[ClutchFans] Houston Rockets Salary Cap Update

Who do you think we're targeting with that Room Exception Bima?

What's the situation with James Anderson? Any chance he comes back with us next year?

Thanks Bima. Happy with the Casspi and Garcia signings!

 

Front of the LA Times sports section today:

https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/353724840571707394/photo/1

 

Thanks for clearing that up Bima, as well as all of your informative articles. A great time to be a Rocket's fan! :grin:

 

Anybody know what we got for Royce besides cap space? What's the official detail on the pick we got from them?

 

2nd round draft considerations. Essentially we will never see the pick. We also had to give up the Turkish PF/C to get Sam Hinkie to take Royce off of our hands. All in all Sam did us a big favor.

 

Just a thought: The signing of Francisco Garcia at just the veteran minimum seems like a very underrated move to me. This move is likely pretty important to enabling the Rockets to be very patient in filling out or balancing their roster via free agency or trade-- this is not to say that they won't pursue a trade aggressively, but they don't have to make one any time soon unless they absolutely like it.

First, getting Garcia back means that the team can be pretty comfortable about their rotation aside from the PF spot. Second, they managed to keep the Room Exception in the process, which can now be used to address the PF need.

The Room Exception, at up to $5.4M total for 2 years, may not look like much, but could be potent in the hands of a team like the Rockets for a few reasons:

(A) Money for PFs Drying Up: The free agent money may be drying up, with a number of teams having used up their cap room and exceptions in just the last few days and remaining teams may either have no need for a PF or have no intention of spending money on a large-ish deal (looking at 2014 cap room or what not). Some free agents-- Tyler Hansbrough, JJ Hickson remain unsigned, for example-- may be be left without an offer at a amount significantly higher than the room exception.

(B) Potential for minutes: While the Rockets may only offer up to roughly $5.4M, their $5.4M may be more attractive than someone else's offer at a similar amount for a player looking for an opportunity to prove himself and land a larger payday in a year or two.

The team has no returning established starting PF, newly signed proven starter, or a high draft pick rookie that the team is dead set on giving "development minutes" to. All that the new guy has to do is beat out DMo, Smith and Jones for a rotation spot and minutes.

(C) Ring Chaser Effect: Of course, not everyone is gonna turn down money to play for a good team, but some players, especially veterans who have made quite a bit of money but are looking for an opportunity to win a title, will likely take at least a slight discount to play for a potential contender.

It wouldn't be difficult to land, say, Elton Brand, unless the Mavs or another team really offers him a ton more money.

Now of course there is a chance to land decent players even at the minimum, but having the Room Exception likely allows the team to be quite a bit more competitive money wise with some of their desired free agents.

So, in the end, the Rockets can probably fill the PF spot with a decent player without trading anyone if they choose to do so. There is no pressure to make any trade unless it's one that they really like.

 

Excellent post. This is exactly what I wanted to know. So if the final numbers come back a little higher than what is projected than that is almost all money that could got to Canaan?

Also, I am sure the answer is in here somewhere, but does it look like waiving Anderson and Ohlbrecht leave us any extra money like a100 grand or so and if so that would be additional money that could go to Canaan?

I want to sign this guy to at least a 3 year deal if possible.

Followup: I just went through your numbers and I understand they are fluid until July 10th but if I assume 58.5 mil is the number for now it appears that after trading White we now would have 20.11 mil available, a little short. And if we cut Ohlbrecht and Anderson that gives us an additional ~298,000 (788,000 - 490,000) + 426,000 (916,000 - 490,000) total 724,000. Added to 20.11 mil gives us a total of ~20.825 mil and if you subtract D12's salary 20.513 mil that leaves us with ~311,000 + 490,000 that becomes available when Howard takes up that additional roster space so then we would have a total of ~$800,000. Which means we could offer Canaan a 3 or 4 year deal similar to Ohlbrecht at $788,000. I think he would take that if we could guarantee a couple of those years. I know we don't know the exact number but is this scenario even close to correct based on the numbers you have in your article or am I just reading it wrong. Because if it is my offseason would be complete. We sign Howard and then Canaan and then Garcia and Casspi and then find the best player available for the 2.6 mil. And that's a wrap.

Followup 2: Okay so reading through your thread I saw Dinkum posting 13 player rosters with cap holds on empty roster spots. So I read through Larry Coon's CBA sight and Dinkum appears to be right. Any empty roster spots up to 13 must have cap holds. Is that accurate?

If so his numbers have us $150,000 over the 58.5 guestimate number. Which means if that number sticks the Rockets couldn't give Howard the max unless they Release Beverly or Smith. And if Howard takes less then there is only the $490,000 available to sign Canaan. Is this accurate based on the 58.5 number, Bima?

Okay so I got excited for nothing. I think the Rockets will have to release Greg Smith if the numbers don't come out higher on the 10th and even if they come out higher then there will be nothing more than the $490,000 grand for Canaan. Doubtful he would sign any thing long term for that amount. Which puts him in the Carl Landry spot. Able to negotiate a new deal after one season. Am I missing something here? I hope so.

 

I sure hope that guarantee is enough to get a 3-yr deal done. Either that or the cap comes back closer to $59 million so we can give Canaan the standard raise the first year to get him to agree to that third year. Of course, with the way things are going so far, with a guy like Garcia agreeing to play for the minimum....maybe Canaan will play for free?

