I'm a little confused? How does sign and trade work with the new CBA. There is no advantage because no extra year salary for the player. Why would D12 or CP3 sign with their original teams, they are Free Agents right?
Just imagine that the salary cap does increase from $58m to $69m this year allowing the Rockets to sign both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul by shipping out Asik and Lin. Also imagine it was Lin's global marketability that was the main reason for league revenues to rise 20% last year. How ironic would it be if Lin was responsible for himself being shipped out of a championship calibre team.
Signing Jennings and Josh Smith is how you ruin your chance at a championship. Neither is good enough for a max or near-max contract, and they kill off our chances at getting a legitimate star with the cap space they fill. Trading for the draft pick, though could still work to get us another piece before we try to sign a Love, LMA, Cousins type later on. Depends on the team because most would rather try their luck in the draft than take on two players that are already in the NBA, but the profit of Lin and potential of T-Rob are both good selling points.
Lebron chose Miami over NYC, Miami is nice and all, but just no, Carmelo clearly wanted to go and play for his hometown team that he supported as a kid, that's why even Brooklyn wasn't on the cards. As for endorsements, Carmelo's haven't changed, Dwight's have gone down, Lebron's have only really gone up since he won the title. And as for CP3, I think he's quite unlikely to leave the Clippers, he hasn't really indicated an inclination to move, but the Griffin for Howard trade "when he wants" is absurd. Hoard on the other hand sounded like a relationship break up, "I need time to myself", "I need to think about it", "don't pressure me", the only thing it was missing was "it's not you, it's me"
Here's to hoping the Grizzlies finish the job tonight. While it's still very, very likely he stays, maybe the door cracks open ever so slightly.
Since CP3 is the acting GM of the Clippers, does that means their negotiations are him trying to convince him?
Betting odds for where Dwight will be playing next season: 11/4 Since they are betting odds, realistic odds for coming to Houston is more like 3:1 to 4:1. The season ended for the Lakers on Sunday after they were swept by the Spurs in the first round so naturally the Dwight Howard speculation is picking up steam. The oddsmakers at Bovada have already set odds for where Howard will sign as a free agent, and the Rockets who have courted Howard via trade for over a year could be runners-up again: Here are their opening numbers for “What team will Dwight Howard play game 1 of the 2013-2014 regular season for?”: Los Angeles Lakers 4/7 Houston Rockets 11/4 Dallas Mavericks 3/1 Atlanta Hawks 6/1 Any Other Team 17/2 It should be noted that Kobe Bryant, the Lakers star who injured his achilles and missed the playoffs, said “it’s very important” for the Lakers to bring Howard back even though the two didn’t always mesh on or off the court this season. “I think Los Angeles is the perfect spot for him,” Bryant told the Los Angles Times. Howard officially becomes a free-agent on July 1. By NBA rules, he could sign with the Lakers for a max of $118 million for five years. Another team could sign him for up to $88 million for four years. The Lakers could face a luxury tax situation with Howard, the possible return of Pau Gasol and Bryant, who vows to be ready to play next season. It’s a lot for GM Mitch Kupchak to weigh but he says he is “relatively optimistic.” “I think he has complete faith in the organization. I think he does like living here. I think it’s all good, which leads me to why I’m optimistic,” Kupchack told the LA Times. The Lakers can sign Howard any time before he becomes a free agent. But if he signed early, that would take away all the fun of speculating. http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...-speculation-begin-rockets-getting-good-odds/
Since Chris Paul is a Free Agent. Morey doesn't have to talk to Chris Paul the Clippers GM just convince Chris Paul the player to join Harden and Howard in H-Town.
You know something. I've gone back and forth on this in my mind for quite some time. And I honestly think there are multiple roster moves that could make us championship competitive. Of course adding Howard and CP3 would give us a formidable Big 3 that would drive us to the Finals against Miami. But look back slightly a couple years ago to the Dallas Mavs. They had one guy (Dirk) surrounded by a pile of great role players (Tyson, Kidd, JET, Barea, Deshawn, Marion). They revolved around Dirk with a bunch of guys that could move, shoot from distance, put the ball on the floor and go to the cup....and defend. Only one really great player there but 6 other smart skilled ballers. In my opinion, we are loading up on smart skilled players with similar skill sets to that Mav team. Guys like Parsons, Beverley, etc, they can defend at a high level, they can handle and finish at the rim, and they can shoot it. We've got a defensive center similar to Tyson (not as good a finisher on the pick and roll but arguably a better defender). And we've got our superstar. And we've got plenty of flexibility along with young kids like TJones with the same defensive ability, dribble drive ability, shooting ability. I really believe that if we signed a guy like Millsap...another multiple tool guy that can shoot it, run pick and roll, finish at the rim, can dribble drive and even post up....and he can defend.....and we trade for a guy like Varajao to back up Asik so that we have at least one of Asik/Varajao on the floor at all times.....I really believe that team would give anybody in the league fits....including Miami. Lin/Beverley Harden/Anderson Parsons/Delfino/(perhaps a re-signed Garcia for the minimum) Asik/Varajao (2 nasty defensive big men for less money than we would pay Dwight) Millsap/one of our rookies - TJones or DMo...whoever we don't trade for Varajao That's a nasty, nasty bunch on both ends of the floor for the entire 48 minutes. You stagger Asik and Varajao so at least one of them is always defending the paint for every minute of the game and you may even bring Lin off the bench to run the second unit and play pick and roll with Andy with shooters spreading the floor ala the Knicks. And virtually every player on that 10 man rotation is a plus defender save for possibly DMO and obviously Delfino and Harden if he doesn't try. Not to mention everybody is willing to share the ball and not hold it and dribble around burning up clock, save the superstar...who has earned that right somewhat. But I suspect on with the addition of Varajao and Millsap and with seeing the ball flying around the perimeter and in and out of the paint that Harden would quickly buy into more ball movement because of team success. Those are just my thoughts. I understand right now the feelings towards keeping Asik. He's a dedicated, hard-working teammate and has been the one single player on which this whole season has hinged. And we will only go as far as he takes us from here on out. But remember........he's got the fumblitis. He's shown improvement in this series and hopefully he stays on track. I'm 50/50 right now on Dwight. I think he was very exposed this season. In my opinion he's still nowhere near as good as Yao was when Yao was healthy. And he's nowhere close to the great bigs of the game like Hakeem, Kareem, Duncan, and Shaq. So, I gotta lotta questions about him. He'd be great in a Tyson Chandler role. Don't know if he'd accept it or not. And I know guys like Varajao and Millsap would accept their roles and bust their tails all the time.
