Maybe to get Swift the Rockets need to look into getting a 3rd team involved in the S&T where the Grizz offload players and dont have to take back salary? This has happened before a few years ago with Spurs, Kings, Pacers in the Brad Miller trade which had the Spurs (under the cap) take on Hedo to make the deal work. Anyone want to propose a 3 team Houston/Memphis deal that gets the Rockets Swift, unloads contracts from Memphis and players go to the 3rd under the cap team that benefits them? New Orleans might be the best bet as the 3rd team as Atlanta might seems more interested in their cap room in targeting Joe Johnson and Eddy Curry.
^ Can you fill me in on the rest of the details of that trade? As far as it saying the Grizz don't want to take back salary, does that mean they only want picks and maybe trade exemptions? Wouldn't the Grizz have to take back an equal amount of salary they give out? Or does it mean they basically want expiring contracts?
I dont remember the entire trade but the Kings got Brad Miller, and the Pacers took back Scot Pollard and I think someone else? I think the Pacers got Danny Ferry from San Antonio (then cut him) and SA got Hedo? Something along those lines. The Grizz doesnt have to take back salary if they can find a team that is under the cap and just "absorb" a contract. That's what San Antonio did. Rockets get Swift, and the Grizz dump a player onto an under the cap team and dont have to take salary back. EDIT: The Spurs also got Ron Mercer. I looked up the trade http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/stein_marc/1584734.html
You're exactly right. Unfortunately, the teams with cap space this season were Cleveland, LA Clips, and Atlanta. Atlanta is focused in on Joe Johnson, and they probably wouldn't be interested in a Cardinal, Wells, or Posey. The Clips never want to take back salary, and Cleveland just threw a boatload at Larry Hughes.
New Orleans has cap space. They haven't used much either. Just re-signing Andersen & Boki. But they are in our division.
I think that NO is having some financial issues, and I am thinking they are going to pull and Charloette and avoid taking on a lot of salary needlessly (otherwise, why trade Baron Davis for Claxton and a box of pixy stix)
The Clips currently have only 5 players signed and they have a very thin bench. I could see them possibly agreeing to take on the salaries of Sura and James. That would give the Clips some depth for cheap. Memphis could get a future 1st rounder from the Clippers and a 1st rounder from the Rockets, while taking back no salaries. The Rockets could get Swift resigned at $7 mil.
The Clippers wouldnt give up a 1st rounder in the scenario (although we would probably give our 2006 1st rounder to the Grizz). The Clippers would just receive talent. That's what happened when the Spurs got Mercer/Hedo. They just absorbed talent, and talent that was in the last year of their deals which allowed them financial flexibility and at the same time adding talent to the team.
I agree that NO is probably not going to offer big dollars to a FA. That's why I think they are not in the Swift race. N.O. would like to get a SF though. I am sure they are looking at modestly priced SFs throughout the league. They probably are looking at Radman but he is restricted.
I think the only way the grizz do a sign and trade is if someone takes one of those long term contracts. People talk about Max contracts, but if you have a bunch of 7 mill guys, its the same thing.
Atlanta has about 25 million in cap space, I believe. To get JJ, that's about 11 to start. Curry might cost them a starting salary of 7 per, just because he's a center. IF that leaves 7 million (did they sign their draft picks yet?), they might be able to take Jason Williams. Beggars can't be choosers. They need a point guard, not to mention long-term contracts. No one really wants to play for Atlanta (JJ, I guess, 'cause he wants to be The Man). Maybe expiring contracts and draft picks to Memphis for Swift and Posey, Williams to Atlanta, Atlanta sends us a future pick? Something like that.
The trade would look something like this: Memphis trades Stromile to Houston Houston trades David Wesley and filler to TEAM C TEAM C trades nothing Houston gets Swift Memphis gets trade exception TEAM C gets serviceable talent on expiring contracts
It would be a coup if we could get Swift with no baggage. Why in the hell would Memphis ever agree to something like this unless they unload a contract or get a pick. Rockets would need to trade two picks, 1 to each team to do this.
Yeah, I agree. To be fair, Memphis has to get something back other than a T.E.. Maybe Memphis gets a Houston 1st rounder and we give the rights to either Badiane or Spanoulis to team "C". Something like that.
Hey <b>MemphisX</b>, are you and Jerry West setting us up on this Swfit deal? What's the real story with Swift? Are we being suckered?
I don't know. Left to my own devices, I don't see Swift as the end all. A lot of potential that has not developed in the last five years under three different coaches. Seems like a problem to me. On the other hand, I am a huge JVG fan and trust him explicitly. If he thinks Swift is the right choice, (and we hear he does), then I want Swift as if my very life depended on it. Trying to put those two satements together, I don't feel real comfortable with a large ofrlong contract. A sign and trade means we are paying more than the MLE. Swift for the MLE I like. Much more and I'd go to plan B.
Well, I don't think Swift is ever going to be a superstar although if given 30+ minutes a night he will have long stretches(10 or more games) in which he will look like a star. He will fit well in Houston (and New Jersey) IMO where expectations will be low and he won't be counted on to score. I think he is looking forward to playing a significant role as a PF. I predict 14 pts, 9-10 boards, 2 blocks and 1+ steals a game in Houston. I think Juwan, Stro and Yao would be good enough to compete for a title as a power rotation. I think Jerry West has a lot of work to do this summer to get Memphis out of this hole we are in (mediocrity), so getting a 1st round pick or that Euro PG prospect you guys have the rights to might get it done. Good luck this offseason....D(deal)-Day is coming July 22nd.
MemphisX, Is it true that Heisley is broke? If so, wouldn't a straight salary dump best, picking up expirings and picks, and tanking this season to get a lottery pick, along with maybe trading some of those expirings for a talent to put around Pao?
