Offseason Q&A(Early Edition)

Playoffs start next week bruh

 

1) Will Capela be offered a Max by another team? IMO no. Two factors come in to play. A) do teams
have money? B) other options over offering a RFA a max contract? Team salaries need to be at $100
million or less to offer Capela $20 mil plus/yr (on the average). Rockets can go over the luxury tax
to sign Capela because of the “Bird rights”. So the Rockets matching any offer will discourage
most teams in play. Most teams won’t tie up the big money on a restricted free agent.

Which teams are in position to offer Capela $20 mil plus? (Not likely teams will dump or trade salary
to go after Capela for reasons I stated earlier). Other options in the draft or free agency.

Lakers have the most money: will go after Cousins/LeBron/Paul George (around 25th pick in draft)
Bulls (possibly 8th pick in draft): committed contracts in Asik/Robin Lopez/Felicio
Mavs (possibly 5th pick): some mocks have the Mavs selecting Bagley III or Bamba. Other FA’s available (Randall)
Hawks (possibly 3rd pick): some mocks have Hawks selecting Bagley III or Jaren Jackson. Cheaper FA’s
76ers: Embiid, possibly 10th pick in draft, money ready for LeBron and smaller fish
Kings: WCS (possibly 6th pick) Wendell Carter may be their selection for back up to WCS.
Suns: (possibly 1st pick in the draft). Might be selecting Ayon or Bagley

Teams with less money to spend than Rockets but less than $100 in team salary committed.
Nets: pick to Cavs. Jarrett Allen his their guy
Magic: (possibly 4th pick) Bomba and Jaren Jackson are possible selections.
Jazz: Gobert
Pacers: Myles Turner/ Sabonis committed contracts
Pels: money devoted to Cousins
Spurs: LMA? Pau Gasol under contract. Possibly a trade for either Kawhi or LMA here.
Knicks: Kanter has $18.6 mil player option that I don’t think he walks away from. O’Quinn P.O.
Probably not offering Capela max money.

Next....Just on the bubble at about $103 mil in team salary. Grizz: M Gasol. Possibly 2nd pick....Bagley or Ayon
I’ve seen Doncic here on many sites. Probably not offering a Capela big money.

2) Ryan Anderson. He is serviceable. If Rockets win it all there is a possibility Ryan stays. IMO Ryan will
be traded after June 21st draft.

3) Ariza: Yes re-sign

4) CP3: If CP3 wants max...yes; If CP3 would rather go two yr deal with player option on 2nd year.....yes.

5) Yes the Rockets can get a big star and still have Ryan. Bird right of CP3/Ariza/Capela allow this.
Rockets will stay under the luxury tax/apron which means the Rockets would go over the threshold
2 out of last 4 years (assuming the Rockets will be over the luxury tax if signing a big star plus keep Ryan)
Repeater tax hits teams who are over the luxury tax/apron 3 out of the last 4 years. Newest CBA
allows and promotes teams to sign their own player in free agency....so the Rockets might even delay the
hit even longer. That’s a question for Bimathug.

6) do we need to change. Often the original is toppled by the copies. This is why the Warriors continue
to try to improve each year with additions. They cut cost where they can to pay their stars. Durant
gave them a discount for one season....will he do it again? Rockets thru this together with Tucker,
Luc MaM taking lesser amount that they probably would have received elsewhere. The Rockets
will then be the hunted. Warriors bought the contract of Bell to be a center with higher ceiling on
rookie contract. So the Warriors might one up us some how.....other teams like Pels May have
two bigs shooting 3’s in the form of Cousins/Davis plus add shooters. Giving them 5 big time
3-Point shooter/players to our 4-three point shooters as starters on the floor (Capela does not shoot 3’s).
Advantage “may” be in the Pels favor.....depending on additions.

7) I would like Harden to shave his beard like Mirotic did the other day. Probably won’t. His signature.

Other notable free agents this summer as center options: Cousins, D Jordan, Nurkic, Favors, Greg Monroe,
Aron Baynes, Lauvergne, Nogueira, Alex. Len, Dedmon, Noel.
Notable draft picks as centers: Ayon, Bagley, Bamba, Jaren Jackson, Brandan McCoy, Mitchell Robinson,
Robert Williams, Bruno Fernando, Wendell Carter

I’m not worried about Capela offer. Just my opinion.

