now - even at a max contract. He played a lot better in the second half of the season when he had some time to recover from his surgery - despite the nagging injuries throughout the season (probably from trying to do too much too quickly from surgery)
Other teams know the Rockets want the cap room so the best might be a second round pick and dumping Royce White. If the Rockets need even more salary space. Tom Ziller thought it would take one of the young PFs to "sweeten" any deal for another team to take on Lin's contract.
I would think better than that in this draft. I'm looking at Philly at 11 and thinking possibly TRob/14 first rounder for their pick.
