I understand perfectly that it is a waste of effort to attack on someone's bball opinions. There is no clear answer to a lot of questions, it is pointless to force someone to agree with you. Frankly, reading people's opinions on bball is not annoying, otherwise I would have put a lot of people on my ignor list. But twisted logic is unbearable, and there is clear answer to what is right logic and what is messed up logic. I had given up pointing out his logic flaws, but he kept calling me "freak" and other things on my back. I found out when people quoted his post. That is why I was not happy and decided to attack his logic again.
I am with Riet on some key arguments: 1) except for the no brainer draft day moves of Yao/Franics--what exactly have we done well over the last 5 years? We have been very lucky (Yao/Francis) and that is why our prospects are good, but we havn't built much around them. The youngish players that might have been future above average roll players--Thomas/Posey--have been let go. 2) Given it is pretty clear we let Posey go because of lux tax fear (because not signing gets us no realistically closer to having significant cap space to go after FAs) when Les has made a lot money in recent years, had his franchise get much more valuable due to shear draft luck and a city funded arena--this is especially dissappointing as a Rocket fan. If I was a Houston resident I'd be downright pissed--but except the one time ridiculus rental car tax I paid it is a non-factor for me. 3) Posey and JJ are not mutually exclusive. Just replace Pike (an aging shooter largely redudent with the cheaper and more dynamic JJ) & Adrian Griffin with Posey & a young league min player (Harvey/Demarr) and we much better fit our short term and long term needs. Sure it costs about 2 million more per season, maybe 3-4 mil more next season IF we hit lux tax, but that is worth it for what you gain short term and even more so the potential gain 3-4-5 years down the line. We probably could have reduced this even more with more proaction--off the bat offer Posey a 5 year deal at 3.5 mil so he doesn't bother with Memphis negotiations. Even after the Memphis contract offer--we were no where in the ballpark of MoT or Cato contracts in years or amount--the risk of not being able to move Posey if it didn't work out was not that big, certainly a low risk relative to the potential gain of Posey as a servicable 3 or better for years to come. The real risk was Les' wallet. Heck we can even sign Posey, JJ and Griffin, I am fine with Griffin as a 10th man/emergency player for a couple thousand K over the league min--I just know enough from watching Griffin play to realize if he is a starter, 6th or even 7th man, your team is in trouble talent wise. This is not a knock on Adrian Griffin, he is a good enough basketball player to have a steady job in the best league on the planet. But let's not confuse that with him being a healthy, formidable, player with enough talent to warrent PT on any kind of quality NBA team.
So if you're so vastly superior in your basketball knowledge to all of us, what about the little 1 week sig wager on Posey vs Jackson Nov.1? You can't be afraid that the over-the-hill $2m Jackson is going to outplay that vastly more talented $6m Posey.
Gater, you want to bet who is the better player in 4 years? Let's all let this die and revisit the thread in a couple of years.
DS - I'd be willing to bet that whomever is the Rox SF for 2005-06 is better than Posey. Which has been my point from Square 1.
Which would have been fine because then it would have meant our 3 spot becomes very strong with "that player" and we would have had an outstanding swingman off the bench (Posey) which most all the elite teams have. Further, not singing Posey got us no closer to getting "that player" as we realistically won't be under the cap regardless of the Posey match decision and lost our 4th or 5th most tradable asset. Best case scenario from not matching is Les makes more money so he is more likely to freewheel down the line to take good high priced players other owners don't want to pay (doubtfull basedon history) and we only lost a little depth we otherwise would have. Worst case scenario is we lost a potential starting roll player who is better than anyone that comes along we can get via FA or the draft and thus have to give up tangible future assets to solidify the 3 spot. Time will tell.
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I think I read an article and even posted explaining that because of the pseudo revenue sharing and the luxury cap, a team below the cap is guarantee to make 10 - 20+ million, and a team even 1 million above the cap is guarantee to lose atleast 5 - 10+ millioon. that's a 15 - 25 million dollar swing and for any owner, it's hard to give up that much money every year. Some of the more financial savy posters might want to make sure about this, but I think think that NBA takes all luxury tax money, and then distribute to teams that are under the tax. But if you're over the tax you get nothing. And I think some other revnues are shared that way aswell. If you look at the NBA in general, even a lot of good teams: Indiana, Boston, Golden State, heck even teams like Sacremental and Portland made moves that are obviously financial. I wasn't that mad at the Posey deal, I don't want to commit that much to him, not what memphis did. But I was steamed at the Rice deal. That was just plain bad any way you look at it. However, since I don't have 15 - 25 million to give up every year, I can't really know if I would be willing to do something. P.S., despite bad reps and low attendance, did you know that the clippers made 20 + million? I seriously hate the new CBA.
I am no capologist, but I thought one said this was incorrect. That the most any signing can cost you is like double their salary. Could be wrong though. Further, I think the likelihood between Posey and Pike's deals being a *huge hit*was small, and if it look like it was a huge hit a Rice deal or another ancillary deal could made to make up the difference. I wonder if we knew we would get JJ at less than Pike's cost if we never would have signed Pike & AG and instead matched Posey, signed JJ and filled out cheaper minimum players.
This article kind of explain it. Basically, I think if the lux tas isn't triggered, owners will be fine overal. But if it is triggered, owners over the luxury tax are punished with a double whammy of lux tax (double salary payment) and not getting a cent of the escroe. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/6090803.htm Also this RealGM article explained it in further detail, almost team by team analysis of possible profits and losses. http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_article.php?articleid=8 Like I said, if Les goes over the threshold, he's giving up 10 - 25 million easy, if not more (possible profit + losses). He made 32 mil last year (probably due to increased attendance with Yao), however, if he goes over the thresh to sign posey for 4 years, he might not see a cent of the escore for 4 years that's like over 20 million a year. Thus possibly lossing over 80- million dollars. I have to admit, I'd do the same if I was in his shoes. However, I would've bit the bullet for 1 year with rice, damn it why did we make that trade (still 20 mill is a lot of money).
I know it is just one game, but Jackson showed pretty good D tonight. I don't think Posey would have done better. Jackson is not a player who should be begging for a league minimum, let's agree on it.
Definitely.. Jimmy Jax did as good of a job as posey ever did. his Defense on carmelo was stifling.. even though he got 18 points he shot horribly and turned it over 8 times. Jimmy Jax also runs the break much better than posey, for example on a fast break he knows when to give it up to have a successful play, unlike posey who would use his athleticism to bowl opponents over. Jimmy Jax also has a much more finely tuned offensive game.
Is there room on the Jimmy Jackson bandwagon? The guy is a veteran and knows how to get to the basket. He totally shut down Carmelo Anthony last night, who was visibly frustrated. Basically what it comes down to is Jackson, Piatkowski, and Griffin or James Posey. Jackson gives us some veteran leadership, plays good D, and get plenty of opportunistic points. Props to CD for signing this guy. He's going to shore up the 3 spot, our weakness since we passed on Rashard.
Save me a seat on the Jim Jackson bandwagon. Love the way he plays. He is our new Mario Elie. Does all the dirty work, knows his role and fits in well with the team. Solid addition!
I like JJ too. Too bad we don't have him and Posey and passed on Pike & AG instead. (Not that AG is expensive, but if saving that 200-300 K for a newer vet minimimum player like Hawkins was important I would have been fine with it).
I'm willing to withhold judgement till I see Pike and AG play. So far I hve been very impressed with the personnel decisions.
