http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4030064.html Rockets optimistic about James Dawson feels he's near deal with free agent By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle LAS VEGAS - Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson emerged from his meeting with Mike James on Thursday without his primary free-agent target but with a sense he could be close to bringing James back to the Rockets. James and his agent, Bill Duffy, still had meetings scheduled with the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, but neither team has any more spending room than the Rockets. James, who is building a home in Houston, has been outspoken since the end of the season about his desire to return to the Rockets, who traded him before the start of training camp last season for Rafer Alston. "It was a good meeting," Dawson said. "Hopefully, we'll have a decision tomorrow. We feel pretty good about it." James averaged 20.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting and 44.2 percent 3-point shooting with the Toronto Raptors last season. "C.D. (Dawson), that's my guy," James said. "I appreciate C.D., and I understand it's a business. I don't know what will happen tomorrow; I don't know where I'll be. Dallas wants to win a championship. They believe I can be a significant piece of that. That makes me feel good, too." James had career bests in scoring, assists (5.8 per game) and rebounding (3.3 per game) last season. In 27 games with the Rockets in the 2004-05 season, all but five coming off the bench, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds. The Rockets are willing to offer all of their mid-level exception, expected to start at about $5 million. But while working to secure an agreement with James, the Rockets have also been talking to the Raptors about a sign-and-trade arrangement in which they could use a trade exception, beginning at $4.2 million. In that sort of arrangement, the Rockets would likely have to sign James to a four-year deal to make the package comparable to a mid-level exception, because in a sign-and-trade, in which he is technically signing with his current team, James would receive greater raises (10 percent each season) than if he signed with the Rockets outright. That would allow the Rockets to hold on to their mid-level exception, and they could spend some or all of it on other free agents. It would start at a smaller figure, helping them keep their payroll under the luxury tax. jonathan.feigen@chron.com
We would use our TE (4.2M). It means we can offer a 4-year contract around 19.5M (eg. the 4th year will be a player option).
Houston wants the same thing and with a healthy TMac and Yao has just as good a shot as Dallas, should he come on board. And yes he can be a significant piece of that, playing behind jason terry and devin harris. Or he could be a significant piece for the Rockets with a possible starting spot.
This makes no sense to me.... Mike James takes a pay cut from the full MLE this way ($5 million + 8% raises for MLE, the 10% vs. 8% doesn't come close to cancelling out the initial money difference). Why would he accept it? Are there extra years tacked onto the end?
It actually explains that. Apparently the MLE offer on the table (both from the Rockets and the Mavericks) is a three year deal. The trade exception deal would be four years. Also, I'd expect the Rockets would have to include a draft pick or cash to get the Raptors interested in doing us this favor.
Yes. I think with the MLE you can offer max. 3 years. With sign-and-trade you can offer 4 or 5 years, too.
I don't think so. The TE has great value. So if the Raptors get a 4.2M TE for nothing they won't dismiss it.
As long as we don't have to give up Head or someone like that, I'm fine. This team needs depth and I hope, if we do in fact do a S & T, that we include a draft pick and not a player.
Not to a team under the cap it doesn't, and the Raptors are under the cap. All the TE is really good for is shedding salary, but in this case Mike James isn't on their books so it serves no purpose. No, if the Raptors sign and trade Mike James to us it's going to cost us more than the TE. Hopefully it'll just be cash or a second round draft pick.
I would be unhappy if it was next year's lottery pick. James is obviously looking at the best deal for himself. My concern is that Dallas has much more to offer the Raptors in a trade than we do.
And no, with the MLE the max is five years. The max a player can be resigned to is six. The reason nobody is offering Mike James more than three years is because of his age.
i think it's pretty simple. the rockets want to give mike james a 3 year contract. they know that right now no other team offers him more years. james himself wants at least 4 years. and that's why he keeps saying that no team has the edge. if the rockets offer him the 4th or even the 5th year (which i think they will in the next days) than it will be a done deal.
Doesn't sign and trade mean Toronto signs him first?! They could sign him for 6 years at 6 million per+. Then we trade for him with a player and a piece of paper? James gets way more that way and Toronto gets something for it? I'm asking? Sparky... Put down the nasty keyboard finger and slowly walk away, I'M ASKING!
James averaged 20.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting and 44.2 percent 3-point shooting with the Toronto Raptors last season _______ Folks that is an impressive stat line ---> 44.2% behind the arc
So much misinformation in here, I'm not sure where to start. I must be on quite a few ignore lists 'cause I know I've posted this 3 or 4 times a day. MLE $5M Yr 3 = 16.2M Yr 4 = 22.4M YR 5 = 29.0M Min MLE is 1 year, Max MLE is 5 years, raises are 8%. $ 4.3M TE Yr 3 = 14..3M Yr 4 = 19.9M YR 5 = 26.0M TOR has James' Early Bird Rights. Min is 2 years. Max is 5 years, raises are 10.5%. We can include 100K as part of our $4.2M TE. If DAL and MIN are offering 3 year deals, the 4 year TE deal exceeds it by $3+M. Why TOR does it? Min = 2nd round non-guaranteed pick to shuffle papers. Best case for them = Luther Head @ 1.05M and/or a 1st round pick (likely protected).
