Your entire post is junk. Considering this is the last year Battier is under contract, thus making him an expiring contract, I hardly think the Rox are going to trade him plus a draft pick for another expiring contract. As for your Battier had negative trade value, that is stupid. Every team wants an experienced perimeter defender, a veteran leader, an outside shooter, and most importantly all that without a long term commitment. As for Yao getting 4 years at the max, the Rox would never do that. The only reason they sign him long term is to get a cheaper season this year then the 17.7 million he is owed. They are not going to resign him at the max number without seeing him play next year. I dont think any team would. Yao knows if he opts out he loses 17.7 million but probably signs a 3-4 year deal worth 40-50 million.
I'm seriously considering making Brian_Chapman the first person I place on ignore. I'm getting the impression he'll never say anything worthwhile...
Well I'd be a little mad at the rox, but you're right. Scola's been our rock and I'll root for him no matter where he goes.
Huh? Battier is going to be an expiring contract this coming year too. Why would we trade him for another expiring contract? What imaginary cap relief do we get there? And it would be a cold day in hell when we fork over the Knicks pick to shave $8M off the payroll. Evan
All this is just speculation on your part. With that said, Scola won't get more than 10M. No team is willing to pay him more than that kind of money as Scola can't reach 20 pts per game. With that said, Scola at 10M is better than David Lee or Boozer for 10M. The reasons are numerous: 1. Scola is a beast health-wise while Boozer isn't. 2. Scola is better defensively than David Lee and Boozer and has a better jumpshot than Lee. It makes him a better fit with Yao Ming. 3. Scola is a true competitor. Boozer is technically the better player but he's someone who always has himself first and everybody else 4rth, while Scola is the opposite. This matters a lot in the playoffs because Boozer the Loozer won't sacrifice his body to get us that win. 4. Scola scores less points than Lee or Boozer but his efficiency rival Boozer's and is higher than Lee. We don't really need a volume scorer (which is why I'm not fond of the Bosh signing), not with Yao, Brooks, Martin and Ariza all capable of averaging double digits. 5. Scola can be had for a cheaper deal overall. We can probably offer him less money per year but more years than Boozer and Lee due to the hometown discount factor. This is perfect for Scola because his skills aren't dependent on athleticism and as I said he's a beast healthwise, meaning he can contribute till he's 35 or something.
Just because a guy doesn't jump through the gym doesn't mean he doesn't depend on athleticism. As he gets older and slower, he's going to suck like everybody else, his scoop shot will be a fraction of a second slower and get blocked, he won't be able to turn around his man, his jumper will take longer to fire off and the defender will close him out,he'll get to fewer rebounds, he wont' get back as quickly on defense - it's just a fact of life whether your name is Luis Scola or Amare Stoudemire.
I would offer Scola up to a 9 million a year deal. I think the Rockets offseason moves have prepared them incase they can't resign Scola. If he walks I still think the Rockets are a top 3 team in the west standing pack because they have a great amount of talent which I don't think Rockets fans realize we have. With Scola I will say we are the 2nd best but without him I will go down to 3.
Priority #1.....Re-sign Scola. I would rather have Scola at his price tag than what Bosh is going to cost...Scola is a great second/third fiddle to Yao. If you want weak side defense develop Hill...Patterson...and let Chuck do his thing. Remeber we have never had Martin and Yao together. I am betting on Hill's development. What we really need is a STRONG 2/3 man. Ariza...Martin...soft, Battier...limited. I would die to have Iguodala still.
Nope, the Rockets are going to wait Luis out until he gets a qualifying offer to set the market. That is the beauty of a restricted deal. The teams who have capspace to sign a $10million year player have other targets in mind to tie up for a couple weeks while the Rockets decide to match, or not. I can't see a team who whiffed on the big targets in free agency dropping big coin on Luis. They could use their capspace to go in other directions (*cough* Minnesota *cough*). Any team that offers a long contract will be a mid-level type deal.
