Redd just tore both his ACL and MCL. This is after he missed the start of the season due to a separate injury. Even pre-injury there would be questions about how he fits in defenisvely. He'd provide nice firepower, but I wouldn't take a chance on him staying healthy at max salary.
The Rox will have to resign Artest first, then you trade him after the resign if he does not want to be here. With the current recession, I do not think many teams will spend lots of money on Artest. After that, you try to trade TMac if someone wants to him.
Come on who is our GM? You think he would do a dumb move like that for nothing? I don't think so and if he does then it will be a good reason why and we may all be shocked just like we were with the alston trade
Looks like we have some top players to choose from. I don't know how accurate this is but I would def. opt to go for Joe Johnson if he really is available. Free Agents Player Team Type Speedy Claxton Atlanta Unrestricted F.A. Joe Johnson Atlanta Unrestricted F.A. Randolph Morris Atlanta Unrestricted F.A. Ray Allen Boston Unrestricted F.A. Tony Allen Boston Unrestricted F.A. Eddie House Boston Unrestricted F.A. Gabe Pruitt Boston Restricted F.A. Rajon Rondo Boston Restricted F.A. Brian Scalabrine Boston Unrestricted F.A. Raja Bell Charlotte Unrestricted F.A. Sean Singletary Charlotte Restricted F.A. Jerome James Chicago Unrestricted F.A. Brad Miller Chicago Unrestricted F.A. Anthony Roberson Chicago Unrestricted F.A. Tim Thomas Chicago Unrestricted F.A. Tyrus Thomas Chicago Restricted F.A. Zydrunas Ilgauskas Cleveland Unrestricted F.A. Tarence Kinsey Cleveland Unrestricted F.A. Aleksandar Pavlovic Cleveland Unrestricted F.A. Anderson Varejao Cleveland Unrestricted F.A. Ben Wallace Cleveland Unrestricted F.A. Devean George Dallas Unrestricted F.A. Jerry Stackhouse Dallas Unrestricted F.A. Shawne Williams Dallas Restricted F.A. Antoine Wright Dallas Unrestricted F.A. Renaldo Balkman Denver Restricted F.A. Steven Hunter Denver Unrestricted F.A. Kwame Brown Detroit Unrestricted F.A. Will Bynum Detroit Restricted F.A. Amir Johnson Detroit Unrestricted F.A. Walter Sharpe Detroit Restricted F.A. Jermareo Davidson Golden State Restricted F.A. Anthony Morrow Golden State Restricted F.A. Brent Barry Houston Unrestricted F.A. Brian Cook Houston Unrestricted F.A. Kyle Lowry Houston Restricted F.A. Tracy McGrady Houston Unrestricted F.A. Luis Scola Houston Restricted F.A. Marquis Daniels Indiana Unrestricted F.A. Travis Diener Indiana Unrestricted F.A. Alex Acker L.A. Clippers Restricted F.A. Marcus Camby L.A. Clippers Unrestricted F.A. Mardy Collins L.A. Clippers Restricted F.A. Ricky Davis L.A. Clippers Unrestricted F.A. Brian Skinner L.A. Clippers Unrestricted F.A. Jordan Farmar L.A. Lakers Restricted F.A. Derek Fisher L.A. Lakers Unrestricted F.A. DJ Mbenga L.A. Lakers Unrestricted F.A. Adam Morrison L.A. Lakers Restricted F.A. Josh Powell L.A. Lakers Unrestricted F.A. Sun Yue L.A. Lakers Restricted F.A. Rudy Gay Memphis Restricted F.A. Darko Milicic Memphis Unrestricted F.A. Mark Blount Miami Unrestricted F.A. Yakhouba Diawara Miami Unrestricted F.A. Udonis Haslem Miami Unrestricted F.A. Jermaine O'Neal Miami Unrestricted F.A. Chris Quinn Miami Unrestricted F.A. Dorell Wright Miami Unrestricted F.A. Malik Allen Milwaukee Unrestricted F.A. Francisco Elson Milwaukee Unrestricted F.A. Luke Ridnour Milwaukee Unrestricted F.A. Bobby Brown Minnesota Restricted F.A. Brian Cardinal Minnesota Unrestricted F.A. Randy Foye Minnesota Restricted F.A. Mark Madsen Minnesota Unrestricted F.A. Mike Miller Minnesota Unrestricted F.A. Craig Smith Minnesota Unrestricted F.A. Josh Boone New Jersey Restricted F.A. Trenton Hassell New Jersey Unrestricted F.A. Jarvis Hayes New Jersey Unrestricted F.A. Bobby Simmons New Jersey Unrestricted F.A. Hilton Armstrong New Orleans Restricted F.A. Devin Brown New Orleans Unrestricted F.A. Rasual Butler New Orleans Unrestricted F.A. Antonio Daniels New Orleans Unrestricted F.A. Chris Duhon New York Unrestricted F.A. Al Harrington New York Unrestricted F.A. Larry Hughes New York Unrestricted F.A. Quentin Richardson New York Unrestricted F.A. Chucky Atkins Oklahoma City Unrestricted F.A. Thabo Sefolosha Oklahoma City Restricted F.A. Earl Watson Oklahoma City Unrestricted F.A. Damien Wilkins Oklahoma City Unrestricted F.A. Rafer Alston Orlando Unrestricted F.A. Tony Battie Orlando Unrestricted F.A. Anthony Johnson Orlando Unrestricted F.A. J.J. Redick Orlando Restricted F.A. Hedo Turkoglu Orlando Unrestricted F.A. Royal Ivey Philadelphia Unrestricted F.A. Louis Amundson Phoenix Unrestricted F.A. Steve Nash Phoenix Unrestricted F.A. Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix Unrestricted F.A. LaMarcus Aldridge Portland Restricted F.A. Steve Blake Portland Unrestricted F.A. Travis Outlaw Portland Unrestricted F.A. Sergio Rodriguez Portland Restricted F.A. Brandon Roy Portland Restricted F.A. Kenny Thomas Sacramento Unrestricted F.A. Matt Bonner San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Bruce Bowen San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Michael Finley San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Manu Ginobili San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Malik Hairston San Antonio Restricted F.A. Roger Mason San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Fabricio Oberto San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Kurt Thomas San Antonio Unrestricted F.A. Andrea Bargnani Toronto Restricted F.A. Nathan Jawai Toronto Restricted F.A. Patrick O'Bryant Toronto Unrestricted F.A. Carlos Boozer Utah Unrestricted F.A. Ronnie Brewer Utah Restricted F.A. Kyrylo Fesenko Utah Restricted F.A. Matt Harpring Utah Unrestricted F.A. Kyle Korver Utah Unrestricted F.A. Mehmet Okur Utah Unrestricted F.A. Brendan Haywood Washington Unrestricted F.A. Mike James Washington Unrestricted F.A. Dominic McGuire Washington Restricted F.A. Etan Thomas Washington Unrestricted F.A. http://www.realgm.com/src_freeagents/2009/
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/...undup-090218&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines Rockets payroll will be around $63.54M. That's around $5.86M under LT with only 11 players signed. IMO McGrady needs to be healthy in 4 to 6 months for the Rockets to have a good chance to trade him. Pistons could have the salary space to absorb his contract and if lucky might look at him to replace the failure that was/is the AI move they made this season. Otherwise the Rockets are stuck with the same roster. I don't hold the opinion that Tracy's expiring contract will be for a pot of gold as everyone else is making it out to be. Teams will be looking to dump the Radmanovics, Nazrs, Diops, etc... If Artest wants $10-12M that's going to be a really hard decision for the Rockets.
Is Devin Harris a restricted FA next year if not we should def. make a run for him. I suspect he is. Or maybe Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, Ben Gordon (without the max contract), Rasheed Wallace, Mike Bibby, maybe Hedo Turkoglu, J.R. Smith, and maybe Carlos Boozer... I would kinda hate to see his ugly mugg in a Rox Jersey.
Sure I do. He is the guy that got Artest for a bag of peanuts. He is also the guy who hasn't address a need for a back up center . A guy who basically looks at stats to decide whats best for the team when stats are really over-rated. The man who signed Steve Francis to make fans happy. Then traded him to his original team along with a very high second round draft pick. Why did he do that?? To get under the luxury tax. Ok I can't be mad at him for that. But then he signs a really really old guy in Mutombo( who i love as a player) who basically doesn't fit this system. So I honestly think he would do something dumb and trade McGrady and his contract away. Another thing that saves the Rockets from trading him away is that he is having surgery. But then again I don't think a team will care because they know they'll be renting him for 2 months. Depending on when they trade him. Or if they do.
Its not that hard to me actually. Resign Ron for 4 yrs 10m per. I would target Deng with McGrady's contract because they want to get in the 2010 sweepstakes. I'm moving shane for either a te or I will look to gsw and ask for azubuike and turiaf. If the gsw deal falls through, I would sign birdman for 2.5m of the mle or get the ptro guy.
