He'd be coming to a situation where he isn't the number 1 option, he'd have to struggle with Dwight's ego potentially, he might have a low opinion of Dwight and/or Harden, he wouldn't like the roster left after we dumped everything to get him...who knows! Lots of reasons a guy might or might not pick a place. Agreed but it's really only Stein isn't it? That's probably a narrative Cuban wants him to push. Make it sound like Houston would really have to work to get him. I don't know. It's weird. Clearing cap space is the easy part, but I do believe that even if we cleared everything we wouldn't be at the full max. Isn't that something Bima posted?
I don't know if that's what he is trying to do. But if that's what he is trying to do talking to the Raptors is a move towards that. The only problem is you have to be willing to play chicken with the Blazers and hope they blink. And if they don't you have to be willing to go to the Raptors. I doubt LMA is really interested in going to Toronto. If I'm Portland I'm not buying it.
J.R. was intimately close to the Rockets' free agency situation - and is presumably a Rockets fan - and he is unaware that the Rockets haven't had the requisite cap space for the past two years. We shouldn't expect national reporters who hardly pay attention to be more knowledgable of these things than we are.
Yeah, when he says they will share it with LA, he obviously means Aldridge. Of course they'll share it with Aldridge. If he's looking to win, he'll want to know what kind of roster he'll have after we dump some serious cap to sign him.
I believe it when I see it. If I took your info than we why is sitting down with other teams? He might as well just give a verbal agreement to the Lakers on Wednesday.
Berger at CBS has been saying much the same thing, though he often "follows" the other guys, so to speak. I don't know if they'd quite be at the full max -- some of it may depend on the precise cap figure. Also, it might not matter. In the 1+1 scenario, Aldridge would clearly be banking on the next contract under the new cap... so the gap between $17.5 million and $18.5 million for one season probably doesn't mean that much, since it's not like that would be the "starting figure" for his subsequent-year raises.
Who needs LMA when you can get Rashard Lewis?!?!?! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free agent Rashard Lewis,who missed last season to knee surgery, hopes to return to NBA next season,his agents Tony Dutt & Colin Bryant said</p>— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/615626468257718273">June 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I always read these reports as if they are coming as a statement from an agent. My guess is this is LMA's agent telling the Rockets publicly, "If we meet with you, you need to be able to have a max contract available". While the Rockets might think they have a deal lined up to create that space if needed, its LMA's camp that needs to see some sign of good faith before they consider them and spend time to meet. The big issue is simply communication, or the Rockets not being able to communicate their plans before July 1st. Then you need to sell LMA's camp that those plans are feasible. Then, if you truly want LMA's camp to try and help force a S&T, you are dealing with that hurdle last minute. So I totally get what these reports are saying when viewed through the eyes of an agent who is being told second hand that the Rockets want to meet with him. I'd like to think of myself as a somewhat knowledgeable fan, and I don't see an easy way to show Morey's plan for signing LMA without actually being able to speak to LMA's camp to show them what the hell they have cooking. One way to show this goodwill statement would be to leak to Woj that the Rockets have deals lined up for Ariza, etc. to create cap much like they did with Lin & Asik. Whether you have to do those deals or not is another conversation if you can force a S&T with Portland, but you at least need that leverage to show that its possible and you have a plan. I totally understand why LMA's camp wants to see such a thing beforehand, and not being able to communicate directly doesn't help.
I am sorry, the only insider I believe is cyberx. Lets see what happens, but something that LMA has not even decided yet on. Free agency hasn't even started yet.
