Lowball Morey talks of possibly signing a free agent at the end of the summer or later, but doing so in search of value. Which I took to mean being predatorial (is that a word?). In other words signing a player on the cheap after all the other teams have either exhausted all of their MLE money or they have no intention of using it. Thus catching player’s agents in desperation mode, fearing that their clients may get stuck with a minimum type money if they don’t jump on Morey's insulting Lowball Offer. (my guestimate is about 1.7 mil starting after we spend 2.3 on Andersen and 1.7 mil combined on our rookies). Smart Morey Moneyball at work. Of course Morey will first explain to them how much we love their guy and how is a perfect fit in Adelman's system and how we would offer more if we had it. But in the end the deal favors the Rockets. So of the following free agents (Some on this list may already be gone or out of our reach) do you see anyone worth signing for our lowball contract... 1. David Lee, Knicks (RFA) Teams interested: Knicks, Blazers, Thunder Salary range: $8-10 million per year Lee is a double-double machine who has become a favorite among New York fans and coaches around the league. The Knicks have a goal of clearing cap space for 2010, meaning they might not be in a position to match a substantial offer sheet. So Lee is the rare top-notch restricted free agent whom an opposing team might be able to steal away. At least in theory. The Grizzlies flirted with making him an offer but then backed away. The Blazers also have toyed with the idea but haven't pulled the trigger. 2. Lamar Odom, Lakers (UFA) Teams interested: Lakers, Cavs Salary range: $6-8 million per year Odom is one of the most interesting free agents on the open market. With Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum on L.A.'s roster, the Lakers don't desperately need him, especially now that they've spent $33 million on Ron Artest. Still, Odom is a great team guy who can rebound and initiate the offense, and he doesn't need the ball to be effective. He wants a lot of money to stay with the Lakers, but if they won't pay it, who will? He may have to settle for the midlevel exception if he can't make a deal with L.A. 3. Andre Miller, Sixers (UFA) Teams interested: Sixers, Blazers, Pacers Salary range: $5.5-7 million per year At age 33, Miller is coming off two of the best seasons of his career. Can the Sixers afford to lose him? Some GM who needs a veteran point guard will be willing to gamble on Miller this summer if he gives up his $10 million per season demands. 4. Marvin Williams, Hawks (RFA) Teams interested: Hawks, ??? Salary range: $5.5-7 million per year Williams has as much raw talent as anyone else in the draft class of 2005, but he has been frustratingly inconsistent in his first four seasons with the Hawks. Williams has struggled to receive any offers from a team because rival GMs are convinced the Hawks will match. Although he probably will stay in Atlanta, he hasn't played well enough to earn anything close to the $60-64 million, five-year contract that fellow '05 classmate Danny Granger signed this past fall. 5. Raymond Felton, Bobcats (RFA) Teams interested: Bobcats, Sixers Salary range: $5-6 million per year Felton has been looking over his shoulder at Larry Brown's young protégé, D.J. Augustin, who performed well enough as a rookie that it's unlikely the Bobcats would match a big offer sheet for Felton. Felton can dish out assists, but his poor shooting has hampered his career. If the Bobcats can get Felton for the midlevel exception, I think they'll keep him. Given that all the money has really dried up out there, I think his return to the Bobcats is likely. 6. Josh Childress, Hawks (RFA) Teams interested: Bucks, Pacers Salary range: $4-6 million per year Childress shocked many in the NBA by deciding to bolt for Greece last summer. He'll likely be back in the NBA eventually, but it's unclear whether he'll decide to return in the fall. However, with bad blood lingering over how his negotiations went with Atlanta last summer, he probably won't return to the Hawks, even though they still hold his rights. 