Teams aren't offering Landry a contract because they know we'll match, or they are scared of his knee. But if we use some of the MLE money to go after somebody else, that means we can't match the offer if a team offers him MLE money or more than $2.5mil. It's risky. Right now, we hold all leverage unless he goes to Europe.
If he has gotten offers, then signing a guy for part of the MLE would be a HUGE mistake (assuming we want him back), because then said team could come a long and offer a little bit more than what we have left and we can't match. If we do sign a guy for part of the MLE, we would want to leave plenty of room to be able to match an offer or make one of our own. Say we are aiming for 2.5 million a year, we wouldn't want to sign someone for 3 million because then a team could grab him up for 2.6 and he's gone. And we would definitely have match 2.6 other wise. If we sign a guy for say 1.5 million a year, that would work cause someone could turn around and offer Landry more than 4 mill a year, which is fine cause we would probably just wish him the best of luck at that point. Problem with the 1.5 million plan is that doesn't actually put any real pressure on them to sign a deal. Your plan would work perfectly if most of these offers were fake... but if that were the case we could just wait and we would get to sign him for a low amount anyway.
Angkor, I believe that there are teams that have offered him a deal, but not one that is acceptable to Landry and his agent, so they haven't signed an offer sheet. I agree that the Rockets hold all the leverage right now (with the exception of Europe as you said). I was just trying to think outside the box a bit and maybe see if there were other players the Rockets would want to force the issue. DD
I think you are missing the point.....you would not do this type of deal unless you were ok with Landry going elsewhere. And, if we sign the first offer sheet with a player, and it is matched, our MLE money would revert back to us and allow us to match Landry no matter what the contract would be. My scenario is one where we get either player XXXX or Carl Landry.... and whether there is a player XXXX that is of equal or better value to the Rockets than Landry, that is the discussion I was hoping to generate. DD
I think I get where you are going with this. I don't think there is anyone out there right now that we could get for good value over Landry at ~3 mil. We could sign guys like JR smith, but with Barry and Head, we don't really need any more back up wings. Right now backup 4 or 5 is what we need to look for.
What if we signed Omeka Okafor for one year at $5.5 million..the full MLE... This would cause the Bobcats to match.....but it also makes him an unrestricted free agent next year, and Omeka is from Houston. If the Bobcats matched, the Rockets would still have Landry, if not they would have Okafor and his bird rights next off season.... DD
I think Landry wants a big chunk of the MLE which gives HIM a couple options. a) he can try to get the Rockets to think he is worth ~4.5M (ref point) b) he can go overseas I don't think the tactic DD discussed would work because I think he wants more than any other team is willing to offer him. I think other teams would make offers but he wouldn't take them. I think if he doesn't get ~4.5M he's headed overseas.
I doubt the Rockets use the MLE to go after anyone even if Carl either signs an Euro deal or signs back with just the Qualifying Offer. It just doesn't seem like the font office likes the MLE or below options in this FA class. Don't think there is an impact player among them-- except Barry in a specialist kind of role. If they want a impact player-- that third star-- they would have to trade for him.
That may be the case, and that one is hard to negotiate against for Morey. Also, if that is the case than we will proabably know fairly soon as I think most NBA teams are not interested in offering him that much money at this point in his career. And, the Rockets would still hold his rights when he decides to come back.... I agree with you about that 3rd star, and I am hopeful Morey can pull it off. I was just wondering if there are any players out there that could expedite the process, and free up Morey from waiting on Landry. I do think they might offer the full MLE to Smith and Okafor but they are getting bigger offers I am sure by their own clubs.....maybe a 3 year deal with years 2 and 3 being player options? Giving them a chance to opt out. DD
Okafor's qualifying offer is $7 million. After that, he becomes UFA. If he knows that Charlotte will match the Rockets $5.5 million offer, anyway, why would he decide to go back to Charlotte for $1.5 million less?
Are you saying he can simply accept the qualifying offer? Is that how it works? If so then you are correct my scenario for him would not work at all. DD
DD I think it's a interesting way to approch this, but Morey probably thinks landry gives Houston the best "value" in term of salary he is going to get next year vs his productivity. Besides, I think Landry fit pretty good with the team.
If Josh Smith and Omeka Okafor can simply take their team's qualifying offer, then it significantly lessons my idea, so much so that I would say this thread is.... DD
I wonder if Landry's agent has given the Rockets a salary figure that would be acceptable, or if he's just waiting for the best offer. It would've been great if the two sides could've come to a satisfactory number without all this scheming and posturing. But I guess that's not the way the "real world" works.
I know, why is it that Joe Dumars has the same situation with Amir Johnson and gets a deal done, but Morey and Landry continue to posture? DD
I swear I just read multiple posts where Landry accepted 2 years/$14 million from Spain? Anyone confirm or squash this? I'm sure I'm not alone in getting this over with before we end up spending our MLE just because we can.
They will match JR Smith for sure. But I think JR Smith deserve a full MLE even though he's not very high IQ BB player. He can give the bench score HR need most now. If MJames can get MLE, JR Smith should do too.
I live in Spain and there are no rumors/news. TAU is searching a PF like Landry, but they have not enough money to offer. 2M €/year, no more. Let's wait for the trade Daryl promised 2 weeks ago.
I see Landry seeing for the full MLE. The Rockets have little to no choices left in free agency, pretty much forcing them to do it if they truly want him.
No other teams seem willing to give up the full MLE for Landry. If he really wants that much, this will more likely end up like the Varejo situation instead of the Rockets giving in.
