[NYPost] Rockets could make push for Carmelo (UPDATE: Blog post)

This. And this is why it's more likely to get a star this summer rather than wait on 2015. If you wait on Kevin Love you're likely to lose Parsons. Sign a Melo, Bosh, Dirk this summer and go over the cap to resign Parsons with his bird rights.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Those asking about Rockets' ability to sign Melo outright as FA this summer, assuming they can move both Lin's &amp; Asik's contracts...</p>&mdash; David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/447465613011603456" data-datetime="2014-03-22T20:11:30+00:00">March 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>...Assuming currently projected salary cap of $62.9M, Rockets could cut all NG'teed salary (except Parsons &amp; Beverley) &amp; trade 1st rdr...</p>&mdash; David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/447466051614167040" data-datetime="2014-03-22T20:13:14+00:00">March 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>...and Rockets would have between $17.4 and $18.25M in cap room. Do with that what you will.</p>&mdash; David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/447466448177221632" data-datetime="2014-03-22T20:14:49+00:00">March 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I expect almost all nba owners would be willing to pay luxury tax to have a top-3 team.

 

Bosh isn't leaving Miami. Dirk isn't leaving Dallas.

 

OKC with Harden?

 

Thank you for the update from our resident capmiester. If Melo really wants a chip he can sign with the Rockets at a discount. Melo has enough money, having made what - $150M over the last decade? It would be a departure from his previous behavior, but is not out of the realm of possibility. Melo at the max of $22M+ a season seems like a stretch to me. $6M+ under that? The Rockets could retain the rights to D-Mo providing an adequate backup at both the 4 and 5 (and an adequate backup at the 5 is problematic to say the least). Just my opinion.

 

Exactly and again just like Howard if you look at the tax implications of NY compared to Houston it's even closer.

Ultimately it depends on if Melo really wants to win or not. Houston provides him the best chance. And just like Howard said the dollars follow the winning. Durant is in friggin Oklahoma and has no problem getting endorsements.

 

Bima is assuming we're not moving out Jones and Dmo with these figures. If we traded Jones and DMo for future draft picks we could give Melo $20.4 to $20.7 million starting salary. And at least one of those guys would likely be moved with the trade of Lin.

 

I did not get that from reading his tweets. He said the Rockets would have to cut all NG contracts except Parsons and Bev. Jones and D-Mo are NG contracts for next season. I could be reading it wrong though.

 

basketballholic is correct. My next tweet (after those posted in this thread) said the same.

Both Jones and D-Mo have fully guaranteed salaries for next year.

 

Thank you for the clarification Bima. You are a gem.

 

I would say at this point there's no need to question whether or not they can trade away Asik and Lin for nothing. They simply CAN if they want. The Warriors were the perfect example last season in terms of the new CBA and how little you need to shed contracts. And last year I believe the Warriors only had two teams to work with(Philly and Utah) who had the cap and the willingness to take them on. This year there should be more.

Basically goes something like this.

Asik for at worst nothing. If no one else, at least Hinkie would make this deal in a heartbeat.
Lin plus a sweetner, say Jones or 1st round pick+NY 2nd, for nothing. The highest cost of shedding Lin's salary IMO is Jones. I don't think it will take that much. I think the Rockets would prefer to keep Jones.
DMo for nothing is a no-brainer for a ton of teams. May fetch a mid-2nd rounder back.

That's slighly under $20mil by my calculations if we keep one of DMo or Jones. Which leaves us with a team of Howard/Melo/Parsons/Harden/Beverley/Jones or DMo/Cannan/maybe 2014 NY pick/room exception signing/vet minimums.

 

But why? And for what? And you want to give away D-Mo and Asik? Where is a backup center on the roster? Have we Rockets fans not suffered enough without a paint protector in there for 48 minutes? D-Mo is a better paint protector than basically nothing. And if Howard is injured ever? Could we just kiss competing goodbye? No harm intended in this post. Just asking.

 

If the Rockets can open up $20 million in cap space using teams other than New York, there is no way Melo would come to Houston outside of a sign & trade. That would allow Melo to get a max contract and the Rockets to keep their MLE. The Knicks would of course be given something, maybe just a future first rounder and the trade exception.

 

I'm not saying the Rockets will do it if Melo is willing to sign here. I also believe it won't come down to that because if Melo won't re-sign, NY will make a S&T that allow us to not have to give up everything. No reason why NY should just let Jones, picks, Asik, Lin go elsewhere and they get nothing, when they can just take them and help restart their rebuilding.

I'm just saying it's theoretically very possible and realistic.

My own personal opinion is that Morey will strip down and create that team I mentioned unless the Rockets go to the finals or something.

 

If Melo is willing to sign with Houston, I wouldn't rule out a sign and trade possiblity-- with either both Lin+Asik going to NY or one of Lin/Asik going to NY and the other going to some other team. Such a S&T should allow Houston to take back close to $22M in salary-- more if other salaries are included.

Specifically, if Melo is departing NY, the Knicks are basically stuck with no cap room in until summer 2015 because of their other remaining contracts. So, it makes some sense for them to get contracts that expire in 2015-- like Lin and/or Asik-- who can help them compete in 2014-15 but allow them to either choose t re-sign those guys if they perform well or go after a significant free agent haul with their 2015 cap room.

 

I personally disagree. But a reasonable take sir. I have no crystal ball. Best.

 

Let's not forget that a S&T is the *ONLY* way that they can also pick up young players on rookie/sophomore contracts AND draft picks.

The Knicks have virtually no draft picks, and their only young players are Shumpert and THJr. And we all know that it's nearly impossible to compete long term without having the ability to stack talent beyond FA due to the salary cap.

You *must* get under paid contracts as well, either through your stars taking pay cuts, veterans signing cheap to chase rings, trading for players on rookie/sophomore deals, or draft picks. And preferably all of the above.

 

For what.... To have a Harden/Melo/Howard big 3..... Nothing else matters. You roll the dice on that every time. We can find warm bodies. Lastly, don't underestimate Morey's talent evaluation.

 

I guess it is a philosophical discussion. I view Harden and Melo as overlapping players in their mindset and their strengths and their skill set. Little defense, a shooters mentality and so forth. Substitute Bosh for Melo and it becomes a completely different conversation. An ill matched big three is just a big two.