Sorry, no bandwagoner here. You could have answered like this: Talent for talent Denver got ripped. But they weren't going to be able to re-sign LaFrentz, Nick had declared war on the organization, and KiKi was left with Issel's salary cap hell in which he had no manuverability and could not trade with anybody because the contracts were to big. Enter Dallas who was the only team willing to allow Denver to dump their contracts. Denver has lowered their payroll and now has some manuverability with Howard's contract. Financialy, it wasn't stupid at all.
I don't want to rain on everyone's parade but Max for Rashard is an excess of $11m. There is no way in h*** the Rockets will pay Lewis this kind of money. It is about as likely as the Sonics taking on Glen Rice's contract (and there is not much chance of that happening). I'm not holding my breath on this one. Rashard at $7m-$8m would interest the Rocks. Not much more than that though.
Don't forget that Cuban took on Abdul Wahad at 6 yrs, $43 million. Basically Kiki Vandeweghe is starting from scratch. Don't expect McDyess to make it past next year's trade deadline either.
Like I said , Denver was stupid. I dont care how much manuverability they have now...do you really think that free agents are going to flock to Denver to play along side Zendon Hamilton and James Posey? If it was cap room they were trying to clear, then they should have not made any trades and let Lafrentz walk. Thats what Dice is gonna do unless they S&T him. And if they do a S&T, they will have to take salary back anyway. None of it makes sense and truthfully, its a little unfair for Denver (somewhere Nugzfan may actually be agreeing with me) but the truth of it is, that it was a stupid trade.
Exactly. Rashard has to start at $7 mil per year, no more. And that's being very generous. I speculated getting Jamal Crawford with the #15 and Drew obligation, sending Crawford home to eventually replace Payton, and adding Mo T, if they still want the guy. Crawford happy, Rashard happy, Rox (if they keep the contract for Rashard "reasonable") happy. Of course such trades get tricky, but the Sonics do need some size, and basically can replace Rashard with Radmanovic.
Giving up Rice and MoT frees up a lot of cash, but I don't think R. Lewis is worth the max, but I think he would fit well with the Rockets. Give up Cato if anything, huge guy getting paid for nothing.
Rashard wants to come to Houston - where he wants to go and how much he will force the sonics to pay him gives Rashard some leverage. He's does'nt have the power to make it happen but right now a move is at least possible.
Despite how great it would be to have Rashard on the Rockets, they cannot afford to pay him anywhere near the max. With Stevie coming up next season to get the max, and the possibilities of Griffin and Yao Ming getting big money in the future, if not the max, that is just too many big contracts. Oh, and don't forget about Cuttino when his contract ends, I'm sure he won't come cheap. You just can't pay all 5 starters huge money like that. So, it's either get Rashard somewhat cheap and somehwhat long-term, or don't get him at all.
I think if the Rockets renounce Willis and Williams they'll be under the cap and they'll be able to give Lewis $11-12M in a S&T where they send Cato or Mo. However, if I am the Sonics I would first try to get Keon Clark, and if that doesnt work, I'll just call Lewis's bluff and sign jerome James for 3M/y, rather than take on Cato or MoTaylor. Then you still have the option to sign Lewis for 7M if he can't find a max deal out there.
Hey man this is between Seattle and us you stay out of it. You could always go back to the Dallas BBS.
All the imperfections of this site must be overwhelming for you, trolling around isn't any fun that way, is it? Doesn't ESPN make fan boards for every team?
Kayman, I think you're right about Seattle. I don't think anyone out there will offer Rashard the max (then again, maybe so, but not the Rox, I hope.) If Rashard's agent can't find a better deal out there, I don't see why he wouldn't sign with Seattle. I'm not holding my breath about the Rocks acquiring Lewis. But there's no question in my mind that he could be the difference in our making the playoffs next year with his outside shooting. Yao/Cato Mo T/Griffin/KT Rashard/TMo Cuttino/Oscar Stevie (migraine free)/Mooch That's a fun roster to think about. Without serious injuries, I bet that team could pull down the 6th seed next year, even anticipating Yao needing time to adjust and the starters (particularly the frontcourt) getting used to each other.
I've been there and the fans aren't that knowledgable. Besides, I had heard that this site was open to all fans of the NBA. I guess I might have heard wrong huh?
I didn't think teams could do reciprocal sign and trades, especially with the base year issues that will come into play involving Rashard and Keon Clark. Maybe if there were in fact two trades, with Seattle dumping Baker, and Toronto dumping some salaries, etc., it might meet the CBA? Paging Aelliot, help us out.
It has nothing to do with reading minds. It has to do with the fact the the Rockets have $46m in committed contracts next summer before they Max out Francis which will put them at around $51m. If they don't pick up the option on Collier and don't get into a bidding war on KT they drop to $49m. The Luxury Tax is presummed to Be $54m. The only way the Rockets can approach Maxing Lewis is if they send Rice out. Not likely. I don't really give a flip what you're thinking, but I'm thinking you out to go back to whatever playground you escaped from. Or did you get bannished from there because you don't interact well with others? Seems you have the same problem here.
Actually Rashard DOES have the power to make it happen if he opts out in Seattle and takes the MCE with the Rockets. Also: 1. What does Rashard think he's done to deserve the max? 2. What has Rashard done to make some of the posters HERE think he deserves the max? I like the guy,too and I think he'd fit in great but his value is much closer to the MCE than the max! It'd be great to have him but c'mon guys.......the max!?!?!? Get real. Maybe someday he will deserve max money but shouldn't he earn it first,or at least show that he's definitely going to reach that level like Steve has?
