I was reading the article below & wondered if we could make a run at it? The article speculates that they might be willing to trade it for another team's future #1 pick, in order to avoid the $2.4 million cap hit this year. They're also looking to move either Grant, Jones, or both to get some cap room. It was rumored/reported that there was a proposed trade between Houston & Miami that involved Taylor/Mobley for Grant before the last trade deadline. Also, Doc Rocket has hinted that the Rockets are looking to trade for some veteran players, are planning on moving Rice before the summer is over, & that Miami could be in the mix. If Miami is serious about rebuilding their team through free agency, then here's a trade proposal that could help them & us. It might not be fair as far as talent goes, but it definitely gets them more cap flexibility to rebuild through free agency over the next 2 years. Houston sends Mobley/Taylor/Rice/future #1 pick to Miami. Miami sends Jones/Grant/the #5 pick this year to Houston. This trade allows Miami to get the $8-9 million in cap space this year (as projected in the article) & Rice's $9+ million contract comes off the books next year. They get Jones's replacement with Mobley, but lose some rebounding at the PF spot with Taylor. However, both players are younger & have much more cap friendly contracts. They could then make a run at some veteran FA's such as Brad Miller, Kandi, Juwan Howard, Karl Malone, etc.,etc. Then, next year, they could pick up another FA or two when Rice's contract expires. Or, they could just resign Zo for one year & completely rebuild the team, similar to what Denver is doing. We might have to sweeten the pot with the Chicago Drew obligation (2 high second round picks), but Houston would get the veteran players it needs & would be an instant contender for the playoffs. If we can get TJ Ford at #5, we can slide Francis over to the 2 & play Jones at the 3, once TJ is ready to take the PG role over. Our eventual new lineup would be: C: Yao/Cato/Collier? PF: Grant/Griffin/T-Mo SF: Jones/Posey/Nachbar SG: Francis/Jones PG: TJ/Francis/Moochie If you take Rice & Jones out of the trade, I might do the deal anyway & resign Posey to be my starting SF. Can you see this as a doable trade, or how can it be adjusted to make everyone happy? http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/5934553.htm Heat explores trading its first-round pick BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ igutierrez@herald.com With every day comes seemingly another scenario about how the Heat could have more, or less, salary cap room with which to sign free agents this summer. For those who are not enamored with any of the prospects that are projected to be available with the No. 5 pick next month, here is yet another scenario that could excite you. The Heat could -- such an offer would have to be made of course -- trade its No. 5 pick for another team's future first-round pick, leaving the team with no first-round pick this year. What that would do is free up some extra cap space for the Heat that it would have had to use to sign the No. 5 pick. The No. 5 pick is slated to make about $2.4 next year. Without being forced to allocate that money to a draft pick, the Heat could have more than the projected $6 million in space. One NBA general manager said the projected salary cap figure is $42.3 million (the actual figure won't be announced until the summer). The Heat has Brian Grant, Eddie Jones, Anthony Carter and Caron Butler under contract, totaling about $30 million. After accounting for the cost of ''cap holds'' and retaining a few of its younger players, the team could still have somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 or $9 million in cap space. That amount would make the Heat legitimate contenders to sign any free agent outside of Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan and probably Jermaine O'Neal. The other group of players available include center Michael Olowokandi, guard Gilbert Arenas and Clippers Andre Miller, Lamar Odom and Elton Brand, although those three are restricted free agents, meaning the Clippers can match any team's offer. The possibilities would also include signing two players in a lower price range. Pat Riley could also decide against all of this and choose to re-sign Alonzo Mourning for a year, use a the mid-level salary-cap exception and wait until next year to take advantage of cap space. But Riley said he has been examining this year's free agents very closely. ''We're scouting free agents that we scout on a regular basis unlike we've ever scouted them before, to really see how good these guys are,'' Riley said. ``Sometimes you sign a free agent and they have one specific skill, but they're a nightmare in a lot of other situations. So we're doing both things. Even players on other teams that we feel might be possibilities for sign-and-trades, we're really scouting those guys.''
