Sources: Kpaps option picked up

Unfortunately, no. If a player is TRADED and then subsequently waived, the team from which he is traded cannot re-sign him until the earlier to occur of (a) one year from the date of the trade or (b) the date on which that player's contract would have expired.

However, if no trade materializes and the Rockets just end up WAIVING Papanikolaou, they would be free to re-sign him (presumably to a much lower salary) once he clears waivers.

No problem. Thank YOU, cyberx, for the inside info. (Although I still don't know how you haven't lost your job by now!!!)

Yes, I heard the same thing about K-Pap's contract needing to be restructured after being rejected by the league office. However, the restructuring was actually fairly minor and related to how to allocate the signing bonus. I believe the basic structure of being essentially the full MLE amount was still very much the original intention of the Rockets, though. K-Pap was not going to be let out of his FIBA contract without a large first-year salary, anyway. And the desire to create a sizable expiring/non-guaranteed contract -- especially in the wake of the Jeremy Lin trade -- was very much a motivating factor here.

 

When referring to what Morey might or might not do with the Papanikolaou contract, I'm just saying the better example of a Morey-type of move would be the Dalembert draft night trade where the Rockets sent out:

-6.7 mil in non-guaranteed salary, cash (always a Morey special), and a 2nd round pick for:

-Livingston, Brockman, and Leuer (less than 3 mil GUARANTEED), in order to move down from 14 to 12.

Dalembert being non-guaranteed that year gave the Bucks the opportunity to shed guaranteed salary and also give Sam a shot at filling their need at center.

Since the Rockets want to operate over the cap it wouldn't surprise me at all if they did do something similar to this, and took back some salary. I just wouldn't think they would want 9 million dollars in guaranteed salary. Because the whole point would be to have salary that is still trade-able.

So I know what you are saying from Charlotte's angle, but from the Rockets angle its probably one of a few options out there, but the Rockets can probably do better unless someone like Russell or Mudiay falls somewhere they can make that type of move.... and that's assuming Morey would think that draftee is worth pretty much giving up on a S&T for a LMA, Love, etc.

I like Lance as a reclamation project, but only at that salary if he's coming alongside someone who is franchise altering... not sure that's going to happen, and making the deal ahead of free agency could keep the Rockets from making a franchise altering S&T as well if that team doesn't want Lance or his guaranteed salary.

 

I wouldn't have picked the option. For the money he is getting he is not even half that good. I hope we're trading him, not someone like DMO and and giving papa his minutes.. my two cents.

 

Respect.

 

Picking up the option was entirely done in order to trade his salary, letting him expire for nothing would've been a terrible move.

 

James Jones, Leandro Barbosa, Linas Kleiza, Big Baby, Shaun Livingston are all guys you could have signed to 2 year deals with the 2nd as team option that would have been better than Paps.

 

This is awesome.

Keep us updated on this too!

 

Before his injury KPap was more productive than pretty much all of those players except maybe Livingston who went earlier in free agency anyways so you couldn't get him even if you wanted to.

Was KPap overpriced... for last year... of course he was. He was always supposed to be. He was never valued as a 5 mil a year player for the Rockets. But that's not the point of why he was signed, and why he was signed to that contract.

Alot of people REALLY REALLY hated Papanikolaou and Morey for signing him which I really have no freaking clue why. Before the Brewer trade, the SF spot was a huge position of need. He was a Euro prospect, but a solid one with winning pedigree at every level. He had upside to blossom in the NBA with a more open fast paced style offense, and he had a great contract situation that allowed for him to become a nice trade asset if he didn't work out.

Other than Livingston literally none of the guys you listed would have even got playing time this year. Maybe Big Baby too but I'd argue the Rockets are better in the long run allowing more minutes for their PF's D-Mo, Capela, and Jones to grow, and maybe the only big he'd be playing over is Dorsey in the allotted regular season minutes he got.

Had the Rockets NOT traded for Brewer or if Ariza would have missed any time the Rockets signing of Papanikolaou would have been a dire necessity when it was sold as a long shot in the regular season. I think the guy looked very good at the beginning of the season, and should get more credit around here.

 

As a player, I thought Kpap did well this year for the Rockets in his rookie year. I had LOW expectations. And always know his signing was more as a trade chip/asset than as a long term solution.

But Kpap got in McHale's good graces with his hustle and play. The ball kept moving and didn't stick. I thought as a "role player" in limited minutes Kpap was very solid. I was surprised at his ball handling and passing.

But in "extended minutes" his deficiencies became more obvious with the turnovers. But that's what happens to bench guys in extended minutes.

As a 9th man in a rotation with the ability to play the 3/4 he was solid. If he can be a better 3pt shooter (at least from the corners) he can probably be a solid rotational player for any team.

 

This is badass.

 

Coach Can't Adjust Quick Enough "shoulda played Kostas more" instead of who he ended up playing more.

 

Will Cyberx offer you a job?

 

Pretty sure he's on the player side of the table. I wouldn't be interested in that.

 

kill you on tuesday

 

Thanks, man. Would love to grab a beer with you and Dave.

As far as NBA-related job opportunities are concerned, (1) it would have to be a REALLY good offer for me to consider leaving my law firm (at which I am very happy); and (2) I will give Daryl Morey a right to match before accepting anything!

 

In before everyone becomes cap experts this summer.

 

Bima is about to be our 3rd star lol

 

Bima, there is a third one I think you forgot.

3) Cannot work for Mark Cuban and the Mavs.

Cuban is not allowed to steal the ClutchFans capologist!

 

Of course not. You're holding out for a GM position.