All it is, is a bunch of journeyman and Harden. You need one of two things, you need to be able to beat the best teams at their strengths, or you need to be able to absolutely blow them up where they're not (see our tactics vs OKC). Since there's no beating Miami at whatever position Lebron decides he really is (point shooting small power forward ), the only other option, is blow them up in the middle or find a pg that even Lebron can't contain, to make matters worse, Lebron's superiority over Millsap is so extreme, that Millsap's $10m or whatever he's worth is relegated to a player not even worth the MLE in a h2h matchup (he makes decent players look like bad players). Now comes the other element, the human element, since they have Lebron, Wade and Bosh, and we have Harden surrounded with players like Millsap, the first choice on every single quality player willing to take a pay cut is Miami. So not only do they have a better top end, they get to fill out the bottom end better as well (Ray Allen much?). And this is why Morey is so focused on the idea of Howard and/or Paul, and doesn't want to consider giving serious coin to the likes of Millsap (the second tier guys as he calls them). You need to absolutely and unequivocally forget the idea of winning with teams where you fill the space with Varejaos and Millsaps, you have no chance against the Miami's, either in recruitment or on the court.
As for Dallas defeating Miami, a few things occurred there, 1. James played ****, I wouldn't want to bank on that, 2. their shooters got super hot, 3. Miami were new together, they hadn't had time to recruit any additional pieces to fill out the roster, and their offense was still quite basic through a lack of faimilarity. Even if 1 and 2 happened again (and James is a far more complete player now his post game is quality), so I have doubts 1 will happen, 3 won't happen again.
If Chris Paul has even a small desire to come here he should be Plan A. His improvement at the PG spot is much more dramatic than Howard at the 5.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you said about Nowitzki and the Mavs was very insightful. I'm still in two-minds about blowing up the team again for 2 more stars Dwight and CP3. My heart tells me to stick with this team I've grown to love, they are underdogs who fight with heart and have a genuine camaraderie. My head tells me, CP3 D12 Harden and Parsons with role players could be the start of a dynasty (but then look at what happened with the Lakers). The question is ... do you believe in the potential of this team to continue to grow to a level that can challenge for a championship OR do you blow it up and start again with bigger stars and hope they gel and can play together.
^This!!! We do not need a chemistry killing DH here especially considering he could kill our cap for 4 years if he goes down with injury which is a possibility with anyone who has back issues. CP3 would be sweet though I am not sure how well he and Harden would mesh considering they both need the ball. Pau for one year would give us a huge upgrade at the 4 and he can play the 5 when Asik is on the bench. Try to get Love in 2014 and then try to resign Pau to backup the 4 and 5 spot.
Most of the ifs are with the assumption that we don't go over the cap. although I am not familiar with the salary cap rules either. So I could be totally wrong. Like one other post said, Les would pay luxury tax if Rockets can win Championship. With Lin being a cash cow and in his true 2nd full NBA season, I don't think he would mind being the 6th man coming off the bench after CP3. CP3 will bewith Harden and Howard. Now you are both the contender and have the money. And with the money, we could probably still keep Parsons, Asik and you name it. Now this would be very attractive to other vet players. I know I am day dreaming.
I don't believe that Morey is so focused on adding Howard and CP3 that he doesn't have other options. I am convinced he will make a push for Dwight or CP3 and if he can get one by signing the other he'll do his best to package the two. However, I don't think for one moment that Morey doesn't have other options which could be argued would be just as good. And if Dwight and Paul don't come, then if we're going to become championship competitive you gotta look outside the block. You sign and trade for guys to value contracts that fit. Guys that you can trade in the future because they are very good ballers and they outperform their contract. This has been what Morey has done until the trade for a superstar presented itself. With this team as currently constructed we have two main weaknesses. 1. We have no backup center that can ratchet down the paint when Asik is off the floor. 2. We are lacking a 4 man that is ready to step in and score efficiently and defend on the NBA level. We are championship quality on the perimeter. We're proving it this series. Our perimeter guys can shoot it, penetrate and finish, and dish, and as a group they are good defensively. We could use perhaps a small upgrade adding one more potent defender like a Tony Allen or perhaps an Andrei Kirilenko but not without upgrading the interior first.
