I can imagine how hard it is for Swift to take less Money!

Anyone one can tell me the amount of the new MLE? If that is 33m/5year (I got this from the aritcle about Cle hunting for Haslem) , which averaged to be 6.6M/year, it should not be a cheap offer.

 

He can sign for MLE with the understanding that once they have more cap room next year they will rework his contract.

 

The new MLE should be about 5 years 29 mil. Cleveland is under the cap and doesn't have an MLE. If they (or any other team) are going after Haslem they have to outbid Miami, which can match up to a 6 year 38 mil (or 5/30) deal w/o giving up their MLE. Miami might match a contract over that such as 33m/5year, but such a contract makes it a lot more painful for Miami.

If Haslem and Miami have loyality to each other they just do a 6 year 38 mil deal outright so Miami still can use their MLE for other players. I suspect that is what is happening and Haslem/agent may be using other teams to justify 6/38. I would think it would take like 5 year 40-50 mil offer from an under the cap team to pry Haslem loose.

 

Swift is meeting with the nets today. GOD I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!!!

Rumor Central from ESPN.com

Swift fits in Houston
<Jul. 12> The Nets are planning to meet with Stromile Swift today, reports the New York Daily News. While Shareef Abdur-Rahim seems to be the team's top choice to fill the power forward spot, they can't afford to wait for Abdur-Rahim's decision as he continues to meet with other teams.

 

Thx a lot! So it depends on if Swift can get an offer around 8M/year. For 7M/year, I think it is still promising for him to take Rox.

 

There are some big contracts being handed out..but I still have hope.

Yao + Dikembe, Swift + Howard, and Tmac would be good frontcourt.

 

Dan Rosenbaum a CBA junky economist estimates the MLE at:

Mid-Level Exception - $5.18 million (range of $5.10 to $5.25 million)

Which is 29.58M to 30.45M for 5 years.

http://danrosenbaum.blogspot.com/

 

Just wait til the All Star game is over, then the media will have nothing better to do than write speculative articles about FA....which isnt much better than us posting speculative posts, is it?

 

I know this is not your question, but I think the MLE is the average salary in the NBA. So if you can sign a better than average player to the MLE, in theory you got a good deal.

I guess that begs the question; is Stromile better than the average NBA player? The imediate answer seems to be yes, but then again, he may not be on the top half of the Grizz'z players.

 

its too bad theres not some set magical formula to determine what a players worth and should be paid. but then we'd see a drastic increase in turnovers and ballhogs. ohhhh the world will never be perfect!

 

Don't take it personally but I keep reading numerous posts about all of this cap space we are going to have and it flatly doesn't exist.

2006-07:
McGrady - 16.9
Yao (extended) - 11.0
Howard - 6.4
Head - .8
Sura - 3.8
James - 3.7

That's 42.6m for 6 players not counting Deke if his deal is a 2 year deal.

As long as the Rockets have a maxed Tmac and a maxed Yao, they are never going to be players in the FA market. Please stop perpetuating the myth that we have cap space. Thanks.

 

James will be opting out, so even if the Rockets sign Mutombo to a 2 year deal, shouldn't that put us about 10 million under the cap?

Is it possible for the Rockets to sign Swift to a one year deal, or a 2 year deal with an opt out on the second year, in order to give him a raise next summer?

 

I'm sure it's possible, but not probable. I wouldn't turn down a contract that guarantees $$ for 5 years vs. one that only guarantees for 1 or 2.

Gater- Is it possible to have a "kicker" in a contract?

 

http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm
I have no clue no salary stuff, but how come in hoopshype, Yao Ming's salary is calculated at $7.2 in 2006-2007. Based on the site, seems like we cut down from $55 m to $38 m in salary next year. I don't see Deke there though.

 

Most players want the most money they can get. Very few, primarily a few veterans who are set for life, are willing to turn down a contract that's more than slightly bigger.

Swift, right now, has his last chance to cash in on "potential." If he plays like he has so far in the NBA during his next contract - he might get the minimum next time. So for Swift, he has special considerations - but it ain't because of how much a "megastar" he was at LSU.

