The way you get both is sign Dwight outright. Then pursue cap space trades for Asik and Lin. When the Clippers see that you can move out enough salary to sign Paul outright, they'll come to the table and take Lin and White for Paul. Before you say "that can't be done", yes it can. You only need $13,668,430.9 salary outgoing to get Paul in a S&T. You can send out non-guaranteed salaries plus DMO or TJones for a future first round draft pick and aggregate those salaries into one to obtain Paul. That would potentially give you a lineup that looks like this: Paul/Beverley/DJ Kennedy or whoever else we sign at the minimum Harden/(second rounder or another free agent minimum salary) Parsons/(one of Delfino/Garcia re-signed at the MLE) Dwight/Asik/Zeller TJones or DMo/Zeller/Asik plus a couple more minimum salary players
The way I look at it , why keep him on the roster and pay him $3m+ if he isn't going to play. He's behind both Motiejunas and Jones and probably Smith. Might as well move him for an asset that is more flexible in the form of a draft pick (or maybe even a trade exception). Then you have the option of using that roster spot on a player at a position not buried at the tail end of the bench , say a SG or SF. Sure it opens the way to sign Howard .... but its not too difficult a decision to make even if you don't land the big prize in FA. Save money on a guy who isn't going to play and open up a roster spot - win win.
This was predictable. If the Rockets are remotely serious about signing Dwight, T-Rob's salary has to be dumped. Besides, the dude is superfluous with Smith and Jones on the roster.
Yeah, pretty much Morey does sort of do this sort of thing when he feels he made a mistake or thinks something might occur like how he traded to get more 1st round picks to help consolidate either a trade to land Howard or (ironically) Sacremento Kings 1st round pick to land Thomas Robinson. Personally, I think Robinson has a wealth of potential and could be a benefit but the truth is that the Rockets are going to need to make a decision on who among their young Power Forwards they are going to continue to develop.
Or Morey and McHale see that he wasn't worth a 5th pick, he isn't getting better, and parading him out in the 2013-14 season will only lower his value even more so they better sell now. There will be a gm out there on one of "those" teams - you know the ones doing boneheaded moves all the time - that thinks picking him up is a great move because they remember the 2013 draft order. And as others have said...even if we don't get DH12 or CP3, cap space and a 2nd round pick > paying for TRob another year to "fight" for a spot that we are weak in but he can't seem to win.
I wouldn't be so harsh on T-Rob. I think it just a matter of numbers. We have a glut of PFs and his contract was $3.5m which is about the amount we need to free up to offer Dwight the max. It was either T-Rob or T-Jones ($1.5m) + D-Mo ($1.4m) R.White ($1.7m) is difficult to move and might get waived and stretched if we're desperate. T-Rob's contract was just the easiest to move and had nothing to do with his potential or lack of it.
All of those or good reasons if true (I suspect they are not) but none of them justify throwing him out there like that. It's never been Morey's M.O.. It devalues the player. Morey puts feeler out to get a read. Yes even if he knows Trob is of no use to us anymore. The thing is he doesn't have to be moved right away. But if you need to clear cap space immediately then you want trob gone yesterday. If Howard says I'm coming than you want to sign him on day one so he doesn't have time to second guess his decision. ANd the only way you can do hat is if you dump Trob now. And if the leagues know you are trying to dump him now than you are going to less for him. So morey did the next possible best thing and offered a fire sale on Trob. Come one come all highest bidder wins. it's ebay with a time limit and everthing. Trob has to be gone before the opening day of free agent signings. Everything you said may be reasons why they want to trade him. Nothing explains why Morey would devalue him by making it clear he is gone. Unless it it to clear cap space for signing a big contract/ howard. Now he may just be preparing for that possibility but still I do not see Morey making an announcement that would weaken his position unless he was close to certain what he was preparing for was very likely to happen. Certainly Howard has had enough time to make his decision. And if he was leaning toward LA you would almost as certainly hear some indications from his inside people. But instead the only things that are leaking are Howard Likes ASIk and Howard doesn't need the 4th year and Howard isn't happy with D'antoni. Maybe it's all a big game he is playing to scam us all. But I think it's not. I think he doesn't want to go back to that Lakers team. The LA that he hoped for doesn't exist. And he has already decided not to return. That's wht I think. But we will see soon enough.
Good point. I was sure that Howard to the Rockets was a done deal at that point. Lesson learned....I'll believe it when I see it.
SOOO exciting!!!!!! We gonna get us some Dho. In 2-3 years we will all hate him, mark my words. There will be a honeymoon period, maybe two years of playoff failure (maybe less) and then the finger pointing will start. Howard is not a leader and I don't know if Harden is either. I do know that Howard THINKS he is or should be the leader. Three things Howard is known to do: Whine/pout Say stupid crap Get injured
This is perfect timing to come up with a legit excuse - "No, we are not trading Trob becuase he sucks, he's good but we have to move the contract for DWH. " Just like when consumers see a merchandise on sale, they tend to first ask if there's something wrong about it. If the seller can convince the buyers it has nothing to do with the product quality but he has a special situation and has to sell, the bidding war would likely begin...especially at a time when the perceived value of this year's draft picks are low.
I actually believe T-Rob was going to be trade bait regardless of if Howard comes are not because he's not going to beat out D-Mo and TJ for time (definitely not TJ). His value will diminish just sitting on the bench.
I was hoping T Rob would stick around but looks like not. How about we make this trade. NO IN : Lin + T. rob + White NO Out: Anderson + Pick Rockets In: Anderson + Pick Roc Out: Lin + t. Rob + White