 

Question: in the event of clearing waiver, can a player refuses to go to the team that picked him up?

For example: say Delphino had a wink-wink deal with Morie that once he clears waiver Rox will re-sign him with whatever money they have left. Can Delphino then not go to any other team that claimed him offer waiver? (Just using it as an example. Not even sure if Delphino will accept the vet min or room exception)

 

If he wants to play basketball in the NBA or other league that recognizes NBA contracts, he has to go to team that claims him.

 

Ha Ha, Yes Canaan for free, you can do it Morey. Seriously I can not believe we got Garcia and even Casspi for the minimum. Garcia has got to have a promise for something better next year. That's why Morey gave him the opt out. As for Canaan I got to believe will figure something out. Just a little more money is all he needs. Man I hope it comes in at 59 mil. That solves all of our problems.

 

Agreed - though I'm guessing they'd love to have a little more wing depth, given Garcia's age, and inevitable injuries. I think they'd ideally like to cut Harden's minutes down from where they were last year -- he was 6th in the league at over 38/game, and Parsons was also in the top 20 with 36/game. It'd be nice to give them an extra couple minutes worth of breathers next year.

That list of 4s isn't particularly inspiring, given the need for someone who could hit a jumper. Seems like the best candidate for Room Exception is Corey Brewer right now.

I'm a bit disappointed Dunleavy Jr. signed so quickly -- he would've been a perfect backup on this team.

A few wings that can shoot to watch are Alan Anderson, Wayne Ellington, and Nick Young. They could be willing to sign for a team that's in a good spot to win with minutes available on the wings. I'd also be curious to see where Xavier Henry goes -- he's had a bad NBA career, but he's only 22 and very talented.

Edit: Add Anthony Morrow, Randy Foye and Jodie Meeks to the watch list. And a sleeper is Reggie Wililams, who was lights out from the perimeter 3 years ago, but bad since. All of these guys would be good options at the league minimum.

 

Do we have to use the room exception before certain deadline?

 

Agreed that ideally you get more wing depth but it would seem to be a back-burner thing now with at least the top 3 wing guys set and the team still has Casspi and James Anderson who decent enough for 4th/5th wings. A guy like Corey Brewer may choose to go elsewhere if money is roughly equal and minutes are more available. Somebody (maybe Sacramento, whose GM came from Denver?) may even offer him substantially more than the room exception to be a starter. Brewer isn't old enough and hasn't made enough money to just chase a ring.

I am thinking the leftover PFs who may be stuck in free agency and take the room exception is more useful for this team-- Hansbrough averaged double-double as a starter, Hickson averaged a double double on the season, Brand was solid on D as both PF and C, Jermaine O'Neal was great last season for an older guy. Not ideal fits if we are looking for 3 point shooters but you can always just play one of the SFs at the 4 if you want to small ball and dare the opponent not to go small with you.

 

Glad your back. You get a little whiny b****ywhen your sulking. Did you have a snickers bar?

 

Maybe you should have one since you are the one who gets upset at all perceived "negative" posts about the Rockets and try to bring up the trade all the time even after Robinson is long gone.

I never changed. Gave my analysis based on objective data ever since I started here, still do. You people just got paranoid and sensitive when objective data didn't support your "TRob is great prospect big upside" view. Whatever. His career will not change based on your opinion or mine.

Should we get back to regularly scheduled broadcast or do you want to fight some more over Robinson?

 

What are the cap holds on Garcias and Casspis deals?

Also, with these 2 year contracts being handed out, do you think Morey is setting up for the summer of 2015 to sign Kevin Love, and is that even possible?...We could potentially only have Harden and Dwight locked up for contracts, with Parsons finally due for an extension. Is it possible to sign Love and then sign Parsons to a 4 year deal for 10-12 million/yr. using his bird rights, or is that pushing the cap too much? Obviously the rest of the roster would have to be the second round draft picks Morey has acquired and minimum contracts and exception signing.

I'm sure it is a stretch, but a core of Harden-Parsons-Love-Dwight is ridiculous regardless of who is coming off the bench.

 

I think a big point will still hinge on if we keep Asik, or what we get in return. I'll still be shocked if we keep him. If you got Ryan Anderson, for example, Hickson would be an incredible 3rd big man, who could play the 4/5.

I like O'Neal a lot as a vet minimum guy. Do you think he'll want more than that? He played for the minimum in Phoenix last year. Elton Brand made about $2m last year, so I don't think he's a full room exception guy either.

 

I guess I'm curious why you don't think we'll keep Asik. If an offer of real quality that makes us a much better team isn't on the table, I don't think Morey is gonna feel forced to move him. Granted next year I'd be surprised if he's on the roster, given it will be the last year of his deal and we don't want to lose him for nothing, but I don't see the harm in playing out the regular season with Asik on the roster. He's still a huge attribute to our team, even in limited minutes. Eventually a great offer will be there, but we don't have control over the timing, and if it doesn't come this offseason, I think we'd be fine keeping him.

Also, I guess I'm not as concerned about the 4 spot as you and CH. I think Dmo and Jones are gonna take the next step; and I like Casspi in the stretch 4 role much better than Parsons or Delfino, ala last year. I think we're in good shape.