I don't think it's quite $16 mil. Harpring's contract is probably under the same kind of 80% insurance policy that we've heard about in the context of McGrady's contract. So the Jazz are probably only paying $1.4 mil or so of his $7 million deal. I don't, however, think that any of the luxury tax gets paid out of insurance, so it's probably more like $10 million or so they saved so far.
I agree, that was dumb, they'll regret that move. I was mad that Maynor got scooped up by Utah last year. Seems like every player I believe will turn into something special heads to the enemy, Utah, Portland, San Antonio... and so on, I for one am glad they made the move. :grin:
I can almost guarantee you'll be lamenting the fact that OKC has so many awesome players in about 2 years.
I totally agree, but I look at it this way: OKC is becoming the Portland Trailblazers of now, their young cheap talent is developing and their short term affordable contracts will be expiring and will need to be re-signed to new long term pricey deals, therefore they will lose some good players to other teams with cap space, possibly you! Prestige World Wide....
That's just how bad the bottom 2/3 of the East is. Only 5 teams above .500. Every team except the Nets is a potential playoff team right now.
Unfortunately Thunder GM is a much better GM than Pritchard so I don't think this has any chance of happening. The main reason Portland has to lose players is because their squad doesn't seem to be synergistic. Their better players all play the same position (Fernandez/Roy, Oden/Pryzbilla, Bayless/Miller/Blake), while their forwards are lacking (Webster, Outlaw). On the other hand Thunder's core (Durant/Green/Westbrook) can all play together on the court, and I don't think any of their players apart from those three will command a high salary in the league.
Just have to say this, Jazz does not look like a Jazz team when they have Maynor, Brewer and Milsap on the floor. They are just not pale enough and do not flop enough.
Uh. Portlands 3 main players are Roy, Aldridge and Oden. Roy is a SG who can play PG and SF Aldridge is a PF and Oden is C Bayless and Blake are not there better players. Bayless barely cracks the rotation when they have a healthy roster and Blake only starts because Miller is a ballhog. If you think Bayless and Blake are better players than Webster and Outlaw then you seriously need to get your glasses checked.
Based on the Suns game and tonight so far against the Bobcats, it's obvious how big a steal Maynor was for the Thunder.
Its like Morey buying a 1st round draft pick for 6 million. If insurance is paying some of the contract, a little less. Probably a bit too high, paying $6 mil a transcation. But you gain the asset and competitive advantage. If the difference in Rockets advancing past the Jazz was $6 mil, if the Jazz before the playoffs series against the Rockets said we will give you Mehmet Okur just pay his salary and he's yours, they'd have to think about it. Agree. Bring basketball back to Seattle. They could turn into the Sonics if they wanted. Seattle is waiting to dress up a team in Sonics clothing and give them money.
Harpring's salary was being paid by insurance. Luxury taxes were the issue for the Jazz and they dumped a combined $8 million, which isn't chump change for them. I don't think this cost the Thunder anything close to $6 million. Them being under the salary cap is what made them eligible for such a giveaway. This wouldn't have happened if the Blazers hadn't poked the Jazz in the eye by offering Milsap that contract. Thanks Blazers, this time.
