If any GM offered CD that package, Mo would've been out of Houston yesterday. It's pretty surprising over half the voters think he's actually worth something. If that's the case, the Bobcats would've picked him in the expansion draft, and shipped him somewhere for a pick.
Paid like a star and produces like a free agent. PLUS - the length of the contract sucks for cap planning. MoT's contract expires in 2007. contracts expiring in 2006 - Yao, Pike, JJ, Spoon Except for Juwan's contract that expires in 2008, a couple of small contracts, future draft picks and hopefully McGrady's new contract - - EVERY OTHER CONTRACT EXPIRES IN 2006. Yao will become a max player in 2006 (which is when he should be fully in his prime), which combined with Juwan and McGrady, means we will probably be over the cap for the next ten years (small exception if all other new contracts expired in 2008 when Juwan's contract expires, but luring free agents prior to 2008 will take long term contracts so that will not happen). So, if we could exchange MoT's contract for a contract that expires in 2006, we should have cap room to go after free agents in 2006. If we don't lose MoT, we will never (in the foreseeable future) have enough cap room to go after a decent free agent with anything other than the MLE. SO - how do we clear cap room for 2006 (and not cripple the team)? Include MoT in a trade for other bad contracts that teams would like to deal and/or sweeten the pot with draft picks and other players. contracts expiring in 2006: Chicago has Davis at over 12 mil and Robinson at 6.5 that expire in 2006: Suggested deal: TE for Robinson and MoT+Spoon for ADavis. We get a good backup for the PF/C positions and a SF who may be something or nothing. Chicago gets rid of Robinson who they are determined to deal, another huge contract in ADavis, two veteran PFs who can tutor their young players along with the TE that can be used in its dealings with New York. Toronto has LMurray(5.5) and AWilliams(4.5) contracts expire in 2006. I am not sure about AWilliams condition/value but LMurray has fallen out of favor. Suggested deal: MoT for LMurray (and a scrub to make salaries match. TE for AWilliams if he can be our PG. Toronto gets cap relief, loses an expensive bench player and another scorer to go next to Carter and MoPete, plus he should be a complemet to Donyell. Rox get a PG and lose MoT's contract. Portland has Ruben Patterson (5.5 exp in 2006)). Portland also has an expensive PG in stoudamire who's contract expires in 2005. Suggested deal: TE for Ruben, and stoudamire for MoT and Spoon(or Pike+boki+griffin - it would take something along those lines to make salaries match) Memphis has Bonzi (7) and LWright (6.6) that expire in 2006. Suggested deal - Mot for Bonzi and TE for Wright. Wright would be a great backup and Bonzi would be instant scoring off the bench. Memphis does not do this deal unles they have a use for the TE.
