http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-magic-milicic&prov=ap&type=lgns ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Magic pulled their qualifying offer for free agent Darko Milicic, making it unlikely the 7-footer will return to Orlando. Milicic was a restricted free agent, meaning Orlando could have matched any offer. The change, announced Tuesday, means he can sign with any team. The Magic have said they want to retain Milicic, but are also shopping for a free-agent scorer. Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis is set to join the team, but it's not official until the signing period opens Wednesday. The Magic most likely don't have enough salary cap space to keep Milicic and lure Lewis, who will probably make about $15 million annually. Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft, averaged eight points and five rebounds last season. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons but scarcely played in 2 1/2 seasons there.
Well, I would like to sign Kobe Bryant. But its just not going to happen. Orlando still has Bird rights, which means they can go over the cap to sign him.
Sorry for the double post, but I have proof of what I just said. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2925284 "In effect, the move means the Magic have made Milicic an unrestricted free agent. However the team still retains the right to go over the salary cap to re-sign him (commonly referred to in the NBA as "Bird Rights") and could also work on a sign-and-trade with Seattle or another team." Orlando can sign and trade. Or they can just sign him.
Morey didn't "wait" for Bonzi. Bonzi and his first agent screwed up by not taking the Kings' original offer. A player of Wells' caliber screwing up in this manner happens once a decade. A word of advice to the poster trying to figure out the Rockets' likely 2007-08 LTax hit...the LTAX is calculated on the roster payroll on the last day of the regular season. As far as Darko is concerned...he's a non-issue. Here are Morey's exact sentiments from Feigen's article... Unless free agent demands change dramatically and unexpectedly, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the Rockets are more likely concentrate on finding frontcourt help in the trade market rather than free agent market. He does not expect to offer his full mid-level exception to any free agent. EDIT: The LTax "calculation" belongs to the NBA. The wording should be... the LTax "liability (if any)" is based upon the roster on the last day of the season. Sorry.
So it is basically a financial issue,Your not really trying to win right now.You need help at the power forward and center positions,who are you going to trade that is going to bring you any real value for your weak and depleted front court. Those scrubs aint going to get you anything of significance back,so you might as well get ready for more chuck hayes's and other journeymen who will serve as band aids and nothing really more than that. Are we talking about winning championships or are do we just want to get T-mac and yao out of the first round.
It aint really that hard. The rockets should have been in the western conference finals. They beat the jazz on their home floor in game 7,Their is know way they lose to the warriors in the next round. The rockets are a few moves and little sacrifice away from heading back to the NBA finals
But that article also mentions us not expecting certain free agents to fall into our price range, like Darko. I think we would give him the full MLE if he suddenly fell into our range, which is quite possible since most teams don't have the cap space to give him more $$.
The Rockets would do well to secure one of these three PF 1 Darko 2 Blatche 3 Roberts They have their PG I still think they could use a better SG, let um' all gel and on to the finals!
Let's make a sign and trade with the Magic. Their backcourt is weak and Alston + Head or Snyder (and Lucas) for Milicic would be good for both teams. The Rockets get a young big man to get minutes at PF and as well at C. And we know that he will improve. The Magic get a PG an SG.
It does for a fact. And specifically mentions Darko, Nocioni, Gerald Wallace and Anderson Varejao. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=131771&page=1 Since those players or Darko will all likely fall into that range (the higher) ...Darko as I said is a non-issue. Ultimately, what you are left with is making a trade with the assets you've acquired for Gundyball via $Ball. For the time being...color me pessimistic.
I'm sorry I went to bed too late last night so I still feel dizzy right now, but is there a connection between your reply and GATER's post?
I actually kinda get the post by "Kindger" Because of Morey's (ridiculous in my opinion) statement about spending the MLE, it seriously lowers expectations on exactly who we could reach out for, including a player of Darko's talents and expectations. Perhaps, $Ball is simply trying to drive away all of the agents and players he KNOWS will not help the ROX in an immediate since, but if he's going to act like taking 3 freakin' picks in very deep draft "are not intended to help right away" then why also have the same approach about F.A.? I'm trying awfully hard not to blow gaskets everytime I hear things vs. what I actually see from this guy, but I'm certain that TMAC and Yao WILL NOT be happy with an approach that isn't designed to get them past Round 1 THIS YEAR!!!! And frankly, neither will I. Having said that, I'll continue hoping and praying that we get Darko!
All of this **** is moot because Darko isn't going to get paid MLE money next year. I would bet anything on it. Worst case scenerio for him is he goes back to Orlando (unless they dont want him, which would is just plain dumb because its not like they are deep at the PF/C position other than Howard). The article that says that DM doesn't plan on dishing out the full MLE refers to players like Joe Smith, KVH, and other scrubs we've been looking at. It doesn't refer to Darko. Darko isn't getting the MLE, so we might as well not even talk about it. Lets start talking about sign and trade scenerios with Orlando to bring Darko over here because thats the only way this will happen.
Well- don't you think we were close enough in game 7 or one of the games in Utah to have gotten a win- that's all it would have taken to get past Utah anyway. I realize it was not an easy series for us to gace Golden State- but it would have at least been the 2nd round We came close- and that is not dogging your boy Gundy at all.
We can talk and talk about this issue into the ground,None of us know what will transpire. Anything is possible,A wise man keeps all of his options open regardless what the odds may be.
There is no way utah should have beaten the rockets and golden state wouldn't have had a chance because of the difficult matchups with yao and mcgrady. Houston without a doubt should have been in the conference finals,lack of belief and weak mental skills prevented the team from advancing.
