I don't see it. DM has a lot of reasons to play hardball with them this summer in order to get the team under the Luxury Tax Threshold. Since they are restricted the Rockets have all of the leverage. I just don't see any other GM sweeping in and trying to sign them away from the Rockets knowing that Morey will match if it comes to that. Gortat received so many offers last year because it was believed that the Magic would not match.
this summer's negotiations with scola and lowry will drag out to the end of the summer (unless they are part of a S&T). here's why: teams that are under the cap will be going after big time players... the suitors for scola/lowry will be teams over the cap and armed with the MLE. those teams will be waiting to see which big name free agent gets shut out on the market and has to settle for the MLE... this could take most of the summer. next, the way most teams deal with RFA is to let the market set the value. that means sit back and see which offer's they get, then match. if morey says they are willing to match any offer on either of them, it would scare off teams armed with the MLE because they would have to tie up that money for a week while morey decides if he will match. in a talent rich FA pool, no one will want to tie up their money for a week. this will turn out very similar to the landry situation. both will be signed to MLE or less.
Lowry, $3-4M. This will be Scola's last significant contract. The overall figure will be more important than contract length or $/yr.
I think Morey's strategy towards Lowry and Scola should depends on how fast the big name FAs are signing up (Lebron/Wade/etc)... There are many teams with good amount of money to throw at big name FAs, but at the end of the day, some teams will be winners and some will be losers. For the teams that can't sign any big names, their money is going to be throw at the 2nd and 3rd tier FAs. Both Scola and Lowry are starter material and with that in mind, some teams is very likely overpay Lowry/Scola if Morey wait till the end...
Didn't he also say we wanted Artest back? Who knows, Scola will likely get more minutes with Carl gone. Naturally his statistics will likely increase from here on out. Will that raise his monetary value? Lowry, I have no idea. Is he restricted? I'd expect him to get to get same type of contract Landry got, 3 years at $9 million. How much will Les be willing to go into the luxury tax? Lakers and Celtics have shown you gotta pay up to build winners. Looming over all this is the upcoming new collective bargaining agreement. I'd say we have to take things pretty damned seriously this summer before ish hits the fan following 2011.
