It will be easier for both T-mac and RIP to get through screens and create shots for each other. They're both kinda streaky players at times who can go off in the zone. It would cause havoc at times for opposing teams trying to decide which one to double when Yao is sitting down low as well. Will they be setting a screen for one another, waiting for Yao to post up, or kick it to the lone man waiting by himself behind the 3 point line because his defender if off double teaming someone else? I think all that offense would more than make up for Battier not being here, if he would even be involved in the trade. Remember, T-Mac is a really good defender when he's put to the test. Before Battier, he was the guy to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player.
Are you seriously trying to lecture GATER in the ways of NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement? He's one of the most well-known capologists on this board. Even average cap-knowledgeable fans like myself know your reasoning is completely flawed. The current CBA has a soft cap. There's a difference between the luxury tax threshold and the salary cap. The salary cap is only in place to limit the amount of money owners can spend on free agents. It equals the playing field for all teams (so to speak). Teams do NOT however begin paying luxury tax just because they violate the salary cap. Last year the luxury tax threshold was in the realm of $65-67 million, if I recall correctly. Offering Billups a max contract doesn't hurt Detroit in the least.
Hamilton going to Seattle?? 1270 am in Seattle is reporting that it is coming from Detroit? Not Confirmed, but apparently Asst. GM Scott Perry was hired from Detroit, so that might of had something to do with it.
That would be a huge curve ball. Seattle does have the money. I'm not a cap guru and don't know how much they're under. However, if i we're them i would try and stockpile more draft picks just by getting involved as a 3rd party in trades or taking on an expiring contract, etc while their 2007 picks develop. Imagine if they we're able to get another early lotto pick via trading multiple picks they could possibly acquire.
Quick math question. If Detroit has a current team salary of $50.85 million, and you add $13 million in Chauncey's contract plus the two rookie contracts (Rodney Stuckey - 1.17 Mill and Aaron Afflalo $0.71 Mill), wouldn't you be over the $65 Mill luxury cap threshold? Who said anything about the soft cap? I was specifically used the word "luxury tax threshold."
My mistake. I misread your post and thought you were saying that adding $13 million would put Detroit's payroll at $50.85 million. Regardless of their increasing payroll, Detroit will resign Billups. Billups' new contract plus any rookie and free agent signings will put them (at most) a bit over the luxury tax threshold. Unless they plan on splurging their entire MLE on free agents, they'll be fine. Detroit will have $11 million of expiring contracts at the end of next season. Cap relief is right around the corner. Any owner in the same situation would willingly pay luxury tax for a single year if it meant keeping a player of Billups' caliber. No actually, I think your exact words were "luxury cap threshold."
Another thing. If Detroit were willing to trade Hamilton for spare parts...and there were only two teams in the league, Detroit might actually seriously consider the deal you proposed. Seeing as how there are potentially 28 other offers on the table, don't you think at least one of them would be a LOT better than Alston (career backup), Sura (no longer in the league), and Wells (headcase)? Moreover, if Detroit were serious about getting luxury tax relief sooner rather than later, why in the world would they trade with another team over the cap (Rockets)?
