With all the speculation going on about trades and acquisitions, is it safe to say that the Rockets will wait until after the draft to really start making free agent moves? By NBA rules, can the Rockets sign free agents before the draft. What exactly are the rules anyway? ------------------
August 1st is first day for signing free agents. Trades made on draft day must therefore be signed players (not free agents). Draft day trades are apparently consummated on Aug 1st to reflect salary raises for the upcoming season. What we can't seem to answer is: Can you swap picks before the ping-pong balls come outta the machine? What is that deadline? Can they include players? How does that effect playoff teams? Based on the fact no trades occured until draft day last year, my instincts lean towards, you can't make any trades during the playoffs, even just pick swaps that don't involve players.
That's what I thought heypartner, but didn't the Webber-Richmond trade happen in May/June of 1998? ------------------ Get your proper swirve on...visit www.swirve.com (coming in mid-June, for now visit www.eesite.com)
I think you can trade by wink, but officially not till Aug 1. ------------------ "You've got 6 fouls, use them well" -Derrick Coleman
I looked it up, the Richmond/Webber deal was May 14th, 1998, but that was under the old CBA so things could be different now. ------------------
Thanks HP, The draft is in June correct? So what about the five or six weeks until Aug 1st? Can anything happen in that time frame? As in, are teams allowed to talk to free agents before Aug 1st? ------------------
No. In fact, they have a name for it: the "July Moratorium". Possibly, you can talk to restricted free agents. But, does it really matter, you can't sign them until Aug. 1st.
What happened when the Rockets traded down to get Othella? We got him in the second round and we did so by trading our late first round pick for a second round pick (meaning we could pay the player less). If that's the case, I take it (at least under the old CBA) that teams could trade picks. What this has to do with the current situation, I have no idea. ------------------
Traj, My confusion about trading picks lies in the fact the trading deadline is in February. Clearly, trading picks is allowed before then. Once the season is over, picks have known semi-guaranteed lottery spot values. Once the machine spits out the three balls, they have fully guaranteed value. My question: can you trade before the machine spits out the balls. IMHG (in my humble guess), you can't.
Two things, the year the Richmond-Webber deal went down, the rule was that once a team is eliminated from the playoffs, it can begin trading. This would also apply to teams like Sacramento that did not make the playoffs. Not sure if this rule is still the same, but thats what it used to be. Also, I remember reading earlier this season that the July moratorium will be slightly different this summer. Before it used to be that no discussion or meetings with FAs at all could occur. Apparently this summer they are allowing teams to discuss player moves and contracts during that period but official signings cannot occur till August 1. Not sure about the trading of picks before May 21, but my guess would also be no. There have been pick trades that have been completed before the actual draft. For instance, the Hawks officially dealt Mookie Blaylock and the 21st pick to Golden State for Bimbo Coles and the 10th pick about a week or so before last summer's draft. Apparently then, if the deal matches on the cap, it can be done at of before draft time. However, the Pacers-Raptors Bender deal apparently had to wait b/c the Raptors had to clear cap space to fit Davis and that could not happen till after August 1. Thus, the Rockets could physically make a deal days before the draft swapping picks if the numbers balance. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
MManal, please clarify once more your take: we can swap picks only AFTER the pick positions are known (May 21st)...correct? So, if Orlando gets a #1, all bets are probably off trading with them. They'd be foolish not taking Martin.
Actually you COULD swap before the drawing but that's kind of risky as what happens if your pick that you just traded gets the #1 pick. That's why teams don't usually swap picks before drawings. About Martin being obvious #1, it depends on order. Cuz if Orlando gets first pick and chicago get second, I'm sure Orlando will threaten the Bulls with Mihm. Martin is damn good, but if the deal is sweet enough, they'll bite. ------------------ Now that the NBA season is over, check out the premiere source for draft info. Draftsource.net
If the Bulls get the #1, they should take Martin. Then they can trade that Brand guy, for an NBA center less risky that Mihm.
Is Martin really better than Brand? or is it that they're about equal, but Brand has proven stock, and thus he can be traded for a big-name player? Who's running point for the Bulls? I know they have Artest at the 2. About that LAC trade possiblity.. I'd LOVE to have Odom on this squad next to cat, and Steve. I forget who mentioned something about him pushing Cat outta the way; Odom will fit the 3 spot, and Cat will still come off the bench, and run ISO. OF course, I forget to mention that that LAC trade would NEVER occur, b/c other than Stevie, I don't think we have anyone on our squad who the clippers would deal for...short of giving up cuttino and walt. or Shandon&walt. ------------------
heypartner, What current NBA center would be a fair exchange for E Brand? Riley would laugh and hang up if Chicago called about 'Zo. Chicago would expect a better than average center, but who fits that profile? Mango ------------------ Arch Stanton lives! Donate Blood!
