No. I think we are better players in that senario with today's activities. The 6ers didn't want Trevor's contract, they want now and have always wanted Battier in the mix. But we don't have to do that if we don't want. We also are in a good position to deal for Granger. So, we are, and will be 'players' at the table. And we still have the best hand.
I'm guessing that deal may still happen, of course subbing Battier for Ariza. I don't think the 76rs ever wanted Trevor & his contract. They always wanted Shane. So how would you feel about going from Ariza/Battier/Budinger to Iggy/Budinger? One thing's for sure. Not having Ariza's contract makes it easier to take on Iggy's. And Morey has said they would be willing to pay the tax 'for the right player.'
The Rockets are $1,352,640 over the tax. I would guess their next move/s will involve taking back less salary for this season.
You could be right. But I think we are still willing to pay the tax for the right player, just now paying less. Morey has this team positioned to be prime trading partners. We have the best hand, better than all NBA teams. Great assets, young players, expiring contracts, draft picks. And Bank Alexander is willing to spend 'for the right player.' I believe them when they say 'we're all in this year.' Just wait for that next SF trade for Iggy or Granger. And we may still have that 6.3 Mil TE to use for a year. It's like insurance to tweek the roster if it needs it. Or what if there is an injury in season? With the TE we won' have to make the trade that Orl made a year & 1/2 ago. That's Flexibility.
IMO Granger is untouchable. The Collison trade makes him more so. Bird will ride out the year with Granger no matter what happens. I wouldn't bet on the Rockets using that $6.3M TE this season. Still it could be useful next off-season. Iggy, a trade involving Battier and Jeffries gets the Rockets under the tax. As is it puts the 76ers over the tax by $42,497. So a third team would need to be involved as the Sixers aren't going there in terms of tax. Trade sweeteners would have to be the Knick's picks and the Rockets own pick/s but I think that's too much for Iggy.
I think this was a set up for a trade between Bird and Morey. Granger for Jeffries Hill Tylor & A first round pick It just seems too logical to me that Morey would let Indy walk away as the clear winners in the Lee trade without something else in his pocket.
Yea, so. Better than Iggy's or Melo's deal. He is also a more well rounded player than both...yes, I said it! Melo is a scorer first. We have scorers. Granger has that and all the other attributes for a contributor.
Looking over the player salaries...If the Rockets are salary dumping but also looking for a better player in return. Some kind of combination of Jeffries, Hayes, Hill, or Taylor could bring about these options: Stephen Jakson Marvin Williams Charlie V Nick Collison
superstar for an expiring scrub, raw soph, ....Taylor..., and a pick. Where does indy benefit......at all?
Denver Receives: Shane Battier Kevin Martin Jermaine Taylor Knicks Pick Houston Receives: Carmelo Anthony Aaron Afflalo Rotation would look like.... Brooks/ Lowry Lee/ Afflalo Anthony/ Budinger Scola/ Hill/ Patterson Yao/ Miller/ Hayes Contenders right there
Time to go all-in Melo + Andersen for Jeffries + Martin + Hill + Taylor + NY picks Yao/Miller/Hayes Scola/Andersen/Patterson Melo/Chase Battier/Lee Brooks/Lowry
Les Alexander regains the trust of Clutchfans posters: Rockets trades Battier, Hill, NYK's 2012 pick, TPE for Iguodala, Gortat Philadelphia trades Iguodala, Jason Smith for Battier, Hill, NYK's 2012 pick Orlando trades Gortat for TPE, Jason Smith Brooks/Lowry Martin/Lee/Taylor Iguodala/Budinger/Jeffries Scola/Patterson/Hayes Yao/Gortat/Miller
Jennings, Dooling, Hobson (unsigned) Salmons, CDR, Redd (out several months) Delfino, Maggette (Starting PF?): Mbah a Moute, Ilyasova, Sanders (15th pick) Bogut, Gooden, Brockman, Gallon (unsigned) *Mbah a Moute started every game after Dec last season, 5th in minutes played, best defender on team? *Ilyasova came off bench, 4th in minutes played Hill for→ Ilyasova + 1st Round Pick Taylor for→ (to Chi) 2nd round pick + cash Jennings, Dooling, Hobson (unsigned) Salmons, CDR, Redd (out several months) Delfino, Maggette Mbah a Moute, Hill or Sanders (15th pick) Bogut, Gooden, Brockman, Gallon (unsigned) Brooks, Lowry Martin, Lee Battier, Ilyasova/Budinger Scola, Patterson/Hayes/(Ilyasova) Miller, Yao Trade deadline: ??? + NY picks + Buck's pick + HOU pick for→ ???
JJ + Jhill + NY Pick for Josh Smith. The trade works out and i think we would be contenders with this line up. AB/Lowry Martin/Lee/Taylor Battier/Bud Smith/Scola/PP Yao/Miller We get another shot blocker Atlanta does this because JJ is expiring, Hill is young and the pick. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2674322
It would be a two-step move, first Orlando would send Gortat to Houston for their recent 6.3 million TE, then Philadelphia would send Jason Smith to Orlando for $2.2 million of the newly generated TPE.