 

The beard looks great on Harden. You and I have had conversations on Capela. Both of us don't want the Rockets to offer him a big contract, unless he wows us all in the playoffs, which is unlikely. So my question is,
which team may want to take Clint and Ryan plus picks? And what are we likely to get in return?

 

Capela picked the perfect year to become a FA as far as the Rockets are concerned. The market is dryed up and no one really has money. Capella is going to get a modest contract.

Anderson is going to get traded FORSURE.

Ariza will be retained at a reasonable rate.

Rockets will get their third major piece.

Yule c.

 

The only team of significance that I think can use Ryan is Detroit. He can improve their spacing. I don't know their cap room though.

 

I like your view on Pistons. Provides Drummond and Blake some room to operate.
My understanding was VanGundy was looking to obtain Ryan Anderson possibly in the Melo talk this past summer.

I still think Ryan would be good for Orlando.
They liked Ryan during his first stint with Orlando.

Ryan would supply room for Bismack Biyombo and Vucevic (although Vucevic hit 32% from 3 on 202 3PA’s...Crazy)
Aaron Gordon probably cost them $26 million on the average over 4 yrs. Not sure they want this with Isaac developing.
Now the Magic can trade Gordon; but it gets tricky. If they sign Gordon to an extension after the season (before FA)
then no problem. If Gordon hits FA and then the Magic match.....there is a “no-trade” clause baked into that 1st
yr automatically. They could not trade Aaron in the first yr. Guess he could waive that...but team loses control on that.

So Aaron Gordon would cost around $26 mil: his numbers were (17/18):
33 mins, 17.9 pts, 8.1 rbs, 2.4 asts, 33% (3P%)

Ryan Anderson (17/18):
26.2 mins, 9.3 pts, 5.0 rbs, 0.9 ast, 39% (3P%)
Jonathan Isaac (17/18):
19.8 mins, 5.4 pts, 3.7 rbs, 0.7 ast, 35% (3P%)

Together:
46 mins, 14.7 pts, 8.7 rbs, 1.6 ast, 37% (3P%) $25.4 million (compared to $26 million for Aaron Gordon)
They could shed some payroll elsewhere. Or trade with Houston and get a couple of 1st round picks.
Thing is Isaac had an injury plagued rookie season. Ryan would allow Isaac to develop while playing
either starter or backup. It amounts to $25.4 million anyway you turn it.

The production could increase since Isaac will work hard this summer now that he knows what the NBA
is all about. And people know that I think Ryan can get you 14-16 points if used more than a spotup
shooter (as Houston uses him). If Orlando posts him up or runs him as cutter....Ryan would get more
points by way of free throws and being more involved in the game as a third option. Right now Ryan
is like the 5th option with the Rockets.

Worthy of $15 million if you match other NBA players putting up 15 million and 6 rbs 1 ast, 39% (3P%).
Both increased production could surpass the numbers posted by one Aaron Gordon.

Sure Orlando will match any offer.....but it will break their bank on the deal. Just my opinion.
Ryan helps them in spacing in so many ways, and get draft picks out of the deal. This draft is
stacked and so will the next few drafts. Picks (around 30th) in the first round will be gold.
But I like Ryan Anderson to Pistons. They could use a first we give them to package Biyombo
out of town. Lessen the financial burden.

 

I'm guessing you are saying Biyombo will have to come to Houston along with Aaron Gordon. If yes, what would be the financial implications be
for the Rockets?

 

No Biyombo elsewhere using one of the 1st rounders we give them if not one of theirs. That Biyombo contract
is kinda steep. They may need to move him the same way the Rockets have to use picks to move Ryan.

I was thinking Aaron Gordon with a smaller contract. Orlando would be able to move Ryan or Biyombo
using pieces from our trade for Gordon. If Aaron Gordon hits free agency they can’t trade Gordon
for a year. It’s the picks that I think Orlando will bite on. 2 (1sts) and maybe some 2nds.

 

I like your post, especially the Black Biyombo comparison. Spot on. Ryan would help him with space. Something
Orlando should consider. If they can’t move Biyombo. Lol