<a href="http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0714clippers-house-ON.html">According to Bloomberg News</a> ... <b>Clippers trade Ely, House to Bobcats, shedding salary for Bryant</b> Bloomberg News Jul. 14, 2004 12:00 AM The Los Angeles Clippers traded Melvin Ely and Eddie House to the Charlotte Bobcats, freeing up room under the National Basketball Association's salary cap so they can offer free agent Kobe Bryant the maximum allowable contract. In return, the Clippers get second-round picks in 2005 and 2006, the Bobcats said in a statement. Ely, a forward/center, will make about $1.7 million this season, while House, a guard, is scheduled to earn about $825,000. The trade puts the Clippers far enough under the NBA's team spending limit so they can offer Bryant a six-year contract worth about $100 million. It's the most allowed by the league's labor contract. Bryant is deciding whether to sign with the Clippers or his current team, the Lakers, who can give the five-time All-Star guard a seven-year deal worth almost $140 million. The Lakers replaced coach Phil Jackson with Rudy Tomjanovich and have agreed to trade Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat in an effort to convince the 25-year-old Bryant to stay. Free agents were permitted to sign contracts as of today. ------------------------- At 1.7 million, Ely would have been a good solution for backup center for us ... rats. 2 second round draft picks would have been fine with me, even taking on House. Maybe they did't want to improve a West competitor. But, this is the kind of deal we should be using our TE for ...