Heypartner, This thing about trading before the ping pong balls bounce is a gray area. I am not exactly sure if you actually can or cannot. Teams trade unprotected first round picks during the season, but I am not sure if there is any restriction to trading the lottery picks in between the end of the season and May 21. Based on past practice, for as long as I can remember it has not been done as it is very risky as Rocketsfan pointed out. By trading for a pick that could vary, teams are just unsure about what they are getting in return. Lets suppose the Rockets dealt their pick along with whatever it took for Orlando's pick, and the Rockets pick ended up jumping from 9 to 3. It would be a major blunder, thats why teams wait till after the ball bounce. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
i'm being obnoxious about Martin being longterm better than Brand, but my main point on this weird Imac that i can't type on correctlym, is to say that don't take Mihm if you have the opportunity to select Martin. foolish.... draft picks can be traded, and ROY of can, too. why take Mihm prematurely in the 1 or 2 spot,,,,that is fooooooooolish. like taking bibby before carter.
I have read many posts related to the trades, CBA, etc.... for the past week and certainly know less than my esteemed friend aelliott and others. My Impression I have always felt that these were the parameters that the teams followed and/or the CBA dicated: 1. Trades of lottery-bound picks are withheld for all of the reasons everyone states. No team will risk trading away a position if they do not know that position. They wait until the balls drop. Agreements however are allowed or tolerated that are "wink-winked" with ifs-ands-buts attached. 2. Teams have effectively ended their playing season by attrition when they no longer can play. That is, they missed the playoffs, or have been ousted in the playoffs. 3. Any team that is not playing in the playoffs or has been ousted from the playoffs can begin to trade with anyone that it is allowable to trade for, with the following stipulations: (a) Only team allowed to be involved in trade discussions or party to discussions must have ended their playing season. (b) No Free Agent signings are allowed by any team until AFTER the July mort irregardless of whether you are still playing or not. Except, you may make offers, and discussions with your own free agents. Permission must be sought from other teams to approach or discuss with their Free Agents. After ALL teams have ended the playing season any team is allowed to talk to any Free Agent without permission from his previous team. (c) You may agree, write and sign to extend any contract of a player presently on your roster. The extension must start with the first day of nextseason. (d) Most Important!!!!! All of the above mentioned contractual obligations must first be in alignment with the salary cap stipulations for the following playing season. That is, a team would not be able to extend a contract (starting next year), make a trade(effective next year), etc... if by doing so it would cause the team to violate the next year's cap. Some other remedy or change could take place to reverse the effect of that salary cap consideration, but likely would be limited to retirings, renouncings, etc... (e) Exemptions and exceptions to the cap cannot be used until all the teams have ended their season. My Opinion: Because of ..... - the intricate nature of even simple trades affecting many other teams, - the varied salary limitations of each seperate team in the league, - the heavy penalties imposed by the league, for being involved (even in inadvertent cases)"tampering" or "illegal discussions" violations, - the crapshoot nature of the draft itself, - the history of early in the trade season (knee jerk) contractual obligations, - and, the daily changes to any player's value either by his placement in the talent pool, or his health ... .... all makes it favorable to wait until the playing season is completely over, all teams are available for discussion and all players are eligible for draft, signings, trades, etc ... What I am saying is that some rules may be ambiguous because although trades may be allowed under the circumstances listed above, they also may not be in practice because of the reasons outlined above. I am willing to accept aelliot or some other versed capologist telling me I am way off base here. LOL
hp-Nah....Olowakandi before Carter. Or Lafrentz before Carter. How about Korleone Young before Cuttino? Looking at it, 98's 2nd round created several good players: Ruben Patterson, Rashard Lewis, Jelani McCoy, Shammond Williams, and Cuttino. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
I think Mihm is likely at the least a top 4 pick. If things panned out, I think even the Magic may take him (if Martin and Swift are 1 and 2) and over Fizer, that's no big deal. Mihm could be a good chip to draw Duncan (they're friends). If the Bulls win the lottery, I see them trading down to #2, or #3, to pick Mihm anyhow. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
