I could see Philly trading MCW for a pick, taking on Lin for a pick, and drafting Exum to sit the first 40 games behind Lin to start the season. Could also see Toronto if Lowry bolts, Utah if they get paid off like the Biedrins trade, Orlando Lakers and the Knicks since they'll all be tanking.
it won't even come to trading them for cap space. its in everyone's best interest to do a S&T. the rockets would hold onto their MLE and BAE. the free agent would get more money. and the team losing the free agent would get something in return (lin/asik/pick).
I think a S&T with New York makes too much sense for both teams. We get Melo and they get something in return for him..a very good center and an upgrade at pg over Felton (in Lin, whom also happens to be a fan favorite and marketing tool). Win-win.
So hypothetically, If Parsons were to become a restricted free agent AND we struck out on gettin any of the stars (Lebron, Melo, Bosh, Love)....what should we do? We could do one of these 3 options 1. We resign Parsons(therefor cancelling out the addition of any impact player in free agency), keep Lin/Asik and trade them later or simply let them expire next off season. 2. We don't resign Parsons, keep Lin/Asik to let them expire next off season to make a run at a impact player in the 2015 free agency. 3. We trade Asik/Lin, sign one or more free agents, and then resign Parsons with bird rights. Personally, number 3 sounds like the best option to me. We can sign a impact player to a fresh contract (Asik and Lin will not resign or net us any impact players), and keep Parsons. Impact players (that aren't stars) in this years free agency are...(assuming Dirk, Duncan and Randolph all resign or opt in) Lowry, Stephenson, Gasol, Gay or Deng - Unrestricted Bledsoe, Monroe, Thomas, Bradley - Restricted Resigning Parsons, and the addition of one of those players would still be a significant upgrade to our roster and a solid off season.
There is no guarantee that any "impact players" that Houston wants will chose Houston, either. It's the same logic whether we are talking Lebron or Lowry or whoever: The Rockets will only make a deal to create cap flexibility this summer if there is an actual player that they want and can be acquired with that cap flexibility.
I see what your saying, but there's a pretty decent chance we strike out on the big 3 free agents we'd pursue (Lebron, Melo, Bosh). It would be very odd though, if we'd strike out on all 9 of those free agents i named. Question is more of I guess is if the organization would want to trade Lin and Asik to sign one of the players outside of the stars. And if you guys would be content with that as our off season if we were to strike out on the stars.
We can pay the free agent up to $5 million more in starting salary in a sign and trade than in a straight signing. This is one of the reasons why Lin and Asik won't be traded before July 1st.
If Lebron and Melo don't work out the fallback plan better include more veteran role players who can fill the holes at the 2,3, and 4.
As they should be when you're looking at locking in LBJ, Melo or Love. If you can land a superstar or all-star, you do. If you can't, you make do. There's nobody on the Rockets that's untouchable for LBJ. If it meant parting with Harden or Dwight, don't think for a moment that Morey wouldn't do it in a flash...
please trade for Melo, weve learned this year how important 3 superstars are for a team to win the championship. Weve learned that role players, rookies, bench players are just insurance in case the strong superstars that will play 40 mpg get injured. They are nothing more than 5 minute holdouts. We also learned that 6th man positions and backup centers are irrelevant. Oh wait that was 2013! All i gotta say is look at the Spurs. Bench players stepping, Borris Diaw a beast, Ginoboli godly 6th man, hell even Patty Mills was insane. They developed their picks in Kahwi and made Green from dleague to near mvp status. Meanwhile Rocket players only look at adding more iso players and depleting their already horrific bench. Did you guys not realize WHY you lost to Portland?? What was the bench score? What was the oppg?? Highest in the finals yet you want one of the weakest pfs.
But i want the Rockets to succeed and win a ring as much as any of you "true Rockets fans". We all have the same goal of wanting whats best for the Rockets(while Lin is around) so I would only have to say that regardless of the reason why fans like the team everyone has the same objective of wanting the team to win. And as a former Knicks fans, Carmelo is just not someone you want. Hes not a good locker room player, not a team player, and not a leader. LBJ is, CP3 is, KD and WB both are. Carmelo is a fantastic volume shooter. He loves jump shots and 3s, maybe posts occasionally but 90% of his moves are take the ball hold and shoot. So tell me this... Would you rather have a teamball oriented team like the Spurs or Stars loaded iso team like Lakers?
Even though it would make sense for LeBron James to come here, at the end of the day, it feels like we are going to get Melo. Not a bad consultation prize. I feel like LeBron/Wade/Bosh all want to stay in Miami and are all planning to take less money so the team can sign another good player i.e. Lowry, Gasol, Deng type player A team I'm really looking at to make a big splash is Boston. I think they have the best potential deal for a Love Trade. Then they also have a huge trade exception they could use to nab someone like Asik for nothing if Houston is getting a top FA. 6th Overall Pick + Jared Sullinger + Jeff Green + Keith Bogans (expiring worth 5 million) + filler for Kevin Love + Alexey Shved. or 6th Overall Pick + Jared Sullinger + Jeff Green + Kris Humpries (expiring worth 12 million) + filler for Kevin Love + Kevin Martin + filler. Then, trade exception for Asik. They could have this lineup: Rondo / Bradley Martin or Shved / Bayless Wallace Love / Bass Asik / Olynyk That starting 5 is pretty good and could easily be a top 3 seed in the East.
What do you mean by this? Duncan, Parker and Ginobili? The real superstar trio LeBron, Wade and Bosh were just outplayed in every way. I don't believe in that theory (need for three superstars), but I understand that the Rockets have to try it out in order to be convinced. In my opinion the San Antonio model will gain momentum in the NBA and more and more teams will start to look at that model.
