Nope, Les will pay the LT for a championship contender UNLESS a certain fellow playing in Toronto comes down here in a sign and trade.
they will dump Jeffries and/or Andersen...or make a more legit trade involving Battier. Whether that occurs in the summer or as the deadline approaches will depend on the market and on draft-day deals and all. But I think they'll get under the LT with those assets available to them
Yeah let's get Durant he's a FA next season :grin: On a more serious note how bout our core guys, they're great to build championship around -(although Landry's departure left a void in it) We should definitely do a S&T for Bosh/Stoudemire Scola,Battier, Jeffries, NY Draft picks, Chase for Bosh/STAT? Although we lose in not having Battier and Scola but both guys are aging We'd look like this: Brooks/Lowry( whom I hope is resigned) Martin/(draftee) Ariza/(Draftee) Bosh (preferably STAT)/Chuck Hayes/Jordan Hill Yao/David Andersen
Hasn't the Rocket's strategy, at least during some years, been to enter a season over the Luxury tax? typically we get under the luxury tax during the season by trades. I'm guessing that even if we enter the season over the luxury tax, if we don't do well or it looks like there is no reason to spend money, we will get under it by the deadline. I don't think exiting the offseason while being over the luxury tax is that much a concern. As you mentioned, something may have to happen during the season, but I think DM's shown it's easier to make those deals during the season.
no way Scola is let go. I reakon Batman will be traded before he is. Got to keep a balance of vets in the team.
Worst case scenario is that we have to pay Luxury Tax for one year, once jeffries expires the rockets should be in pretty good salary shape.
I'm sure everybody agree on keeping Scola as our main priority in the offseason! Love the blue collar that he brings to the team!
This is what I posted in a seperate thread. For those that are confused, it isn't about can we resign Scola or Lowry, because they certainly can. It's about will they, given the luxury tax implications. I think the difference between my number and the OP's is I do NOT assume Hayes team option is picked up. I understand his value, and he is probably fairly paid, but it's hard to image him being a necessity on a championship caliber team. Players Currently on the Team That Stay Yao = $17,686,100 Shane = $7,354,500 Trevor = $6,322,320 Andersen = $2,500,000 Brooks = $2,016,691 Taylor = $810,000 Budinger = $783,000 New Players that will Still be on the Books Martin = $11,100,005 Jordan Hill = $2,669,520 New Players with Player Option Jeffries = $6,883,400 (of course he will exercise) All other players are free agents - Kenny Thomas will not be resigned. Hilton Armstrong may or may not be resigned. Kyle Lowry - hopeful, but at what price. Luis Scola - hopeful, but at what price. Chuck Hayes could be on the team, with a team option, at a price of $2,301,250 So, your base salary already for next year is: $58,125,536 To that add about $1.8 million for a draft pick around 14, and it becomes: $59,925,536 Luxury tax level this year is $69.92 million, down about $1.23 million from last year. Let's just assume it goes down next year to $67.5 million (a little over $2 million drop). That leaves you $7.5 million to spend on (1) Scola, (2) Lowry, (3) Chuck Hayes option, (4) MLE, and (5) 2nd round or other draft picks potentially acquired. So basically not enough. You probably can't resign both Scola and Lowry. One would have to assume Scola is worth MLE type money ($5.5+ to start) and Lowry is worth around $3 million to start). That's $8.5. That said, maybe the luxury tax is a little higher, or they go over the luxury tax but make moves at the trade deadline to squeeze under again, or make some creative moves in the offseason. Still, unless I'm missing something, I think it is difficult and probably impossible to envision resigning Scola and Lowry AND signing an MLE type free agent without freeing up some cap room otherwise. That's my analysis. I'm sure it's wrong! Assuming some way is found and Scola and Lowry are resigned, but Chuck isn't picked up, the roster becomes: Brooks/Lowry Martin/Budinger/Taylor Ariza/Battier/Jeffries Scola/Hill Yao/Andersen Plus #14 Draft Pick You probably still need some more firepower off the bench, especially in the frontcourt. Fingers crossed that Hill is better than anticipated, Andersen continues to improve or Morey really is a draft genius and can get a real contributor with a mid teens pick.
The good thing is that Lowry will be a restricted FA so they can let the market determine his value which probably will be $4M+ per year (something similar to what Sessions got). With the addition of Martin, they can trade Ariza or Battier for cap relief in the offseason. Morey knows what he is doing.
Didn't Hollinger just write up that the Rockets would be able to re-sign both Lowry and Scola without going into Luxury Tax territory. It's in one of the threads floating around.
Amigo, I was hoping the title to read something like, " Don't cry for me Houston". Anyhoo..No way the rockets let him walk. To add to the fire, Daryl will go after Scola's best friend, tiago.
Scola's not going anywhere. We'll have Battier (who can get a return) and Jeffries (who is just an expiring contract at this point) to deal next season if we need to slip under the LT. Not only that, but we'll have an MLE to use which we can utilize on Scola (though he might cost more) and Lowry (though he might cost less). We are re-signing Scola/Lowry. Period.
I agree with the overall premise...resign and then make some moves to slip under the cap. Just note, that using the MLE has nothing to do with it. They will be able to resign both players regardless. It's not how they do it...but if they do it.
JayZ750, I can't think of any reason why they'd want to use the MLE to sign a free agent. Look at our positional depth: Brooks/Lowry/Llull (if bought out) Martin/Budinger/Taylor Ariza/Battier/Taylor Scola/Hill/Hayes/Jeffries Yao/Andersen/Hayes/Jeffries We are at least three deep at every position--more once you count our first and second round draft picks! And with quality players or high-potential rookies, too, not scrubs. I think you focus exclusively on bringing Scola and Lowry back and signing our picks. If you have to trade someone, so be it, but we won't have to dip that deep into the LT to field the entire team listed above.