 

http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/25888.htm

SHAREEF ON HOLD, SO NETS COURT SWIFT

By FRED KERBER


July 13, 2005 -- What the Nets want to give, the Blazers don't want, and what the Blazers want, the Nets won't give.
So Nets brass, while still placing Shareef Abdur-Rahim atop its power-forward wish list, stepped up a contingency scenario by meeting yesterday in Las Vegas with Memphis free agent Stromile Swift.

The Nets' approach has been to try to land Abdur-Rahim from Portland through a sign-and-trade with their $4.9 trade exception and a second-round draft pick, but the Blazers are adamant that they have no interest in the trade exception and want a No. 1. Conversely, the Nets are loathe to part with a No. 1 pick.

Nets president Rod Thorn, in Las Vegas, had no additional talks with Portland and claimed the situation was "nowhere." While Thorn declined to reveal any particulars of his previous talks, he indicated it would be "fair to say" he would not part with any first-round pick, including a 2007 pick that Blazers GM John Nash indicated could get it done. The Blazers could lose Abdur-Rahim and get nothing in return if he takes a mid-level exception offer.

"The trade exception is not a valuable thing to us," Nash, the former Nets GM, said, expressing luxury-tax concerns. "A future first is also something that is desirable for the very reason that to use it would bring back another salary."

But the Nets pretty much are saying dream on. "We're not giving up a No. 1," one team official repeatedly stressed.

"Right now, though, the talks are nowhere," said Thorn, who claimed he expects a resolution of the Abdur-Rahim issue "in the next few days."



The Nets have had contact with Swift's camp, but the fact the power forward met them in Vegas seemed positive. Swift was a guy the Nets considered before drafting Kenyon Martin in 2000. There are concerns regarding his practice habits, but the Nets feel they have a self-policing team. The 6-9, 225-pound Swift, 25, is a 9.0-point, 5.0-rebound career performer. Abdur-Rahim, 28 and 6-9, 245 pounds, carries career numbers of 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Still, the Nets are not giving up on Abdur-Rahim. The problem is how to do it.

"Until Shareef's agent calls and suggests a sign-and-trade, it's a moot point," said Nash.

The Nets have had cursory conversations with Memphis about a possible sign-and-trade involving Swift. Memphis GM Jerry West could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The Nets' third option is Toronto's Donyell Marshall, 32.

 

I believe this $7.2m is qualifying offer in case Yao will not accept the offer from rockets to be a unrestricted FA after 2007.
If Yao accepts the new contract, the starting salary will be max for 06-07.

 

PLEASE NEW JERSEY, JUST GIVE THE BLAZERS A 1ST ROUNDER, PLEASE!!

 

You will see that Yao is listed as a Qualifying Offer FA (green font). The Rockets have already committed to extend Yao at the earliest possible time before next summer. And Yao is on record that he will take the Rockets' offer.

IOW, Yao will never become a FA because his contract will be extended by mutual agreement. His max extended salary under the old CBA was 11m and will be at least that in the new one. The $7m will be replaced by the max value as soon as the contract is signed. Probably before next training camp or shortly thereafter.

If James opts out and if the Rockets don't sign or trade for any player this summer having a contract longer than 1 season and if Mutombo's deal is only 1 year this is what you have..


McGrady - 16.9
Yao (extended) - 11.0
Howard - 6.4
Head - .8
Sura - 3.8

That's 38.9m and you have 10 roster spots to fill. Let's say the cap jumps to 48m. (Unlikely, but we'll use your #). If you sign any FA player to a $7m contract, you now have 3m to sign 9 players. And when you elected to use the cap space, you lost the MLE. Now, if you think that's a good scenario, we'll agree to disagree.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to respond directly to the question. I'm not sure MLE's can have option years, but a 1 year deal basically has no benefit for the Rockets or Swift. After 1 year, Swift would be UFA and could walk. Or, the Rockets could conclude he was a bad fit (or he could receive a severe freak injury) and let him walk. Too much risk for either party.

A 2 year deal only gives the Rockets Early Bird Rights. That means they can re-sign him starting at the MLE level. Again, not much benefit. The way to go is a 3 year deal which gives full Bird Rights. Afterward, you evalaute based on performance and give the raise.