One of Hinton or Samuels had to bite the dust with the new additions and that is even without signing major FAs.
You have you have to use cap holds instead of QOs to assess cap space while keeping bird rights for Jalen and Sengun. A rough calc only counting millions place would give the Rockets $30-36M in cap space with Core 7, AJ, Brooks, and keeping the 2025 pick from OKC/Hou/Pho swap mess. Would need to lose the following without taking on salary: FVV Holiday Adams Landale Jeff Green 24-25 NT MLE I'm guessing the cap space at best would get FVV. I just don't think cap space is going to happen. Even without 25 pick mess, that's about $40M.
Also... if you were to do a S&T or trade for a player under contract next year... assuming FVV option not exercised. You could include DB's contract and that would probably be enough $$$$ to acquire any single player contract in the NBA RN Or you could just exercise FVV's option and with the anticipated cap space = acquire almost any single player contract in the NBA
This is incorrect. Jalen’s cap hold will be around $37.5M. If they’re keeping Jalen (but not FVV), they’d have closer to $30M in room.
I did. Not sure what I'm suppose to be looking at. This page agrees with me except I forgot to add the incomplete roster charges (i.e., I over estimated cap space for the guys I listed) and I rounded. From spotrac data, using 5 incomplete roster charges, and assuming $5M for pick, the Rockets would have $28,575,617 in cap space for the Core 7 (cap holds for Jalen and Sengun), AJ, Brooks, and draft pick. Probably can't get anyone as good as FVV on that after cutting/relinquishing cap holds (or trading for expiring deals at deadline) for FVV, Adams, Landale, Green the Elder, Holiday, Tate, and not using any of the NT MLE in either 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.
Don't expect Brooks to be there... will be declining contract that can be moved separately or as part of a S&T (~$49M). Plus we'll have the picks that could be included. I think we will be an attractive space for free agents + "stars" on other teams. But I think we need a playoff berth and at least a 2nd round exit to become that target destination.
On Brooks, getting back expiring would be $50M or so in cap space, but likely losing more in cuts, trades than can be acquired in FA. If a star pops up, matching salary and picks may work better than cap space. I just think odds of getting a player better in FA than FVV is likely less than 50%.
Yeah.... I think free agency is one thing, but a S&T makes more sense (or even just a straight up trade). Question would be who.....
Brooks and picks probably won’t get you a star. Brooks should be traded for an expiring 1 year deal like Brogdon or into cap space for a pick or two like Philadelphia could give. I’ve said it before Brooks and a couple of seconds or 1 highly protected FRP convertible to 2nds for Brogdon. He is the perfect fit until Sheppard is ready and is very tradeable at the deadline.
If a "star" says Houston or bust... like Beard, KD, Beal, etc... then a team will find a way to make Brooks work. Not opposed to Brogdon, but does not necessarily move the needle.
No, doesn’t move the needle much, but is very good insurance if Jalen flops. In my opinion, neither Sheppard or Cam will ready as a starting role this year. Cam may never be a shooting guard. He is ideally a sf, but is blocked there by Amen this year. When Amen moves to guard later down the line, Cam will be the starter. Tari, I believe is a career 6th man candidate.
2025 free agent market looks rough, and going to be even worse if Lauri and Ingram sign extensions (either with their current teams or somewhere else after being traded).
Bima, do u have any idea how much cap space we’d have next offseason, assuming we let all team options and expirings expire (including Jalen), and extend Fred at $27, before we max Sengun? Around $40 mil?
I assume you mean letting go of all team options EXCEPT the (non-Jalen) Core7. They could have FVV (at $27M on a new deal), Brooks, Sengun's cap hold, Jabari, Sheppard, Amen, Tari, Cam & their 2025 FRP (est.), and they could create up to about $40-42M in cap room.
It’s really awesome to have someone as knowledgeable as you on this board. Thank you for your dedication.
1) Are you saying sign FVV to a new deal like 2 years, $54M or renegotiating the last year of his deal down to $27M? Or something else entirely? 2) Would we also need to apply 3 incomplete roster charges or did you include that ? (2 if we option AJ Griffin, but then less cap space) 3) if Brooks were moved this year at trade deadline (or sooner) or next year prior to free agency (with additional incomplete roster charge), there would theoretically be enough cap space for one max free agent signing (or cap space for a max player trade)? I know we could include Brooks in a S&T or in a trade for a player already under contract, I was just trying to ensure my logic was sound. Thanks in advance as always. On another note: Happy Anniversary! Is wifey recovered from the NBA finals yet? How does she feel about prospects this year (with add of Klay)?
I was suggesting extending Fred next offseason @ $27 for a few yrs; it might take $30. Bima was just calculating our cap if that happened (with all the team options and expirings expiring, not including Sengun).