Hey! lol.....something different and fresh! Okay......Mobley is about the same as Jones...but younger. Taylor and Grant both have their strengths and weaknesses. Grant would be great with us. Taylor would be a big help inside for them...maybe with Alonzo Mourning too. That would be great for them. Taylor might be great in the East. Rice..can just rot.....and that will give them EVEN MORE CAP SPACE next season......daaaaaaaaaayam. #1 pick is to sweeten it. Now they give us Jones, Grant, and that #5 pick. I ACCEPT. I'd love it.
Miami is getting the short end of the stick on that deal. Very short. Their two best players and a high lottery pick for essentially Mobley (good starting SG), Taylor (backup PG) and a mid to late 1st rounder???
I do this in a heartbeat if it comes up. TJ won't be a good shooter, but he'll give the team the spark it needs to get the offense rolling - bascially, he'll be a Kidd-clone (not at that level, of course). His much of his play is natural rather than based on "plays", his learning curve shouldn't be terribly big either. Give him the ball, everyone runs around, let him find them. Plus, you have the whole Houston-legend aspect that makes it that much better. This would be a key to getting attendance up too, since the Yao factor didn't do it. He makes basketball exciting, and that's something that's been lacking with the team the last few years (contrary to their marketing slogans).
Taylor would be a starting power forward sir. And the 1st rounder is still a first rounder. And Glen Rice would free up another 9 million a year in cap space. They have the money to sign one big free agent this year.....and another one next year. They are rebuilding. They aren't looking to win yet... I think it's fair.
I completely agree, but if Miami is going to compete again, it's got to lose those big contracts. Houston has many of the pieces in place already & these two veterans should push us over the top. I don't know the exact numbers, but we would be flirting with the Luxury Tax for the next 4 years. However, Les might be willing to take the hit with the new stadium & projected increase in revenue.
Taylor is a below average PF, whether he is starting or not, sir. Taylor has yet to justify his salary. At least Grant and Jones are coming someone close (at least, alot closer than Taylor is). A mid to late 1st rounder is not worth a high lottery pick. That is just common sense. Miami is already going to be about $10 - $15 mil under the cap (depending on the Zo situation), so I don't think having another $9 MIL under the cap the following year is incentive enough to take on two bad contracts from us. If they are looking to rebuild, then that high lottery pick will be that much more important to them. It is a VERY unfair trade for Miami. Trade all our crap and bad contracts for two established starters and a lottery pick. Typical trade suggestion around here.
HD, I think you forget that Les has a TON of his own money invested in the new arena. Therefore, you have to think that he really wants to stay away from the luxury tax for a few years while he attempts to recover some of his investment. I think we can get the one or two veterans we need to make the players for alot cheaper (say, by signing Zo and/or Jon Barry).
All our crap...and bad contracts??? Mobley is just as good or better than Eddie Jones and makes 2 times less than Jones. Taylor is crap too? I don't think so. Watch some games. Brian Grant is getting older and is declining. And Grant.......all he does is rebound..and he makes $11 million per year. That's a bad contract and he's pretty much crap. Glen Rice isn't crap either. Veteran leadership. I'd say it's a FAIR trade. It's not gonna happen anyways.
CrazyJoeDavola - it may not be totally fair through your eyes, but Miami may see it differently. I guarantee you that Pat Riley desperately wants to get Jones and Grant off the books. Those contracts are ridiculous. If it was legal for cap reasons, I'd be willing to bet that Riley would take Mobley for Jones straight up .... Mobley's contract is just so much more team friendly (too bad Mobley the Player isn't too "team" friendly). Honestly, the problem isn't Miami holding on to "two established starters", but rather no one will take them off their hands without dumping in some of their own salary cap problems. As for the #5 pick, if I'm the Heat, I'd have to fall really hard out of love with ANYONE that would be available at that position. They're rebuilding... they <I>need</I> these picks. Why they would "dump off" a #5 pick is beyond me, unless they just don't like Ford and others expected to go in the 5-9 range. I wouldn't dump off this pick otherwise just for another 2+ million in cap room - look what years of clearing off cap room got them last time - a <B>cap room nightmare</B> in signing Grant/Jones.
I'd be mad if this trade is made. Grant and Jones are already old and not going to get any younger or cheaper, and friggin' TJ Ford is Jay Williams II.
