I would not trade a 1st round pick for any backup player period unless I believe he had the capability to start someday. None of those guys fit that bill. For example, people say Utah will match Arroyo's contract and that's why we shouldnt go after him. If our scouts believe he is as good as the other players in the FA pool, I would make a contingent trade with Utah to get Arroyo after they matched any deal. Why? Because Arroyo could be as good as any player we could get in the draft with that late of a pick. If Utah really loves Arroyo and our scouts felt Raul Lopez, 23, had the talent to become an everyday player, Id trade for him. I'd rather do that than give a Derek Fisher or Brent Barry a 4 or 5 year contract that ends when the player is 35+ years old and becomes the next Glenn Rice contract we have to dump. Otherwise, you have to constantly replace your aging veterans without developing your own talent. We can only count on Bostjian Nachbar for so long before we move on to the next prospect.
I hate to tell you this, but if a team matches an offer that another team makes, that team can not trade the player without their permission. Also, & here's the kicker, they can not trade that player to the team that made the offer they matched, for 1 full year. In other words, if they match the offer, you can kiss that player good bye. This is a rule in the CBA.
Cavs will thank you for taking over Battie's contract and they will even give you a 1st rounder for free. And they ARE eager to dump him to get extra cap room to secure Boozer.
What if another team makes the offer, Utah matches and then trades Arroyo to the Rockets (assuming Arroyo would give permission - especially if he and Jerry Sloan don't get along). According to what you state above, as long as the Rockets aren't the ones making the offer and if Arroyo gives permission to be traded, then we can do the deal.
Please some Capologists correct me if I am wrong. It seems some of us are discussing something that is totally beyond the rules of the CBA. The Rockets got a trade exception from a previous trade. It is for us to use in our next trade should the salaries not match up. It is not transferable. It disappears once we use it. The team we trade with can not use the trade exception for anything. They can not use it for their next trade. They can not use it to clear cap room ... Another thing, the trade exception is used for trade, NOT for free-agent signing.
One question: When you guys are proposing taking on another player with a big contract and trading the TE, where does that leave us roster wise? Whos on IR? -- Griffin and Wilks? Roster spots Given: 1. T-Mac 2. Yao 3. Howard 4. JJ 5. Nachbar 6. MoT 7. Spoon 8. Lue 9. Gaines 10. Pike 11. Brent Barry (If we get him) 12. Backup Center (we need to get) ------- 13. Wilks (Inj. List?) 14. A. Griffin (Inj. List?)
Battie would solve one problem - backup center. If Boozer reneges on his agreement to resign with Cleveland for the exception - then Cleveland will need to clear cap space in a hurry. Taking Battie would be a favor to them. So, what else can we get? A first round pick would be nice - but they have already traded one future first to Charlotte - so they should be cautious about trading any more first round picks. what about Wagner? This guy has all the potential in the world but has not shown up for their summer camp and has been hurt. How about we take Battie for the TE - AND they agree to trade Wagner for Pike? He could be instant offense off the bench.
For a Junior Member you are showing too much common sense to properly engage on this board. The true calling of this board is to amass as many high dollar, long-term contracts as possible. This is to insure we can field our own all star team. Please adjust your thinking to conform. If we have 10 point guards TMAC and Yao, we should be shoo-in for the championship ring. (pretend this is a smiley face)