7. Ramon Sessions, Bucks (RFA) Teams interested: Bucks, Warriors, Heat, Blazers, Pacers, Rockets Salary range: $4-6 million per year Teams are always in pursuit of point guards, especially ones who won't break the bank, and Sessions has caught the eye of a number of teams. With the Bucks struggling financially, they may not be able to match an offer. 8. Allen Iverson, Pistons (UFA) Teams interested: Grizzlies, Bobcats, Bulls, Heat Salary range: $3-5 million per year Iverson's late-season disappearance didn't help his reputation. He's still a good player, but two nagging questions will hurt his case for a big deal: One, with the exception of that magical season in Philly under Larry Brown, is Iverson a winner? Two, does he have much left? The answer to the first question seems to be no. The answer to the second question seems to be a qualified yes. The Grizzlies seem to have the most interest at the moment, with owner Michael Heisley pondering whether to offer Iverson a one-year, $5 million deal. 9. Nate Robinson, Knicks (RFA) Teams interested: Knicks, Kings Salary range: $3-5 million per year The Knicks probably can't afford to keep Robinson as they try to re-sign David Lee and clear cap space for LeBron James (and/or others). Look for Sacramento, among other teams, to make a run at him, especially after the Kings made a big play for him at the trade deadline. 10. Linas Kleiza, Nuggets (RFA) Teams interested: Nuggets, Knicks, Cavs, Raptors Salary range: $3-5 million per year Kleiza is an up-and-coming forward who drew a lot of interest at the trade deadline. He's physical and can score and should land a deal around the midlevel exception. 11. Glen Davis, Celtics (RFA) Teams interested: Celtics, Pistons Salary range: $3-5 million per year Davis might be expendable now that the Celtics have signed Rasheed Wallace. Still, teams are wary of giving him an offer sheet on the off chance that the Celtics could match. 12. Marquis Daniels, Pacers (UFA) Teams interested: Pacers, Rockets, Mavericks Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Daniels is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He's 28, in the prime of his career and really could help a team coming off the bench. He just has to come to grips with the fact that he won't make $7 million a year anymore. 13. Drew Gooden, Spurs (UFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Gooden's situation has been surprisingly quiet. He's big, talented and still pretty young. But he has a bad rep around the league and can't seem to find a home. 14. Joe Smith, Cavs (UFA) Teams interested: Cavs, Magic, Hornets Salary range: $2-4 million per year Smith continues to be a solid low-post option off the bench, especially for a title contender. 15. Chris Wilcox, Knicks (UFA) Teams interested: Wizards Salary range: $2-4 million per year Wilcox has enormous athletic ability and is still relatively young. However, he's struggling to find a team willing to give him big bucks. 16. Hakim Warrick, Grizzlies (RFA) Teams interested: Grizzlies, ??? Salary range: $2-4 million per year Warrick has talent, and a number of teams would target him if he weren't a restricted free agent. The Grizzlies won't match a huge offer, but I don't think anyone is inclined to give him one anyway. 17. Ben Wallace, Suns (UFA) Teams interested: Mavericks, Pistons, Celtics Salary range: $2-4 million per year It may be too early to write off Wallace. He probably doesn't want to toil for a lottery team, but there are several contenders who need size who might be a good fit. Wallace can't do anything offensively, but defensively he still contributes. 18. Tim Thomas, Bulls (UFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: Minimum to $2 million per year Thomas is just 32 years old and still can provide a solid offensive option off the bench for a team looking for a veteran shooter. 19. Rasho Nesterovic, Pacers (UFA) Teams interested: Spurs, Rockets, Magic Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Nesterovic may have lost a step or two, but he's still a pretty effective post man, especially on the offensive end. For a team that is thin at center, he could be a really nice addition to play 15 to 20 minutes a night. 