I'm not saying he will do it, I'm just suggesting that it's an option he might consider. Neither you, nor I, have the slightest idea what his true plans are for the future of this team. The only things I believe in for sure, are what Doc Rocket has reported. He's an insider that has been vouched for, by Clutch, on many occasions.
Well Pat Riley did say that he wanted veterans coming in...not more kids. Hmm...but they really need a point guard. I don't know why they would do it. Oh well! It's nice to dream..
not a bad trade, but a ford/francis backcourt would never work together. it would be the smallest in the league and we would get killed. i like tj and i believe that he will do well in the nba, but not w/ "franchise". if we can get rid of "franchise" i would love to have tj alongside a bigger, more defensive minded 2. ford/cat would be a better option that ford/francis.
Yes, the back court defense would suck, but a front line of Grant/Yao/Jones would be able to catch most mistakes from the back court & force the opposing team to resort to a lower percentage long range game.
This trade is only good if the rockets good free up money to get a Gilbert Arenas or Lamar odom. Then i would do the trade just to get that special free agent.
This article might shed some additional light on why Miami would be interested in Mobley & Taylor. Both are more offensive players than defensive. However, Mobley has stepped up his defensive game lately. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/5781976.htm Heat plans to 'overhaul' offense Frustrated with the Heat's woeful offense? There might be hope. Although Miami's improvement will hinge mostly on its ability to acquire better players, we hear the team is exploring its most dramatic offensive changes in Pat Riley's eight seasons as coach. ''We're looking at overhauling our offense,'' assistant head coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``Before, we tweaked it. Now, we're looking at major changes. We're probably not a low-post center, prototypical point guard type of team, and we have to look at other ways to attack.'' Don't expect the Heat to sacrifice defense and play like the 1980s Denver Nuggets. But it's obvious offense will be stressed more, with an emphasis on maximizing Caron Butler's creativity and ball-handling skills. ''We tried to run more at the end of the season,'' Van Gundy said. ``Maybe now we open up the court more for drives and cuts. More of a passing [game] is possible. Pat wants to look at making changes. You can't have anything set in stone until we see our personnel.'' With Alonzo Mourning expected to look for more money elsewhere, the Heat won't use a primarily post-oriented offense unless it signs a standout back-to-the-basket center. ''We have to be a good defensive team to win, and that will never change here, but we can't be where we are offensively and expect to win,'' Van Gundy said.
Clutch, The reason why I was making a strong point about Miami holding onto their two best stars, despite their contracts, is because despite those contracts, they will be under the cap this summer by about $17 MIL ($30 mil committed with an expected cap of $45-$47 MIL). They can sign a darn good big man (say Olowokandi or Malone for example) and someone else (say a Jon Barry or Kenny Thomas) and add that to a T.J. Ford with the #5 pick and be right back in the thick of the playoffs. Butler Malone Grant Jones Ford That is not a bad starting 5 and would definitely be a contender in the east, IMO. Thats why I feel they might not be so quick to trade Grant and/or Jones right away. I agree that receiving excess cap room (Rice's contract) would be a plus, but the fact that Mobley and Taylor are not very proven (as far as players that are playoff tested), coupled with Taylor's contract, might make Miami think twice.
Anyways......it won't happen. Why? Because even if we get Ford.....WHAT THE HECK HAPPENS WITH EDDIE JONES? lol.........Ford and Francis. Jones on the bench?????????? Or move him? Or what the heck? Small forward? Grant or Griffin could start. Even though Jones and Grant are old....they are exactly what we need. Veterans. Grant is a rebounder and banger and defender. That's what we want. Jones...well he's like Mobley...almost...but makes more and maybe is smarter. Miami does this because they need more offense. They are boring. With Caron Butler, Cuttino Mobley, and Maurice Taylor, and maybe Alonzo Mourning, they would have offense. Mobley could even play point guard or Eddie House could. Anyways.........what would we do with Eddie Jones? lol... Ford/Francis/Moochie Francis/Jones/Posey Posey/Nachbar/Morris/Griffin Grant/Griffin/Morris Yao/Cato/Collier The Rockets would be a little worse...as in talent...but mentally maybe better. And with LARRY BROWN as coach.....they could be good.
