lol. On a team with its pieces set, Id LOVE to get Patterson back in a supporting role. True class act, and perfect complement player... Maybe there is a chance to bring either him or Landry back in the near future after the dust settles.
Get even shorter....PaNick. Boy, spend 2 hours eating supper with your wife & free agency begins early.
I don't know why people are excited about this trade. We were so desperate to create cap room that we got ripped off. I would have preferred a future first round pick of any capacity. Marko Todorovic will probably never come to the NBA, best case scenario he is an extreme long-term project. Kostas Papanikolaou 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes; how do you think that would translate in the NBA... not so well IMO. The 2nd round picks are the best thing we got because we might "get lucky" and get someone of T-ROB's caliber.
Yeah, pissed me off. Spent a decent amount of time writing it, then this happened. Had to almost completely re-write the piece. Should be coming soon, though. I wish! I think the Rockets actually want to IMPRESS Dwight. :grin: The Rockets just created the cap room necessary to make a legitimate max contract offer to Dwight Howard in advance of meeting with him. They got two future second rounders. They got draft rights to one of the best young players in Europe (Papanikolaou) and another intriguing center prospect to let marinate overseas (Todorovic). What are you complaining about? You want "a future first round pick of any capacity"??? No offense, but I find that far too many people are enamored with the thought of "a first round pick". But unless that pick is in the lottery or at least a mid-first rounder, it's really not that valuable. Most drafts tend to level off in the 20-40 range. Frankly, I'd RATHER have an early second rounder than a late first. Far more cap flexibility with early second rounders. The Rockets essentially turned Patrick Patterson (who I LOVE, by the way) and spare parts into a free look at a top lottery pick, some quality playoff play from Francisco Garcia (who could still be re-signed this summer), and FOUR second round picks! When combined with how much this assists the Rockets' chances of adding Dwight Howard, I just don't see what people are complaining about.
FA era questions: With the Rockets under the cap do they still receive a Trade Exception? If Howard is signed the team, by definition, would remain under the cap. What exceptions would be available to the team? Thank you. Oh, and on behalf of his CF friends, give the Doc our best.
Totally agree Bima. I think Morey should be applauded for the mid-season trades that maintained the cap flexibility to bring us to the verge of signing Dwight Howard. Are the Mavericks there yet? Not from what I heard. Looking forward to reading your cap analysis and thank you always for your insights.
I'm wary of players from Greece. They tend to not perform when playing for non-Greek clubs. Is it because they're system players and the Greek game just doesn't translate to other leagues or is it the culture shock?
One is a C. If he's the same young C on the bench for Barca during the Spanish finals then that guy has a long way to go to make in Euroball.
As of today, the Rockets are under the cap and therefore have to renounce all exceptions except for the Room Exception ($2.6m / 2 years max) and Vet Min. and Larry Bird Exception of course.
Technically speaking, the Rockets are currently over the cap. However, they are expected to waive the MLE and BAE and to renounce their rights to Francisco Garcia ($9.15 million) and Earl Boykins ($884,293) to clear their cap holds off the books, thus creating (most of) the cap room they will try to use this summer. (This will NOT be in my cap update, but just wanted you to be aware. Seems like you are interested in this sort of information.)
No doubt. Even Carl has to agree Pat wouldn't have brought that much. Maybe... just maybe... (naa, I doubt it) this will kill a few of the Morey doubter/haters out there. Especially the pro-tankers. Today's NBA is DIFFERENT. Much, much more player movement. The odds of doing what Morey has done (Harden) and is on the verge of doing (Howard and who knows what else, knock on wood) are BETTER than the odds of tanking - in today's NBA at least. Will he be perfect. Of course not. But, he hits a lot more than he misses. In Morey we trust.
Guess it's the best they could get, Portland liking T-Rob surprises me though they could lose Hickson.
Thanks for the response Bima. I actually understood the technical part about being over the cap and waiving the exceptions but couldn't express it as eloquently as you of course. Garcia is $9.15 million? not $6.4 million? Looking forward to reading your analysis.
Papanikolaou is an excellent defender and an excellent three point shooter from the small forward spot. Not a great athlete. Sounds like he could fill a Battier-type role off the bench if/when we bring him over.
