After reading my post I realized that I defended the city of Cleveland. I appologize to all of my fellow Oiler fans. It will not happen again. Now if we could just find our damn team. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
I love Grant as a player and he is also a quality individual from what I hear and see through his work with the community and charity. I would love to have him here. The trouble is, he wants to be with a contender immediately. Houston is not a contender right now, and probably for a few more years. Even despite that fact, you have the exception, which is only 4.5 mil, then what player would you throw in to make it work that the Blazers actually want? I just don't see it happening. ------------------ HOOP-T ------------------
NIKE, thanks for the link. Last I heard it was 4/40. I do think that coming to Houston would be a much better situation than going to Cleveland. Also remember that 10mil/year in salary is a big difference when you have to pay a severe luxury tax. By the way, does anyone know the specifics of the luxury tax? ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
rocketsauce- http://www.members.home.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#15 very confusing. Also, the difference between Kemp's and Grant's salarie's would only be about 1.5 million, which isn't that great of a difference. One thing lost in this, is the fact Grant is a free agent. What he did is no different than Duncan or Hill turning down Chicago's offer for them to sign. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
I would love to see Brian on our team and I think now Portland and Cleveland have little choice but to find a 3rd party. Trying to keep these player now wouldn't benefit either team. We know Portland wants Kemp and I think it's common knowledge and common sense that Cleveland would like to unload him because of his salary and attitude. But since Brian doesn't want Cleveland, and can't say I blame him, the question is, what would Cleveland take in return for unloading Kemp? I'm not sure how desperate they are, but I'd give them Drew, Los, 2 first round pics (hey we do our best picking in the second round anyway) and our exception. Portland gets Kemp, we get Grant and Cleveland gets a 1, a 3/4, a couple of 1st round pics to rebuild and most of all - they get to unload Kemp. ------------------
I would sell my soul to have Brian Grant on the Rockets. He is the PERFECT fit for our team, a defensive minded PF who can score when needed and is not very demanding of the ball. A positive presence in the locker room, and a hard-worker if ever there was one. Brian Grant WILL be a superstar, bet on it. I know it´s almost impossible, but he fits our needs perfectly. There is absolutely NO WAY for us to get a better PF than Grant. I wouldn´t count on Webber, it´s at least HIGHLY unlikely. And his loyalty is at best questionable. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Now I'm really confused. Grant $92mil / 7 years = $13.14mil/year Kemp $71mil / 4 years = $17.75/year "How much does each team pay? A dollar amount, called the "Team Escrow Limit" is calculated. Teams with payrolls over the Team Escrow Limit pay a tax equal to the amount they are over. So if the Team Escrow Limit is $55 million, then a team with a $60 million salary pays a tax of $5 million. Teams with salaries below the Team Escrow Limit do not pay any tax." - from the FAQ Kemp will push Cleveland so far over the limit his final 3 years that they will be paying a fortune in luxury takes. $3mil over means $6mil out of the pocket. The Luxury tax does not go into effect until next season. So this leaves them with one year to get rid of him. Am I wrong or am I missing some details, because that's how it all works out to me. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight [This message has been edited by Rocketsauce (edited August 04, 2000).]
He's a complementary player that feeds off other players games. He is NOT a superstar and never will be. ------------------ "I've been licking this carpet for hours and I still don't feel like a lesbian!"
I agree Pimp. I got lost in the discussion and forgot to make a point. We don't need Grant bad enough to pay him the max. That's assuming he would even come here. I could of just added this to anyone one of my previous 50 posts in this thread, but I decided what the hell, it's Friday. Let's st this thread on FIRE! ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight [This message has been edited by Rocketsauce (edited August 04, 2000).]
