What are the odds we can get him now that we can offer him significantly more than the MLE? Would you do 3/30 with a team option on the third year? He signed a six year / 17 with Madrid last year with a reduced buyout. Our best offer last year was 3/17, before a 5 million buyout, making it hardly worth his while. Personally if we don't land Durant or Horford, I say go for it.
"Hey we'll offer you less than your guarantee (after a buyout) to play in the NBA for the rest of your prime" Yeah, I guess turning down that offer from Morey last year really shows how committed he is to Spain.
I think a lot will depend on how our free agency goes, if we miss on big names i think there's a good chance he comes this year.
If we strike out in free agency on the big names, our cap space has got to go somewhere. It could make some sense to sign him to a large 1 year deal, with a 2nd year PO, to entice him to come over without handicapping ourselves.
Exactly I have no idea why people are dismissing this out of hand. They act like he turned down a godfather offer and left tons of money on the table to stay in Madrid when this is not the case.
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I said it before and I'll say it again: This and next year are the perfect seasons to bring over Euro prospects that ARE NOT subject to rookie scale salary. In this scenario your market to compete with is not other NBA players and teams, its the team they have a contract with in Europe. The Llull story: Last season in Europe, Sergio Llull was getting paid slightly over 2 million US dollars a season. The Rockets contract would have paid him slightly over 5 mil per, but he had a 5 mill buyout the Rockets could only pay like 600K of. (forgive me if my numbers are off a bit). So Sergio would have had to essentially plan on making the money up on the back end in year 3... something the Rockets might have had only as a team option. Now this year Llull's buyout is actually LESS, and the Rockets can go above the MLE offering to make up the difference on a much more flexible contract... maybe front ended like the Ariza contract. So long story short... I think the this WOULD BE a great year to bring over someone like Llull who on the open NBA market could cost much much more than 5 to 8 million per. That being said the Sergio Llull situation is layered with multiple issues that make this hypothetically great opportunity kind of a moot point- A. Sergio's age is getting up there in NBA terms. The Rockets probably want to focus more long term. B. The length of years on Sergio's contract is very long and it signifies that Sergio really truly plans on finishing his career in Real Madrid. C. The long history of Houston courting Sergio and being shot down could have ramification with agents and front office people having poor relationships D. I believe Pablo Prigioni was sought after from the Rockets two fold. One of the reasons was his close relationship with Llull to give Llull insight on both the Rockets, and playing PG next to Harden. I think that given the lack of success we've had pairing a PG next to Harden, and the fact that obviously Llull is paying attention to this fact, that he's doing his homework, and will not want to put himself in a situation to have to get relegated to a bench role. So my OPINION is that it's not going to happen. There's just too much history there. Gentile however I fully expect to come over... I'd suspect the BAE salary level will be what they will give to Alejandro. The SF spot could be in flux this year if trades are made, and the Rockets have been trying for years to replace someone in that Gentile role. Seems like a good low risk prospect to try out.
