Did I miss something? Why is Mensah-Bonsu so guaranteed to make the roster? Is his 1 year deal even guaranteed? Or is he a training camp/ pre-season type deal...
I think it's clear Morey and Adelman are employing a wait and see approach right now... while assembling as much cheap talent as they can. There is no masterplan for this year unless they keep Barry AND Cook, which would mean they plan on using $5.5 million in expiring contracts. Why is this misconception so prevalent? Or maybe I'm missing something. Our guaranteed contracts for next year, considering we use the team options on Hayes, Brooks and Landry, trade Battier for an expiring contract and relatively high draft pick at the deadline, will look something like this: Yao Ming - $17,686,100 Trevor Ariza - $6,322,320 Carl Landry - $3,000,000 David Anderson - $2,500,000 Chuck Hayes - $2,334,125 Aaron Brooks - $2,016,692 Budinger/Taylor - $1.5 million combined Luis Scola will be a restricted FA since we have a team option. The cap will probably end up being around $52 million, I think $50 million is a bit extreme. A while back (maybe 5-6 years) when Duncan was a FA I remember San Antonio making max offers to free agents and then resigning Duncan since they had his bird rights. I'm not too sure how the new CBA works though. Adding up the salaries, that's $35,359,237. We're looking at a cap of $51-52 million.
I'm just going to tell you that in the league, if you can't play, guys don't listen to you. In the case of barry, he's no deke in terms of leadership. Deke has been with the team longer and has a presence much bigger than what Barry can ever imagine. I am not saying its right, but guys need to produce for others to listen. Barry is just wasting a roster spot.
I think Cook and either White or Dorsey will be packaged along with cash and moved. Maybe for pure capspace/roster consolidation and maybe to shore up the SG/SF rotation. I still don't see the 'Battier for expirings' trade happening anytime soon. If Morey won't trade him for talent, why in the world would he trade him for just cap space? A bird in the hand.... Let's say we did trade him for expirings. How much will it take to re-sign Scola? He will get a nice pay raise, that's for sure. How much will be left? Will a player at that amount be a better fit than Battier? I doubt it.
He would probably will. Either cuts or a trade, This roster is not yet final and tweaking would still be needed to be done.
Could just be a warm body for training camp/ pre-season? A "See if he pans out" kind of guy! Is Pops deal guaranteed? I understand it's only a 1 year deal, what's to say it's anything more than a non-guaranteed deal to get a hustler in for training camp? And if he shows anything in the preseason (Wafer style) then we figure out what to do from there.
I think Cook is surely gone at some time and White hasnt shown enough to keep a roster spot over promising rookies and Center depth.
I respectfully disagree. My guess is Shane and Trevor will be great together, along with Scola, Landry, Lowry, Dorsey and Hayes. That is precisely the experiment that might surprise. Defensive intensity and will versus other teams talent and media appeal (i.e. can jump really high).
Get rid of Barry and Cook...White and Dorsey still have potential. Both have had positive stories written about their training this summer.
SURELY White and Pops are the 2 most in line for the cut? White non-guaranteed and Pops (surely) non-guaranteed???
dorsey proved himself in the summer league if you ask me. he showed that he can be a very defensive minded center that can grab rebounds. imma put my money on him
I think there will be more moves to come. With Pops the team is deep in the frontline, but out in the wing and backcourt they have Lowry and the 2 rookies as the 2nd unit. Assuming T-Mac will play by openning night, the backcourt is still ain't deep enough because I really can't see Coach Rick relying on the rookies coming in for Ariza and Battier. Odd is how Hayes will fit into the rotation now that Pops will back-up for Andersen, I like the combo of Pops and Landry with Lowry manning the point but the 2 rookies as their wing guys? I don't think it will work for Coach Rick. So expect another trade for a wing player, and the package might include either Chuck, Dorsey, Barry, Cook and White.
Roster modifications.....by three trades.... 1st trade Houston, Chicago, and Utah trade Houston gets: Tyrus Thomas Andre Kirilenko Brad Miller New York 2010 NBA 1st round draft pick(Derrick Favors ) Utah gets: Tracy McGrady Carl Landry Jerome James Chicago gets: Carlos Boozer Brian Cook Brent Barry 2nd trade Houston/ Portland trade Portland gets: Shane Battier Jermaine Taylor Houston gets: Travis Outlaw Rudy Fernandez 3rd trade Houston/ Minn. trade Houston gets: Ricky Rubio Ryan Gomes Minn. gets: Aaron Brooks Travis Outlaw This should set us up for both an exciting season and a high pick in a strong 2010 NBA Draft