1) Unlike the former CBA, the current CBA dos NOT automatically invoke the LTax. It has to pass a miminum threshhold where salaries are greater than 61.111% of BRI (basketball related income). 2) Even if the salaries exceed 61.111% of BRI, NBA governance (David Stern) has the option of NOT invoking the tax. Of the 200+ pages in the CBA, the LTax is referred to in a scant few paragraghs and the methodology of re-distribution is NOT outlined nor described. 3) There is historical precedent that teams slightly over the LTax actually get refunds. Again, NOTHING in the CBA defines precisely if or how the collected escrow is re-distributed. And it is NOT a yearly event. 4) Your "$65m" figure is for the 2006-07 season and was only recently authenticated and up $3+m from 2005-06. The LTax threshhold like the MLE (average player salary based) and the salary cap all have an escalation history. The escalation history is very directly related to the revenue generated from broadcasting rights. The broadcasting rights have increased dramatically and the NBA recently took the renewal option with ESPN/ABC. It is highly likely the $65m figure will rise to $68 for 2007-08. 5) The BRI data is collected AFTER the season. The current figure of No one...NO ONE...knows in advance what the threshhold or parameters of re-distribution will be. Spendiing is all based upon a teams' tolerance for risk and reward. I doubt anyone here...me included...knows Joe Dumars well enough to know what his level of risk tolerance is relative to getting the aging Pistons back to the NBA Finals. But given the Pistons overall age and dependence on players like McDyess and Webber, a trip even to the EC Finals is well worth a potential hit of $6m. 6) If you still think Rockets' scraps and Sura's contract is all Detroit can get for Rip Hamilton, you deserve the abuse you have been and will receive.
28 other teams but would Detroit trade within their conference? Isnt it better for them and for Rip to trade out of their conference? Anyway, its not THAT impossible is all Im trying to say.
What do you want from me? A cookie? A medal? What? I don't feel like I'm getting abused... its just you trying to act smart and that really doesnt hurt my feelings at all. I never directed hostility towards you because I feel Houston fans need to show mutual respect. Im not here to try and pull rank on others. You can rant off CBA rules and provisions about whether or not the Luxury tax will kick in or whether the league will skip it for a year.... no one cares. You keep side-stepping the obvious... by paying an extra $20 Mill in salary, does the team get that much better? Is it worth risking being over the luxury threshold? Who is gonna sit there and say, "hey, I hope the BRI data is in our favor at the end of the season and we don't pay luxury tax.." You see, you're just arguing for the sake of arguing now. Youre not even addressing the topic of our debate and now youre just looking for opportunities to copy and paste CBA rules in an effort to appear intelligent.
Its cool. One thing I noticed about clutchfans vs. bbb.net... theres kind of a gang mentality here where ppl try and pick on newer ppl. its kinda silly. Im really not impressed by any of the CBA stuff Gater is ranting off. I read just as much as anybody on this board... just because I dont post as often doesnt mean Im less knowledgeable. We all have access to Larry Coons FAQ and reciting it here doesnt make you smarter than everyone else.
What do I "want" from you? The same thing these sample posters "wanted"... What was "wanted" from everyone disagreeing with you from the start of the thead...your recognition of the fact that putting a winning team on the court is more important to the Pistons than clearing a few million by acquiring Bobby Sura and waiving him at the cost of Rip Hamilton. If you can't easily see that...I'm out of "snobby" comments.
I don't subscribe to group think. I don't get intimidated by you or your reposting other people's comments. You can choose to make it as simple as Bobby Sura for Richard Hamilton, if that helps your case and if you feel that makes you smarter than everyone else. It was just a suggestion and I'm honestly quite impressed with how it got a rise out of so many ppl. Thank you for making me feel worthwhile. Hey if I talked about trading for Garnett, I would have been ignored. At least with this suggestion I think I got some interesting feedback.
He's not an alligator. And yeah, this whole thread is pretty silly. I'd love Rip Hamilton on the Rockets, that'd be fantastic, but if they're going to get rid of anyone on that roster to shed salary it's probably Rasheed Wallace.
Oh, wow, a CBA expert, high-caliber NBA trade evaluator and 1st place in the Spelling Bee all rolled into 1 poster. Get a clue....ever heard of names like Wingate, Colgate, Hungate, etc....it has NOTHING to do with animals. BTW...the Detriot News says the Pistons will pay the LT for talent. Gosh we sure are gonna miss Rip runnin' that Princeton offense for Adelman. http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/SPORTS08/707030399/1127 As for you...you won't be missed at all....
One zinger after the other... ooooooooooooo. theres just no way I can top that ^ What are you so insecure about that you absolutely need to have the last word on the internet? lol @ the hostility.
