[Florida Today] GM Otis Smith - We'll match any offer for Gortat

you cant compare this to landry guys. charlotte's offer was laughable. it was actually as if they connived with dm to offer landry a value easily matched by dm. this is different.

 

Quite surprised that Morey offered less than the full MLE. I don't question his judge of talent, but rather he thinks he doesn't have to overpay for a center. Especially one that just played in the finals.

Regardless of how good Morey thinks he is, it's doubtful that no one will give him the full MLE.

 

Aren't they already at the tax limit without considering Hedo and Gortat? I think DH, Lewis, Carter and Nelson are enough to put them right on the edge. This situation is different because we're talking about 25 million total salaries here. If the Magic matches it they'll be paying 10 million dollars net for someone who will only play 10 mins a game. Totally different scale to Landry IMHO

 

i'm inclined to think it's a ploy, but that statement didn't leave him any wiggle room to make an excuse if they don't match.

either way, y'all need to relax...it's marcin f'in gortat we are talking about here.

 

This announcement by Smith is clearly a ploy to drive away the buyers. Gortat's Agent wants nothing less than the full MLE. But if another team makes an offer to Gortat and he waits a few days you have tied up your Mle waiting and then if he signs you have to wait 7 days for Orlando to decide do the want to match. And if they match you may have just lost an opportunity to sign an unrestricted free agent. SO some suitors may walk away. But Morey is calling that bluff with a real offer. But not the full MLE.

The problem is not what Gortat's agent wants to hear. But I also believe Morey threw in the shoe deal money. Although can't come out and directly say we will also give you 2 mil a year on a shoe deal. But what he can do is say look at Scola and chuck hayes and Battier. Of course Anta would want to do the same for you. And while I can't legally say that will be included I am sure your agent can call Anta to discuss. So now Gortat knows he can make more than MLE with with an additional shoe deal in Houston even though his NBA contract will be less.

I am sure this intrigues Gortat but Morey put some control over the situation by putting a time limit on how long we will wait. Another smart move because Gortat will be forced to either accept or reject very soon. The problem in accepting a less than full MLE is his agent can't afford to believe Smith and Orlando are bluffing and if they aren't then Gortat gets stuck with less than the full MLE on a team he will only get a few minutes of playing time. I am sure his agent is explained that possibility and advised him to wait for the full MLE from another team. Which serves 2 purposes in scaring away Orlando which I am sure will not resign him unless they can get something significantly less than the full MLE and also assures he will at least get the max money he can get.

If Orlando matches the Rockets are screwed. But I do not believe Orlando will match. But the fact that they are saying that makes Gortat want to wait for the full MLE from someone else. SO smart move by smith. I doubt they will match. But Gortat may have another suitor for the full MLE and all he needs is one. If someone offers him the full MLE I think he will probably take it.

So now it is just wait and see time but the Rockets have positioned themselves almost as good as the can.

 

Hedo is the key, if they have to bring him back at 10-12M, I think they have to let Gortat go if someone offers him an mle deal. If they lose Hedo to FA then they probably can afford to match.

 

Gortat already has an existing shoe deal with Reebok.

 

I didn't know that. SO that definitely puts a kink in my analysis. Gortat would have ot just love Houston and be willing to risk another season behind Howard to sign with us. I still think Smith will not match Gortat unless he can get him at half the MLE or something near that. But if I was his agent I would advise him to accept the full MLE if another is offering that.

Seems like a longshot for the Rockets. Also for the person saying it depends on Hedo. There is no way they are even considering resigning Hedo with Carter on board. He is gone

 

Well, he could just play out his contract and be unrestricted next year, in the 'big summer of '10'..


Not that that helps us any though.

 

Why would he be begging to start when he's backing up the top center in the NBA?

 

I think he means they will match any reasonable offer haha, Gortat isn't ever going to be able to earn his contract in Orlando if he keeps getting the same minutes, and I see no reason why his minutes would increase much there.

 

Your very good articulation of "probablities" has a severe flaw. Teams match offers for unhappy players about 90% of the time whether they are disgruntled or not. They put the ink to the paper and it's never talked about again.

 

Well if we miss out on Gortat our chances of getting Anderson Varejao increases.

*Sigh*, please get Gortat or ZaZa

 

The language indicates Houston would have to offer the Full MLE or something above it to land Gortat, which is crazy. Our offer would have to be 35 mil/5years or above for a potential (likely,imho) bust. Call their bluff, and don't turn back. Not worth the (Very high) risk to go above the initial offer.

 

He's restricted, so at this point it doesn't really matter what he wants

 

Different situation than Landry. Rockets did not have luxury tax concerns like Orlando, so Landry salary would't have counted double where as whatever Orlando pays Gortat will.

 

Only the insane owners ignore luxury tax considerations (Cuban), and even he has stopped doing so. Smith is blowing smoke. Even if Orlando does match, they are going to deeply regret it.

 

I call BS. Even Chris Wallace isn't dumb enough to spend $10M on a backup center when his starter is Dwight Howard.

 

Gotta get me some of those! Can only wear them 12 minutes a day though.

 

Yeah, didn't I read yesterday Orlando is over the cap with only 9 players signed??? Unreal...