Raef LaFrentz

what is everyone's obsession with raef lafrentz? the guy just plain sucks.
if marc cuban doesn't even want the guy, don't you think there's a reason for it? other than his ridiculous contract.

 

$9,700,000.

 

I think the idea is Raef could be a luxury tax casualty.

If you could pick him up for significantly less than that, he's a good shot blocker and rebounder, and a tremendous outside shooter for a 4. Not a primary option, but it certainly wouldn't hurt having him in the free agent pool.

He turned 29 last month.

 

I can't remember where I heard it, but someone said he has absolutely no passion for the game. I'll pass.

Stats? Tyronn Lue's stats looked pretty good too after he was traded to the Hawks.

 

Raef is a good weak side defender, shot blocker, 3-pt shooter. He is also a foul machine.

I wouldn't pick up his 45 or so mil contract (remaining) but if he were lux cap cut I'd be on him like stink on stuff.

 

I think he would be pretty good. What do the Rockets need out of the PF postion?

Shot Blocker. Check.
Hit the open 15 to 20 footer. Check.
Weak side defense. Check.
Rebounding. Maybe.

Doesn't look too bad to me, especially for minimum.

 

Hell....if they cut him, I would be stoked to get him for about half of the mid level. He's a center, but put him next to Yao and you have yourself a player. It takes all the pressure off of him and all he has to do is rebound, defend and hit open shots.....all of which he does well. Oh....being 6'11 doesn't hurt

 

If Swift, Abdur-Rahim & Marshall all sign somewhere else, Raef LaFrentz for 4 years @ $16-$20m starts to look awfully good. Chris Andersen plays with more heart and would probably be (a little) cheaper...but LaFrentz's range opens up the floor even more than when Juwan is hitting his elbow J.

 

Why are so many so stoked over Stro? He's low on my list. Raef then SAR, Marshall. That order, this team.

 

We need more than a "maybe" under the rebounding column. We need a CHECK

 

I kinda agree.......Stro is a athletic freak, but never knew him to be a rebounder or banger......which is what we need. Yeah....he'll block a few shots and give the crowds some highlight dunks, but we need more.


Rahim is a double/double man, he would be the ideal piece in our puzzle and hopefully he'll take less money to win. I doubt it............He'll be too expensive.

Marshall is a double/double man (more like 12/8) which is good. He'll stretch the defense and knows how to defend................still, maybe a lil expensive.

Chris Anderson is all hustle and energy. He will hustle and block some shots, but rebounding may not be his strongest assest in the west. We would need him to defend night in and night against the best forwards in the league and I don't think he can...........................Do we want to pay for Chris to be our starter?

I like the ideal of Reaf........if he gets waived

 

NIKE: Did you ever determine whether the salary payed to one of LuxTax waiver players by the acquiring team will combine to equal their current contract salary or will be a bonus on-top of their current contract salary? I understand that say, Raef's current 9.7mil would be paid by his current team, period. But, what are the orders on the new salary? Is there any Max that they can sign for and I believe they can only sign for the duration of their current contract, right. Can you answer any of these questions ????

 

You're probably right. However 6.9 boards in 27.5min is pretty respectable.

 

If LaFrenz is a luxury tax cut casualty, then the Rockets should pick him up and trade for Ricky Davis. This solves our SF and PF deficiencies at the same time, especially if we could talk Boston into adding Kendrick Perkins for added cap relief (Spoon?).

 

No offense intended thumbs but have you actually seen LaFrenz play? I got more than a good look at him when he was with the Mavs. To put it bluntly: HE'S TERRIBLE! The ONLY reason he has that outrageous contract is that Mark "Basketball Genius" Cuban gave it to him - like the $36 million he blew on Shawn Bradley. He's merely another version of Ryan Bowen. It they are stupid enough to actually sign this guy then the entire front office deserves to be terminated immediately! This is a classic example why stats should not be the determining factor in making player decisions.

 

I'd take Raef's contract if Pierce came along with it. Otherwise, I doubt that he will be cut. The Celts aren't currently in the luxury tax, and I think it's more likely that they rebuild around Green and Jefferson than start adding a bunch of salary.

 

You realize that he would sign with the minimum, right? He won't cut into our MLE at all. He's going to get paid the same amount no matter what -- there is no incentive for him to want more money than the minimum allowed.

 

krocket- As I said in another thread, until they NBPA puts out the new CBA text, we won't really know for sure. What seems certain is Raef is at least guaranteed whatever money is on his current contract. The question is whether this cut would function like a true "waiving" or like a buyout. If it's like a buyout, Raef/cut player gets everything from his current contract PLUS whatever's on his new deal. If it's like a true waive, he gets the value of his current contract, with some portion being paid by his new team (theoretically, the minimum) and the rest by his old team.

HillBoy- Please. Bowen isn't as big, doesn't shoot as well, doesn't block shots as well, and doesn't rebound as well. There's a reason Raef was taken 3rd overall and Bowen was taken 3rd to last. Everyone in the NBA thought/thinks his contract is ludicrous, but he's a solid player.