In his press conference, Morey said that the Rockets plan to bring both of them back. It was the sensible thing to say, if for nothing else to dissuade other teams from putting in their bid summer. Exclude Scola, Lowry, Hayes, and any other signings this summer, the Rockets will have about 58 million in salary on the books. Les has said he'd be willing to pay tax next year, and I'm guessing the tax line is around 65-68 million? It seems likely that just to resign them the Rockets will have to go over this tax line. But by how much?
I'm hoping we can get Luis for MLE money (not the MLE itself, of course), and Lowry for a contract similar to Landry's. That would be at or under $10 million a year to begin with for both. If so, that's a huge win for the Rockets. We should be so lucky.
So about 9 million? That would be awesome. With Les willing to go into luxury tax, that may give Morey enough wiggle room to use the MLE.
Feigen is guessing 6-8 million at this stage, but he stresses its just a guess. I can't imagine it would be that low.
I would guess that the reason Morey made it abundantly clear that he would resign both of them at any cost is to take advantage of the fact that they are both restricted free agents. If other teams know Morey will match all and that Les will spend "any amount" , they might not make the offer to Scola or Lowry.
What are options? Is Llull out of question next season anyone know? He's going to be productive in the same sence as Lowry. You need toughness and getting to the line and defense? Throw in Lowry. You need ball movement, better shooting and decision making? Throw in Llull. Both Lowry and Llull can pressure the ball and on the floor together which is compatible as a back-up back court. Llull is very efficient who is one of the leaders in assist to turnover ratio i believe. I think you really need both of them. As for new contracts i dont dont have a clue on what they'll demand Scola and Lowry, but they sure would help the team next season for sure.
I think either one could be part of a sign and trade, if the Rockets look to sign them both, I think it would be something like: Scola 6 million Lowry 3 million I don't think in a declining economy being a restricted free agent is going to be good for either one of them. Their hands will be tied, and Morey is a brutal negotiator, see Landry..... But to me, the only way they get bigger money is if they are valued more by another team and they overpay trying to pry them away......or they are signed and traded for someone like Bosh. DD
Other teams might up the ante on their offers if they think the Rockets are worried about LT. Do they need to salary dump? Battier + Rockets own 1stR 2012 pick + Jeffries FOR Prince + Summers (non-guaranteed) Above scenario would add a playmaking 3 and reduce payroll for the Rockets.
Follow the $$$$ tree What a great job this year by DM, and it seems that Les is going to go into the Lux tax area for next year's team. All looks great, and much respect for that, but if you look a little bit deeper, you can kind of see where they still follow the $$$ tree. Carl Landry was traded, he was a good player for us and getting better, but he had one more year of decent money and then would be an UNRESTRICTED free agent.....a dangerous situation if you are trying to control costs, or assets. Another team could simply sign him and the Rockets would get nothing for him, that is why I believe they were a little more willing to trade him this season. Also, while we are now under the lux tax line for this year if you look at our team it may be the Rockets most profitable year as a franchise ever. Yao's salary is being paid by insurance, A portion of Tmac's was too, so Les netted a ton of money this year simply by having his top two players out and covered by insurance... This will allow them to absorb a lux tax hit next year, stockpile cash this season and pay a one time fee next year for about an even balance sheet going forward. So while I applaud Les for going into the lux tax next year, it is not as good as DM makes it out to be, because this year.... a year of growth, the team is making BANK !!!!! And watch this offseason with Lowry and Scola, they are restricted, I doubt they get paid all that well unless in a sign and trade or another team really wants them. Smart business overall, but still....business, IMO, so don't fall for the Les is willing to spend stuff....sure he is...but it is deeper than that...imo. DD
it's not how much we give them. it's how much other teams will offer, especially, in scola case. i believe kyle is a restricted free agent so we can match w/o losing him as long as we want. am i wrong about scola's free agency? he is not a restricted free agent, isn't he? in this case, the only advantage we have is we can sign him w/o cap restriction. i am worry about the bidding war on scola. he has been praised very often in the media since he got into nba with rox. he definitely will draw interests from many teams. in this sense, resigning him might be expensive. i won't be surprised if he gets ~8 mil. plus kyle, we may very well spend 11 to 12 mil to resign both of them.
Agree with the last bit. Scola and/or Lowry will only get a major bump up from the guess of $9 million or so if one of the teams figuring to be big players this summer in the free agent market takes a bath on the major stars, IMO. It's possible that one or both could get a larger offer from one of those disappointed teams, although the league finances point to that being unlikely. Unlikely, but not impossible. The sign and trade possibility is certainly there, which would mean a big win for the Rocks, if it's Bosh, and that windfall for Scola and maybe Lowry. Both, filler, and picks for Bosh. We have the players, the filler, and the picks. I don't think it is impossible that Morey might pull something like that off. Scola would be very popular in Toronto, IMO. Lowry is a hell of a player that almost any team could use, if they have the money and the need. Then we buy out Llull and bring him over.
I think it is quite likely that at least two guys from our current 9-man rotation, which includes Lowry and Scola, will be gone in a sign and trade for a big fish this summer.
Deck, I know you like Llull a lot. It is possible that they trade Brooks or Lowry in a package for a star player and bring Llull over as the backup PG.
Yeah, I added that after I made my post and before seeing this one. I think it's a real possibility, at least hope so. I'd rather keep Brooks in that scenario, however, because I think the two would be a nice combo in the backcourt when Martin sits.
