Understood. What I was trying to say is that if the Rockets can find another team to take Webster and/or Miller (for example, paying Indiana $1.5 million to absorb Webster-- which would allow Indy to make $850K or so), then this move will help with 2011-12 cap room.
I think the math is such that, if the Rockets trade away Dalembert, Martin and Lowry for draft picks without getting significant 2012-13 salary in return, and then make a deal for Dwight without getting any other contract (like Hedo) back with him, the team will actually be in a position to clear enough salary space to make a run at Deron. They can do it by getting rid of Scola (via trade or amnesty) or, perhaps more simply by letting Lee sign elsewhere as a FA in combination of sending away the smallish salary of Patterson or Morris. In any case, if they want to, they can fairly easily find a way to make Deron a max offer.
They don't even NEED to get rid of Scola. If they let Dragic walk to sign D-Will (I'm guessing that Goran would not want to re-sign here if a superstar was also signing to play the same position), they could conceivably add Howard, Williams and re-sign Lee. If Camby is willing to sign for the $2.5M Room Exception (not so sure about that), they could even bring him back.
What's wrong with having so many picks in this first round? You've got a lot of talent in the draft and the physical/athletic talent is everywhere. Although there isn't one clear superstar in the draft and no sure star after Davis, the potential is more evenly distributed down the draft. That's what teams can't change in a player. An 18th in this draft is more like an 11th or 12th. Maybe even a 10. Martin's done here, take it.
If Deron isn't an option as the second star to keep Dwight happy. What other options do they have, how can they achieve it, and have a decent supporting cast?
I really wish that people would stop overlooking the fact that Howard nor Williams want to come here. Why force someone here and at the same time ruin your team for another decade.
Just for gigs if this happens and oh...lets say that they Rockets plan on keeping 14, 16, and 18. Jones III, Rivers and Melo?
He is. When morey got Martin, he had a deal for amare but backed out then when the nixed trade was agreed on, he had nene.interested in signing.
Possibly Ray Allen or KG. Iguodala and Josh Smith are on the block. Then there is always Steve Nash. I suppose Gasol is still a possibilty
18 + the cap space would be good enough for me... Go ahead and get that MEM pick back though Morey... That whole Hasheem Thabeet thing didn't really work out. YET! to be continued..
I agree they don't need to get rid of Scola. However, just letting Dragic (and his $4 million cap hold) walk probably leaves them a bit short of the $17.2 million max salary for which Deron is eligible. Specifically, the following is what the salary calculation looks like to me if they let Dragic walk and waive Greg Smith: <style type="text/css"> table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} </style> <table class="tableizer-table"> <tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th> Name </th><th> Notes </th><th> 2011-12 </th><th> 2012-13 </th><th> 2013-14 </th><th>2014-15</th><th>2015-16</th></tr> <tr><td> Kevin Martin </td><td> Traded to MIN </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Courtney Fortson</td><td>Waived</td><td> $473,604 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Diamon Simpson</td><td>Traded to ORL</td><td> 4736-4 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Dwight Howard</td><td>Acquired by Trade </td><td> $18,091,770 </td><td> $19,536,360 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Courtney Lee </td><td> Cap Hold </td><td> $2,225,093 </td><td> $5,560,000 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Goran Dragic </td><td> Renounced </td><td> $2,108,000 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Patrick Patterson </td><td> </td><td> $1,959,960 </td><td> $2,096,760 </td><td> $3,105,302 </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Samuel Dalembert </td><td> Traded to ORL </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Donatas Motiejunas </td><td>Cap Hold</td><td> </td><td> $1,134,500 </td><td> $1,422,720 </td><td> $1,483,920 </td><td> $2,288,205 </td></tr> <tr><td> Chandler Parsons </td><td> </td><td> $850,000 </td><td> $888,250 </td><td> $926,500 </td><td> $964,750 </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Chase Budinger </td><td> </td><td> $854,389 </td><td> $885,120 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Diamon Simpson</td><td>Traded</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Greg Smith </td><td> Waived </td><td> $473,604 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Derek Fisher </td><td> Waived </td><td> $3,400,000 </td><td> $644,005 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Luis Scola </td><td> </td><td> $8,591,793 </td><td> $9,408,207 </td><td> $10,224,622 </td><td>$11,041,037 </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Kyle Lowry </td><td> Traded to SAC </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> Marcus Morris </td><td> </td><td> $1,823,280 </td><td> $1,905,360 </td><td> $1,987,320 </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Marcus Camby</td><td>Renounced</td><td> $11,071,500 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Earl Boykins</td><td>Renounced</td><td> $762,195 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>14th Pick</td><td>Traded to SAC/TOR</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>16th Pick</td><td>Traded to SAC/TOR</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>SUM</td><td>Add Lee/Dragic</td><td> $52,685,188 </td><td> $42,058,562 </td><td> $17,666,464 </td><td> $13,489,707 </td><td> $2,288,205 </td></tr> <tr><td># of Players</td><td> </td><td>13 </td><td>8 </td><td>5 </td><td>3 </td><td>1 </td></tr> <tr><td>$ below $58.04 mil Cap</td><td> </td><td> $5,354,812 </td><td> $15,981,438 </td><td> $40,373,536 </td><td> $44,550,293 </td><td> $55,751,795 </td></tr></table> They'll have 8 guys under contract for $42 million, adding the roster charges to it will add $2 million more. Seems like they need to either also let Lee go or trade away Morris and Patterson to get the necessary cap room.
KG, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Jason Terry, Kidd, Dre Miller, Billups, Jamison, Landry etc. just to name a few. There's a laundry list of FA's that you could sign and build around Howard overnight and make a Championship caliber team.
If they still have Scola and bring Motiejunas over, then Patterson would certainly be my choice to go.
Is there anyway we could sign Deron and Dragic? Money-wise, I mean. I know it's unlikely to get Deron and even more unlikely to convince Gogi after we sign Deron.
