I think trading restricted FA is only complicated once they have matched another teams offer. Sounds to me in the Clips situation (perhaps losing all these players for nada) a 1 man show would be worth half the team. I still wonder if Francis could be put on the table for Brand and Miller or Jaric. I know there are BYC issues, but if they renouce Kandi or maybe others perhaps they can eat the salary. Couple of other thoughts: Miller and Brand are good but they are not Stockton and Malone. Just plugging those guys in for those HoF does not mean Utah will maintain nor does it mean they will be ahead of us. EG is far more valuable and has a much higher ceiling than Ely. I am not a big fan of his (Eddie) but I wouldn't trade him strait up for Wilcox either. Wilcox did nothing when Brand was out and Eddie is just as young.
I think this is just negotiating ploy by the Clips. They don't want to Max out anybody or be stuck with any contract long term. It has to be a short term contract, or one that they can move very easily. So the only high dollar contract they will give is a short term deal. Sterling is just doing his best to keep all the other teams off balance and get the most out of his assets by putting out trolls that he is thinking about signing Brand long term.
I always chuckle at the way people throw Rice's expiring contract around. You guys need to remember we have EG, Yao, Boki, etc. all playing on rookie contracts. Rice's expiring contract dollars are gonna be needed in house already.
Not really. By the time Yao is ready for an extension Cato will be off the books. To early to tell what kind of contracts EG and Boki would command when their time is up. Rice's expiring contract is important to add talent to this team, not to just let it expire here for nothing. He is an asset that we must use.
In regards to needing the $ for others, remember you can go over the cap to keep your own FAs. I know that Les says he doesn't want to pay the lux. tax, but if we have a team that is kicking a$$ an taking names I think he will. Remember, this is a guy that signed Pippen to that monstorous contract just a few years ago. So Rice's contract is very valuable on the open market.
Good post. At least Mobley, Rice, and Griffin for Elton Brand...to balance the salaries. It depends on how much Brand wants and if he would agree to a sign and trade...and of course he would...but maybe not to Houston. Cuttino Mobley, Glen Rice, and Eddie Griffin for Elton Brand and Eric Piatkowski or Marko Jaric or Keyon Dooling would be very nice. To get Cassell..for one player, that would be Mobley. And yeah...I liked Cassell...former Rocket. But he shoots way too much. No passing.
