I know that Morey is holding back on using the MLE to be sure that we can resign Carl Landry. But what if the Rockets tried a different tactic? Teams are not going to give Landry any deal because they know the Rockets will match, so why not go out, and sign a restricted player that the team might want and see what happens? Say for instance we signed JR Smith from the Nuggets (Not saying we should just using him as an example) to a $3 million a year contract. This would mean that if the Nuggets don't match, we can only offer Landry $2.5 million a year or what is left from the MLE... So, perhaps then Baker can get a legitimate offer for Landry to sign at around $3 million a year. This would expedite things, as one of the two following things would happen. A. The Rockets would get Smith and lose Landry if Smith's offer is not matched. or B. Smith's offer is matched and the Rockets MLE is freed up and they can match the Landry offer. The only question is, are there any players out there that the Rockets would like to have? Someone that they would not mind losing Landry over if it happens? Any restricted Free Agents available that would lesson the blow of a potential Landry loss? (Edit) Just looked at the restricted list not sure there are any that would sign a full MLE....there are some interesting ones but they probably would want more than the MLE like Josh Smith or Andre Igudola, or Omeka Okofur...etc DD
So I guess the question is if there is a restricted free agent out there that can be had for MLE money that the Rockets covet more than Landry. I'm not sure if that's the case.
Either more than Landry or just as much. And after looking there are some, but I believe they will want more than MLE money. Here are the restricted ones that I would think might be in this range: Josh Smith - Hawks Emeka Okafor - Bobcats Luol Deng - Bulls Andris Biedrins - Warriors Andre Iquadola - Sixers Other possibles Ben Gordon- Bulls JR Smith - Nuggets Juan Carlos Navarro - Grizzlies Ryan Gomes - T-Wolves Carlos Delfino - Raptors DD
Nah... I think we are winning the Landry battle. Its gotten to the point where agents are making up offers to try and get the market going. I'd rather lock Landry up for around 3 mil first and then try and go after someone with what is left.
I think Landry has gotten offers, but they are below what they want or are seeking so they have not signed them.....which would force the issue. I don't think the Rockets have offered him anything beyond the minimum, so this is probably going to drag out.... I am asking if there are other players that the Rockets might like that would be an even trade off if we lose him. DD
At this time I would tend to believe that Morey knows what he is doing! Possibly all this is a ruse to cover the fact that the Rockets are not making any serious move to get us the players we need, starting Point Guard, back up Shooting Guard and back up Center.We wil however be able to make our judgements by the result of the upcoming season.
I think we should throw about 4.5 mil to JR Smith for say 3 years and see if the Nuggs match. I think their already in lux tax territory so they may not match. Anyways I think Landry is a little overated and injury prone...I think we'd be better off with Smith. Alston/Francis/Jackson McGrady/Barry/Head Battier/Smith/Greene Scola/Dorsey/Hayes Yao/Deke
Gordon is going after more than $10 million, he ain't no possibility. Navarro already signed a new deal in Europe. Delfino already signed a new deal in Europe. Gomes already agreed to a deal with T'Wolves. Why do you think these guys are "possibilities"? They are as "possible" as other players under contract, such as Kobe Bryant, Mike Miller, Lebron James, or Josh Childress. And the bottom line is this: They don't want any of the free agents out there who are in the MLE or partial MLE price range enough to lose Landry. They don't want JR Smith. They don't want Craig Smith. They don't want Ricky Davis, even if he isn't heading to Europe. They don't wnat none of them even if some people have a boner for these guys.
I'd love any of those players on our team. But I think they are looking for significantly more money then we'd be able to offer, with the possible exception of Biedrins. Another question I have is what the Rockets would be willing / able to do with any left over MLE money if they do eventually sign Landry. If they value that money, then they might be hesitant in burning up the entire MLE on another player who they don't see as a significant upgrade over Landry.
I like the idea and said that a while back. I also think if the Rox got a legit 4/5 like Elson or Josh Boone, they could eliminate Deke, Landry, and Hayes. They could get Elson for about 2.5m of the mle or sign and trade with hayes or trade for boone (1.2m) using the te or just trading next yrs pick which can be lotto protected. They can really just say goodbye if the make the right moves.
Sounds like a huge gamble. If we use half of our MLE on another free-agent, teams that were holding back on Laundry because we would match now know exactly what to offer so that we can't match. Being able to match is our biggest leverage, why give that up?
Are you referring to the same alleged report of him signing with Tau or with some other team? Do you have a link?
Sorry, I was just going by what they had on the ESPN Website, I guess it is not up to date. I was just exploring whether the Rockets could look at the Landry situation from a different angle. DD