If they pick up Hayes option but then decide later on that Scola's price is too high... Rockets have the LLE (around $2M) to re-sign Chuck if they wish to. IMO free up that $2M first to show they're dedicated to re-signing Scola.
Of course everybody becomes slower,however with Scola I'd say the loss in speed for the next 5 years will be unnoticeable. That's because he's really more quick than explosive, crafty than agile. Unlike someone like Stat or DH, Scola doesn't rely on his hops, which is the first thing to go. However as we have seen in Reggie Miller, John Stockton and Steve Nash, quickness can stay with for a long time. As far as D, Scola has never really been known for his defense. He's never really been known for his rebounding either. His jumper taking longer to fire might be true, but to say it will be extremely noticeable is pure fantasy on your part IMHO, its not like the synapses in body take X seconds to respond with each and every passing year, and within 10 years he'll be moving like a sloth lol. It certainly hasn't affected Ray Allen after all these years.
Sounds like a double standard to me. And I've never understood the logic of insulting someone in order to convince them your opinions are correct. I'm doubtful that any other team is going to try and get Scola. The vast majority of teams can only over MLE money, and those that can offer more have 4 other targets to look at first (as previously mentioned). I see several roadblocks to other teams trying to acquire him. - Not to downplay Scola's value, but he's not a big name. I don't see a GM being able to call it a win if he convinced his owner to go under the cap for FA, and all he got was Scola (or one of two FAs). He's not a ticket seller to those outside of Houston. -To get him, you're going to have to overpay him. Not all GMs are Morey, but I don't think they will want to do that for a guy that isn't going to make a big splash. - GMs won't be pursuing him till after the big names are gone. He's the backup plan at best. I can't say that I know the ins and outs of FA, but I'd like to see us offer him like a 4 year $28mil contract early in FA while the other teams are busy elsewhere. They won't jump to the backup plan so early. - If a GM misses out on the big free agents, they'd be better to acquire assets at value, so that they could possible trade to get an all-star later on, even if it doesn't net them a winning team. Even if you need a big, I'd rather sign a TMAC for around MLE money for 3 years, then I big that isn't going to sell tickets. Atleast I can keep my high draft picks (unless you're NY) and sell tickets while I lose, waiting for the right time to pop up. Yes, a GM could get desperate and stupid, but I think it's unlikely. I don't think it's stupid to consider the possibility, and I don't think Morey will take that threat lightly. The fact that he's made it clear that the Rox intend to resign is evidence that he is taking it seriously.
Can't blame Scola for wanting a big salary, this is his best chance to get a multi-year big salary in the NBA before he starts declining. He was really underpaid these past 3 years. Whether with us or another team, I'll be happy for Luis.
All it takes is one team that really wants a vet power forward on their team as that one extra move to sell to fans. Players get overpaid all the time. Think Hedo from last offseason. Turk played about the same role on those Orlando teams and Scola did (from a talent perspective, I'm not saying they were both PFs). He's about the same age and all it took was for someone to need that last mid-salary range player to complete their team. What kind of screws us is Scola is the only guy at his level of talent at the PF position. It might turn out from some twist of fate that one of these teams at some point in the offseason after making some moves has like 10 million in cap room left. No point in just sitting there and letting it go to waste because it would probably be gone next season unless they have more expiring contracts. So they might spend it on a guy like Scola.
What are all the teams that lose these superstars going to to do. Scola would be welcome property to those teams like Cleveland and Phoenix.
you must be out of your mind if you think battier has negative trade value. Sure he's not worth 7-8 mill but he definitely worth 3 mill or so.
Scola has never said that he wanted a big salary. What he did say is that he wanted to stay with Houston and that he didn't think salary would be a problem.
Well, everyone wants a big salary, and I'm sure his agent will be working the phones to get someone to bite. But who is his agent going to call? Washington Wizards? NJ Nets? Dude's almost 30. A contender would pay good money, but contenders with capspace will be looking at Bosh, Amare, Boozer, and David Lee.
