Memphis might be willing to take less than what Portland is demanding. That would ensure that Swift doesn't go to a division rival.
Why? If the Hawks or Hornets have no interest...it's not the agents fault. If the Nets prefer Abdur-Rahim...it's not the agents fault. If MEM doesn't want to SnT Swift because they want to cut payroll...it's not the agent fault. If this year is a particularly deep FA class and especially for PF's...it's not the agents fault. If the player has some questions about upside potential and/or might not be a good fit for every team...it's not the agents fault. In Swift's case, there are too many strong variables which lie outside the realm of pure marketing your client. The Hawks and Hornets will dictate Swift's market and the best agent in the NBA may not be able to persuade them from whatever plans they may have. Are you going to be that unhappy if he signs for the Rockets' MLE?
all of this reminds me of shandon anderson...over-pursuit of a bit player. not that i don't want swift...i do.
I doubt it. Mem should take more care of the teams like lakes, kings, GS, clippers and so on. Rox is beyond theirs eye sight. They should regard how to improve their own team as first consideration. In addition, Spurs will be always over them for any case so they do not worry about the 1st place of the division.
Nets GM is really greedy, as well as the GM of the Portland. He would like to force SAR to accept the MLE by rejecting to give the 1st round pick to Blazer ( Actually it should be a very late 1st round pick if they get SAR). So the 1st round pick is just an excuse of the rejection of S&T. So I think Nets will not give a sweet offer to Swift considering they are dreaming to catch SAR with MLE(Come on, if Nets think it is really reasonable to pay MLE to a proven player with 19pt and 7rbs, why can not we think it is fair to pay MLE to an unproven 9pt and 5rbs guy). Swift will not be happy for an offer equivalent to a 4.9M TE+ a second round pick.
Actually it works out to like 6 years 37 mil. A little under market, but not bad. And yes if I am Memphis I'll take a 2nd rounder and TE in a New York minute for facilliating Swift to the East when he otherwise might go to a chief rival. They do sound like butt heads. The obvious solution is for the Nets to trade a 1st rounder (maybe top 20 protected in 06) + TE for SAR + Portland 2nd (06). Or alternatively have NJ send two 2nd round picks. An outright 1st rounder plus the TE is a little greedy from the Portland sitution concerning SAR could just leave them high and dry. But they Nets should be willing to provide some compensation (two 2nds, probable late 1st for probable early/mid 2nd) to facilliate the deal as well. Hey Portland, we will trade a you an unprotected 1st rounder in 06 or 07 and an expiring contract for SAR.
The Nets aren't looking to save money. They're simply trying to acquire him for $4.9 using their TE rather than their MLE, so they could use it on an additional player (like Swift or Keyon Dooling). They're trying to bluff the Blazers since they *could* sign SAR to virtually the same deal and leave Portland w/o compensation. I think they need to let go of the pick though. A late first-rounder in next year's draft (age limit comes into effect) isn't much of a blue chip. Evan
A couple of points worth considering in a NJ-MEM trade. Swift is unrestricted. If it's only MLE $, Swift may take a 3 year deal somewhere else if there may be an upside later on after Bird Rights are established. Secondly, a trade exception means the holder of the TE can accept more salary than they send out in a future trade. Pretty worthless to a team trying to trim payroll IMHO.
So, if Griz would not SnT SS to Rox, but to Nets would you take SAR instead? SnT with a #1? I would, but I like SAR more than Stro...but, what do does JVG know???
why can't Rox just sign Swift with a one-year contract, then gave him another fat contract next summer? I knew playing this game is risky. But if both sides just keep it as oral agreement, how could NBA punish it?
But the TE is the only way Portland can trim payroll immediately and long term and still get something in return (draft compensation). In this way the TE is even better than an expiring contract, because you don't even have to carry one year's of salary and can let it expire. It makes NJ's TE even better than the equivalent expiring contract and even though we have expiring contracts makes it difficult for us to compete with NJ for S&Ts with these players/teams, unless that team wants the use of that player 1 year (Wesley). You don't get the rights to sign a player at whatever you want (Bird Rights) until 3 years. You can learn all about the CBA (not updated with the new CBA yet) on trade rules and contracts below: http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm
The situation is interesting. I think Nets really prefer SAR over Swift. It is promising for them to get SAR with a contract a little over MLE,which will not satisfies Swift. More imporant, Nets need to win now because Kidd is aging. They have no time to wait Swift to develop his "potential". While Rox will take Swift first becasue JVG would like MM, Swift, Head to grow together in next 4 or five years.
No, the TE is not worth more than expiring contracts. At least expiring contracts can be combined with other players for salary matching. The only real downside to having expiring contracts is having to use up a roster spot on them(unless you don't want to hold onto them for trading purposes). And the TE counts against the cap, it doesn't trim payroll. If the Blazers traded SAR for the TE, they would actually be adding payroll for a year, same as the expiring contracts, but it's harder to trade the TE for anything of note since it can't be combined with anything except for draft picks.
I knew you couldn't combine the TE, but I was thinking if you were trying to trim payroll for the same amount of contract (e.g., 5 mil via TE OR 5 mil via trading for players with expiring contracts) the TE had more immediate benefit to a team like Portland or Memphis trying to reduce the amount they are over the cap or cut payroll (especially lux tax). Lets compare if say Portland traded for Wesley (about 5 mil expiring contract after the 05-06 season) versus the Nets TE (about 5 mil). For this year (05-06) would not the salary and lux cap computations be better using the TE than renouncing it (clearing that much off the books for 05-06)? Or has lux tax/salary cap already been determined using 05-06 salaries (say this calculated during the moratorium) and have 05-06 salaries (say Wesley's) already been paid by their current teams so they realy only cost the new team that roster spot?
yah, I goofed on that part, but I still don't think paying the actual $$$ is that much of a big deal on the part of the Blazers as long as they are improved in other ways(1st rounder, salary dump, decent roleplayer). I think if the rox were to deal with the blazers to get a trade finalized some combo of salary dumping(Theo, DA), 1st rounder and/or Wesley(capable of being a starter and fits the "good guy" image they have been trying to aim for) would work. In this way the rox have more tools to get the job done than NJ, if they are desperate enough.
Lets get this straight, Jerry West will not do a Sign & Trade with the Rockets. Well unless TMAC or Yao is in the discourse. Once that sinks in, you will then start realistically start shooting for an Othella, or Marshall or Zaza or the like.... I willling to start that there is a 98% chance Stromile is not coming here.
You know what? You're right. I'm wrong. MB, forget what I said previously. Really the TE wouldn't even add to their cap space. That only happens when the team is under the salary cap, which Portland clearly isn't. I still think that rox could put together a deal more favorable than NJ, for both Portland and SAR, if they so chose. I want SAR. Wouldn't mind having to eat one of the contracts of DA, Patterson, or Theo(not so much theo tho) as I think they could all be useful for JVG and the rox.
Has Jerry West said this? His 1st job is to look after his squad (get the most he can in trades) not worry about competitors. Given equal offers, yeah he would send him East, but Swift is unrestricted and West does not control things. Further, Walker very much appears to be our back-up plan. You post seems to come out of fears of worst case scenarios, not probable scenarios. I'd say it is close to 90% we come out with Swift, Walker or Marshall--Swift I do agree we have the least amount of control over, all guys to help as a lot.