I don't think it will necessarily be a pot of gold either. It is a lot of money that is going to be hard for other teams to match without throwing a lot of players we probably don't want in. Morey can sift through the offers, but even if he doesn't like them and waits until the contract expires, there is no guarantee we can land a top free agent. So without trading him this summer, can we fill our holes at backup center and SG with the money we have? Wafer is a fine player that I expect the Rockets to keep, but I don't expect him to fill the shoes of both McGrady and Artest.
As mentioned, Bird rights do not circumvent the lux tax. It will be TOUGH moving McGrady this summer, and probably even next February. Usually, saving long term money or setting things up for 2010 are the goals, but the economic pinch is bad enough right now that teams aren't touching corpse contracts like Raef LaFrentz. Getting the big contract off the books would be nice, but they don't want to add it to the payroll even for a couple of months. Look at the Hornets, where Shinn is going to dismantle a potential contender because they're in the red despite having the 8th lowest payroll in the league. Memphis is losing money and they have THE lowest payroll in the league. Attendance is down and if the luxury tax lowers below $70M, half the teams today would be above it (only 5 teams above this year's). There'll be a scramble to lower 09/10 payroll numbers, and McGrady's $23M makes it almost impossible to stay under it. Our silver lining? As long as McGrady is out, 80% of his salary is picked up. That's potentially as much as $18M, which would make up for a fair amount of luxury tax. If he's out until late December (22 games), that *should* balance out $5M in luxury tax. But again, I foresee almost all teams cinching up their payroll belts for next year. Evan
Stupid question then, why doesn't the NBA hold an emergency owners meeting and agree to rescind the luxury tax for now? If the top teams are still bleeding money, why not have the league be a little more flexible? Would Stern really reject it? Would other owners veto it? I'm not sure how it all works, but if all the owners are pissed off, can't something be done?
Id Adelman just refuses to give Deke any reasonable minutes, I think it's wasted $$$. If you want him for 'coaching', hire him as an assistant to the big-men coach. I still cant figure out what Adelman plans to DO with Deke.
I don't understand how you can penalize teams that were being fiscally responsible by not going over the cap before by dropping the threshold. Many players are signed to multi-year contracts. How would you like to be a team that just signed a free agent to a max contract last year that put you right up against the LT threshold only to find out the number has now dropped? That contract's worth increases by about 10% each year. I don't see how the league can justify this. Will the value of max contacts signed this offseason reflect the new scaled back salary limit?
'Um why do it? Yao is playing well, and our small roster is actually pretty effective. Plus, Deke is an offense vacuum. By playing Deke you're basically admitting offense is 4 on 5. Deke doesn't even really grab offensive boards... Deke is a mature emotional leader, he'll be great for the off season, not now...
Very true, but, my question to you, would you be ok if next year there were 26 teams next season? All I'm saying is that while the league is composed of a bunch of competing brands, the NBA as a whole needs to understand it's an entity as well. If it waters itself down who knows what could happen. I agree, handing max contracts isn't smart, teams like NY are stupid, but at the same token no one could have predicted this economic crisis. Plus, as a brand, wouldn't you be pissed off if teams like LA and Boston dominated because other teams were so scared of dipping into the luxury tax that they didn't resign crucial players? The whole point of the luxury and the cap is to even the playing field, but right now it doesn't seem to be doing its job... just an opinion, but I'm probably wrong...
Because the luxury tax is the NBA's revenue sharing model. Major revenue teams (Knicks, Lakers) and Who Cares Deep Pockets (Cuban, Allen) pay the tax which is redistributed amongst all teams. Stay below the tax, and it's like a payroll rebate. It used to be that only teams below the tax divvied up the tax. The league changed that recently (all teams share, even the payers) which I don't agree with as it takes away from the have-nots. This year the teams will be receiving a little more than $2M each. I actually like the system, because teams were going insane putting themselves in the red without it. It also helps make sure we don't see Yankees-style ridculousness in the NBA. If anything, I'd move to a tiered system. Say the Cap next year is $55M and the Tax line is $70: Below the tax (only): share the tax payouts Above the tax, within 5% (73.5M): no tax, but do not share in payouts Above tax, between 5 - 20% (84M): pay dollar-for-dollar for amount above tax line Above 20% of tax (84M): pay double the amount above tax line.
Maybe a complete dismissal of the tax is a bit much, but alls I'm saying is that the system was designed for an NBA in an America that isn't having hard times, maybe some massaging is necessary....