20. Rashad McCants, Kings (UFA) Teams interested: ?? Salary range: $2-4 million per year McCants doesn't have the world's greatest off-the-court rep, but on the court, he's still an excellent scorer with deep range on his jump shot. 21. Ike Diogu, Kings (UFA) Teams interested: Kings Salary range: $2-4 million per year Diogu has battled injuries and struggled to crack the rotation in Golden State, Indiana, Portland and Sacramento. But when he has played, he has shown a knack for scoring the basketball. Teams won't spend much on him, but he has a skill that is in demand. 22. Jerry Stackhouse, Grizzlies (UFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: Minimum to $2 million per year Stackhouse was traded to the Grizzlies and then waived. But he still has some value around the league on a team looking for another veteran swing man. 23. Carlos Delfino, Raptors (RFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: $2-4 million per year Delfino has great size for his position, can shoot the basketball and should come cheaply now that the Raptors have spent all of their money on Hedo Turkoglu. 24. Ronald Murray, Hawks (UFA) Teams Interested: ??? Salary Range: $2-3 million per year Murray was a candidate for the sixth man of the year award last season. He's a gunner, but few low-salaried backup guards can score like he can. 25. Jamario Moon, Heat (RA) Team Interested: Heat Salary Range: Minimum to $2 million per year Moon is an athletic forward who can run the floor, defend and contribute offensively. He started 21 games for the Heat last season. Other unrestricted notables: Leon Powe, Celtics; Sean May, Bobcats; Stromile Swift, Nets; Robert Swift, Thunder; Keith Bogans, Bucks; Bobby Jackson, Kings; Luther Head, Heat; Rodney Carney, Wolves; Cedric Simmons, Kings; Damon Jones, Bucks; Desmond Mason, Thunder; Chris Mihm, Grizzlies; Gerald Green, Mavericks; Wally Szczerbiak, Cavs; Jason Collins, Timberwolves; Jarron Collins, Jazz; Shelden Williams, Wolves; Stephon Marbury, Celtics; Mikki Moore, Celtics; Juwan Howard, Bobcats; Joey Graham, Raptors; Maceo Baston, Pacers; Rob Kurz, Warriors; Morris Almond, Jazz.
Rodney Carney!!!!! He showed alot of upside at the end lof last year. Too bad we are stacked at the 2-3 spot though.
How about either of the Collins twins? They're both a serviceable center..but Jason (who played for new jersey) seems the better one.
personally if the rockets could land Delfino or Mikki Moore I'd be satisfied! then buy out the contracts of Cook and Barry if we can't trade them. As for White he's garbage!
I still think Wilcox helps us. We arent going to get a star, face it. Wilcox can provide an athletic, shot blocking big man... on the cheap.
We have money for FAs? My understanding is that we used almost all of the MLE on Andersen plus the rookies (going to, going to). I think we only have about $1 million, unless we aren't going to sign the rookies, in which case we'd have a little over $3 million.
LINK? Isn't that BSPN? Also, to the guy who said are you Morey in disguise.....don't quote the ENTIRE post....geez.
I wouldn't mind seeing Linas Kleiza in Rocket Red. He's very efficient, can shoot the three-ball, snag boards, and run the floor.
Not a capologist but We are spending 2.5 of the MLE on Anderson. That leaves around 2.8? We can use some of it to sign our rooks to deals that extend our rights to them. We can spend some or all of it to sign Von. Or we could offer it to any of the guys on this list though at that level almost any of the RFA's would get matched unless 1. Their team is cap strapped or dumping salary or 2. the player is just not going to play in the NBA. Right? I'd offer it all to Marvin Williams. nah, I guess it's Von and Budinger, 1.9 for two for Von, .9 for the extra year for Bud.
Almost any RFA of any worth will be matched. Morey has been pretty clear that any moves will now come from trades. That may include sign + trades for UFAs, which would allow us to spend more by sending over players in exchange. My sense is that unless a desperate situation unfolds we are set as a team until signing/cuts at training camp. I think a desperate situation is like the Millsap situation where Utah got squeezed forcing their hand on Boozer. This could happen with other teams forced to move pieces to match offer sheets.
Chris Wilcox is about to sign with the Pistons so mark him off the list. I got a tweet from Yahoo Sports so really no link to provide. I really liked him and would have been excited to have him as insurance for Andersen/Dorey.