sauce-that's the player's average salaries, Grant's salary start would hypothetically start at about 9.2 mill, and Kemp's is about 11.5 ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
Wrong. If he hadn´t injured himself last season, he probably would already be. He was the most important part of the original Blazer team tha lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference finals in the lockout shortened season. The way he handled Malone on the Blazers/Jazz series was amazing, to say the least. I say bet on him and we can´t go wrong. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Point taken NIKE, but I don't think that this year is as much of a concern as it will be for the remainder of Kemp's contract. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
How about we pursue Fizer? He'd be cheaper & could grow with the Rockets youth movement. I just have a problem with putting so much money into a player that'll be 30 years old after next season. When the younger players, that we have & will acquire in the draft, really start coming into their own, he'll be 32 or 33. As far as having some experienced players on the team for direction, that's what they pay Rudy for. I have nothing against getting Grant, I'm just concerned with the excessive salary. But, like others have pointed out, mega salaries are becoming the norm instead of the exception. Whatever happened to a player earning the right to command the big bucks? ------------------
Hottoddie, I agree that Fizer would be better as far as the cap goes... but any trades would be addition by subtraction (i.e. Cato would probably have to go). ROX: great post. It seems to make too much sense for B. Grant to show up here. Unless the Rockets know something about Grant's health that we do not (that he's even more unhealthy ), then I think David Ald. was sending us a message. ------------------ "At one of these governors' conferences, George [W. Bush] turns to me and says: 'What are they talking about?' I said: 'I don't know.' He said: 'You don't know anything, do you?' And I said: 'Not one thing.' [Bush] said: 'Neither do I.' And we kind of high-fived." --Republican Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico shares a verbal exchange that took place between he and George W. Bush. (Quote is from the Los Angeles Times, 5/31/00) Dubyah Speaks
Walt + the exception alone, would work cap-wise to land us Kemp, wich then would be sent to Portland for Grant... We coud throw in Drew and ´Los or KT for another Cavs player to make the trade more appealing to them (Lamond Murray? Hey, a guy can dream, can´t he? Or maybe Brevin Knight who would then be sent away in another trade) Which would leave us with KT or ´Los as backup PF and Lamond as SF or Brevin to be shipped for a SF. What do you guys think? Sounds like a perfect deal for us to me. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
"Are the Cavs and Blazers still talking? As NBAtalk first reported yesterday, despite Brian Grant's rejection of the Cavs offer, the Blazers are still trying to land Shawn Kemp. They won't be able to use Shawn Kemp as bait but several sources have them talking about Steve Smith and Jermaine O'Neal for Kemp. If that goes down the Blazers can ship Grant out in a different sign-and-trade deal with a team like the Kings or Raptors or they can just let Grant go for nothing knowing they are shored up in their front line. The Cavs also may now be pursuing Danny Fortson." --- The plot thickens. Damn, i wasn´t counting with Portland´s wilingness to part with Steve Smith in order to land Shawn Kemp. That really makes things difficult for us to broker a deal. I still have faith that it could be done somehow... but that really is a blow to our chances. Unless we could trade straight up for Grant, but i don´t think Portland would be intersted in taking Walt and ´Los back, and in Drew and KT either... damn! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Grant won't go to Toronto. They don't need him. The Raptors would have to swing deals first, getting Davis and Oakley to new homes. Grant is a solid citizen and could make any team better, but he wants to play for a team where he would start, and be seen as an integral piece, rather than, say, the little toe on the left foot. And even Trader Bob should understand that Steve Smith is too valuable to give away for a former All Star whose ass is as bloated as his paycheck; you need chemistry, you gotta keep your core together. Grant is no longer part of his team's core. Maybe they could throw away Bonzi Wells with Brian Grant. It would work cap-wise. BUT, remember, too, that Grant has already refused a trade to Cleveland, and for big bucks. Methinks he doesn't want to go there. With luck, he'll look at Houston and say, "Looks good. Hot and humid. First-class organization. Desperate for me. Willing to pay(?)" Enter the Rockets, I hope. We might have to yield some second-rate future #1s to Cleveland (Orlando #1, Detroit #1, who knows?) If we make a deal for Grant, though, we'll need to sit back and wait. Three-team trades take time. ------------------
One idea has actually crossed my mind, though. If they DO get rid of Smith, which is not THAT unlikly considering the history that trader Bob has, they could move Rasheed to SF and Pippen to SG, leaving the PF spot open for Grant. But then again, would they be willing to go through all of this trouble to have Kemp as a backup PF? Really doesn´t make much sense. And after all this mess, i just don´t see Grant staying in Portland. Let´s hope so, we my have a shot. All we can do is hope that Rudy, Carroll and Les are actually looking into the idea, since as of now, this is pure speculation on our part. One can only hope. He would be perfect, indeed. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Thanos, There's alot of posturing going on between Grant and the Blazers. Grant, however, isn't in the position of power. It would be interesting to see Grant go to Toronto. That would leave Houston as the only place with a PF spot and money that could acquire Taylor. ------------------ "At one of these governors' conferences, George [W. Bush] turns to me and says: 'What are they talking about?' I said: 'I don't know.' He said: 'You don't know anything, do you?' And I said: 'Not one thing.' [Bush] said: 'Neither do I.' And we kind of high-fived." --Republican Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico shares a verbal exchange that took place between he and George W. Bush. (Quote is from the Los Angeles Times, 5/31/00) Dubyah Speaks
He has the power to refuse to go where he doesn´t want to, which is exactly what he did to the Cavs. I don´t know, but Grant doesn´t strike me as someone who appreaciates cold weather, and that may screw Toronto´s chances. And forget it, i will only think of Mo Taylor if Grant is completly out of reach. Otherwise, he is the best option, no doubts about it. Actually, even though we are in the West too, i think that the fact that we are NOT seen as contenders may yet helps us land Grant from the Blazers. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
