GATER, thanks for the clarification! So since Wallace counts AGAINST their Pistons Cap then if the Pistons have to sign Okur to OVER the MLE to outbid someone else then they have to renounce Wallace OR do a S&T with another team? I think that is the kicker! I think someone like Denver or Utah will offer MORE than the MLE. I think the Pistons are stuck here and wont be able to keep both for financial reasons not to mention playing time issues.
So, Detroit can sign Okur or Rasheed to market-rate deals, but not both. Would they really choose Okur over Wallace? Wallace is a chemistry-risk, but it seems the definition of folly to choose a potentially good big man in Okur over a proven star talent in Wallace. Could it not be that they acquired Wallace so it won't hurt to lose Okur? If so, why were they so insistent on shedding Atkins' contract to do the deal? Possibly because they wanted to be sure they didn't lose out on both -- that is, if Wallace leaves in free agency, they'd still have the cap space for Okur. If they kept Atkins, etc, and Wallace decided to leave without compensation, then they would still be stuck not being able to offer Okur enough money. Anyway, my money is on Detroit re-signing Wallace to a sizeable contract (though smaller than $17 million -- the possibility of re-signing Okur gives them some negotiating leverage on price) in the offseason and Okur going to a cap-space team for a contract bigger than he's worth.
I don't think they're going to try to resign him unless they win it all and he is a big part of it or if they make it to the finals on his back. But a team made up of : Ben Wallace Mehmet Oku Rasheed Wallace Corliss Prince Rip Hamilton Billups This is a team that could do some damage in the east, and could compete with the west as well. But will probably lose eventually to the West team. I Think they're better now than Indiana, but I don't know if they can beat the style that the Nets play.
Deuce - My best number for the Pistons is seven 2004-05 contracts totalling ~$33.5m. Expired contracts...Rasheed at 150% of $17m plus Okur at 120% of $1.1m...takes them to $60.4m. IOW, they will have to handle Wallace before they address Okur. Every dollar they pay Wallace OR SnT Wallace for incoming contracts ups the $33.5m. For example, if DET and Wallace agree to an $8m dollar contract, DET now has $41.5 committed. Barely MLE money for Okur. Now here's the wild part... Let's suppose the Rasheed experiment fails in DET's mind. With the TE, HOU can SnT Wallace for $6.99m and only send DET draft picks leaving DET with $10+m in cap space...an option much better than letting Wallace walk and better than MLE money for Wallace! Another interesting sidebar is that with only 7 2004-05 contracts, DET will have to leave someone unprotected for CHAR...my guess is Corliss. 3 years @ $18m might make Williamson a Bobcat. IMHO, DET has definitely put all of their chips on the table for one big roulette wheel ride!
I don't get this from the Hawks perspective...They got rid of everyone and have nothing to show for it...
GATER, that is EXACTLY what I am hoping for as a Rockets fan! Seems to me that they invested so much in Darko that having Wallace around doesn't make sense but Okur does make sense since he is more of a Center. Since we have the TE we can send back money to them that doesn't count so making a S&T is appealing to them. If I am CD, I call Detroit right now and let them know we are interested in Wallace and to talk after the season. If the Pistons somehow re-sign Rasheed Wallace AND Okur they are going to take a BEATING from the press there with the Darko draft pick. Darko will be the odd man out (with Ben Wallace added to the mix) and at that point Carmello would have looked MUCH more appealing! This is why I dont think BOTH Wallace and Okur will be signed. I think they like the chemistry of Okur and will keep him. He is much younger than Rasheed and less of a risk. This is a young team, with Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Darko. Why let Okur walk when he can grow with this unit?
<i> Suppose: 1) That the R Wallace experiment works out and Detroit wants to resign him. 2) That Corliss ends up with Charlotte in the Expansion Draft 3) Another team is interested in giving Okur better than the MLE, but lacks the cap space. or 3) Another team is interested in trading for Cato and has a respectable offer on the table. or 3) Another team is interested in trading for Mo </i> Is there some way that the Exception from the Rice trade could be used to facilitate Okur going to a third team or to the Rockets if Mo or Cato was traded? I already know that the Exception can't be used in signing Free Agents, so Detroit would have to broker the signing part, but could Houston still be a player in the proceedings? <a HREF="http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#17">Are there exceptions to the salary cap?</a> <i> TRADED PLAYER EXCEPTION -- This is a "credit" teams can use to replace the salary of a player traded to another team. This credit cannot be used to sign free agents -- it is only available for trades. This exception is discussed in detail in question number 68 . Also see question number 18 for more information on the availability and use of this exception. </i> Detroit: B Wallace/Darko /<i>Physical Player</i> R Wallace/Darko Prince/R Wallace Hamilton/ Billups/ <hr color=green> If the R Wallace experiment seems to have failed and Detroit doesn't make the big push to resign him, how much impact would it have on the interest for R Wallace from other teams?
