Yeah, thats the ticket.... after all, ALL players in the NBA show their true worth in the first 2-3 years.. We have waited long enough...trade Eddie for a bag of Ruffles.
option 1: 1/2 lb of beef fajitas, extra tortillas, a lot of condiments (pico de gallo, jalapenos, salsa, limes, lemons, onions...), 3 dos equis, and 2 vanilla flan. option 2: a super monster steak "free birds" burrito w/ everything (extra guacamole and sour cream) and rasberry tea. option 3: ez's basil chicken pasta w/ an oreo cookie shake. option 4: ez's alamo bowl, coke, and a sundae.
I disagree with the assesment of Eddie as a good player. I think the Rockets offense has looked so much better with Eddie out. This situation allows the Rockets to give Eddie time to find peace, work out, slowly learn the offense, and allow JVG to decide what he wants from Eddie on thre floor.
Eddie has as much future as an ice cube. It's quite funny how people here see a future star in a kid who has no game, and no mental stability. I guess Leon Smith was purported to have star potential too.
codell - Let me start with the obvious and work from there... 1) If Eddie Griffin remains on the Rocket's roster and is not waived, then the Rockets acquire EG's full Bird Rights at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season. The Bird Rights are independent of excercising the option. 2) By taking the option on EG before the end of this month, the Rockets have effectivley secured Griffin's services for the 2004-05 season at the Rookie Scale of $2.9m. 3) Assuming Griffin is not traded, excercising the YR 4 option simultaneously makes Griffin a Qualifying Offer FA in the summer of 2005. The minimum QO is $3.9m but since the Rockets would have EG's full Bird Rights, it is not likely they could be outbid since they could offer him up to the max (for his years of service). 4) Excercising the option before the end of October transfers Bird Rights and QO FA rights to any potential future trade partner. 5) If the YR 4 option is not excercised and Griffin is not waived, the Rockets still maintain his Bird Rights. Eddie Griffin therefore becomes a restricted FA in the summer of 2004. By not excercising the YR 4 option, the Rockets have effectively allowed all other 28 teams and Charlotte to make an offer in summer 2004 which they will be forced to match if they want to keep EG. Effectivley, they could get into a bid war for something that would have cost them $2.9m. A calculated risk, for sure. So, to answer your question...yes, the 5th YR QO FA goes away if the option is not excercised.
Gater, Then i was wrong. So to clarify: We sign Griffin to the extension, then he has full Bird rights and he will be a restricted FA in 2005 (Rockets have the right to match). We don't sign Griffin to the extension, then he still will have full Bird rights and will be a restricted FA in 2004 (Rockets have the right to match). In either scenario, Griffin would be eligible to be a part of a S&T deal right??? If all the above is correct, then the only difference in the options appears to be, basically, is the extra year and extra money. Right??
codell - IMO, right on both counts. Just remember that the Bird Rights are gained after the current season and are exclusive of the option(s). IOW, the Rockets may not excercise the YR 4 option but still find a willing trade partner for EG. Griffin's Bird Rights transfer with the trade even though he has no 2004-05 contract (he becomes a restricted 2004 FA for the team acquiring him). But you see how not excercising the option diminishes his value to a potential trade partner? With the option, the trade partner has Griffin locked up for 2004-04 @ $2.9m. Not exactly. SnT's are performed on expired contracts where players are FA's. By taking the 4th YR option, Griffin has a 2004-05 contract and is effectivley not a FA in summer 2004. One interesting sidelight to the 2004 FA status is protection in the Charlotte expansion draft. By excercising the year 4 option, the Rockets (or a trade partner) can protect Griffin in the expansion draft if they chose. However...no option, no 2004 contract, no protection slot... I'm not sure how to answer. Gained from Year 4 option: * Guaranteed $2.9m salary for 2004-05. * Year 5 QO (restricted) FA status (and choice to bid or not with minimum offer being $3.9m). * Protection from the expansion draft. * More desireability to potential trade partner if 2004-04 contract is in effect. * Ability to SnT in summer 2005 only. Does this help?
