When Francis' extension hits next year, I believe the Rockets will be at the luxury tax threshold. The Rockets currently have nine players on their roster that will be under contract next year, plus Maloney's obligation. From other internet sources, this is the best that I could figure their salaries to be for the 2003-2004 season: Francis $10.6 million Norris $ 4.5 Mobley $ 5.5 Rice $ 9.2 Nachbar $ 1.4 Taylor $ 8.0 Griffin $ 2.5 Ming $ 4.2 Cato $ 7.5 Maloney $ 3.0 (released) TOTAL $56.4 To round out the roster, add at a minimum another $1 million for three free agent rookies. Add more salary if the Rockets somehow have a first round pick next summer. The luxury tax threshold for 2002-2003 has been estimated to be around $52 million. With NBA revenues in a holding pattern, it is questionable whether the threshold will go up next year. The Rockets may face an $18 million net penalty if they are even a penny over the luxury tax threshold: http://www.realgm.com/src_gm_articles.php?artid=brave_world Les has said that CD can spend up to the luxury tax threshold (i.e. he cannot go over it). As such, can the Rockets even afford to offer a player such as Rashard Lewis the MCE? I don't think they can, unless they can somehow dump the salary of a Rice, Taylor or a Cato for an expiring contract. Under this scenerio, that Rice for Derrick Coleman trade TBar proposed doesn't look so bad. Maybe this is why CD didn't offer Lewis the MCE when he visited. Maybe this is why it was mentioned that the Rockets would only do a sign and trade deal to get Lewis. Finally, why offer Lewis a one-year MCE deal, if the Rockets cannot re-sign him next summer without taking a possible $18 million hit? My point is maybe the Rockets are done adding salary until at least when Rice's salary comes off the books. Also, the Rockets would not have any money to re-sign KT, and might find it attractive to let him walk for nothing next summer. In subsequent years, Griffin, Ming and Nachbar will be looking for extensions, so the luxury tax will not be just a short term concern.
I thought Rice came off the books after this year? Also, I am sure we can dump Cato for some expiring contract if Yao is as good as advertised. DD
so maoney and rice are gonna be up in 2 years. Thats enough to give Griffin an extension. Maybe like 50-60mil, and yao about 70 mil the next year. Hey i just guessed.
I know its alittle off the subject but then again its not, What ever happened to Maloney? I would like to know, this guy got the job of a lifetime!
maloney was just to 1 dimensional, all he did was shoot three's he couldn' dribble all that well, was slow, and a bad defender. I think rudy didn't want him due to his new cravings for quick athletic point guards.
We get steamed Rice for 2 more seasons, DaDakota. Unless we can trade him for some appetizers and a dessert.
No, No, I understand what happened to his game. My Dad and I believe that Stockton raped him of his confidence. But anyways to clarify, I guess I need to work on communication skills huh....Well like I said Im clarifing, What is the guy doing now? Is he still playing ball? Is he coaching his illegitimate son's little basketball team? Whats up with the guy?
Sofine, I ran into Maloney at Einstein's Bagel Shop on Montrose about a month ago. I asked him where he was playing next year and he said he didn't know yet. I think he was on the Hawks' roster last year.
Why is that? My wife and I go to the Black Labrador off of Montrose often... In any event...I know it was a joke...just not really funny.
Im very sorry you took it offense, I didnt mean anything by it. However I guess like beauty, Humor is also in the eye of the beholder.
I figured...just wanted you to know how it could sound to some people. No offense taken. Carry on with your normal posting habits.
Not to derail this thread further, but I thought I saw Maloney jogging in the downtown area one time, and I was wondering if anyone knows whether he (still) has a place in the Houston area and lives there for a significant part of the year.
I thought it was going down slightly next year, for the first time. Someone will chime in here with the exact figures eventually.
I think the luxury tax does scare the Rockets. That's what is holding them back from offering Lewis the MCE. The main reason they held back on the Lewis deal is for the primary reason that they didn't want to be involved with the luxury tax.
I thought we took on Rice with a 3 year contract. Total salary a bit under 30mil (think 28.5) for 3 years, with NY paying a fair slice of it. I think the final amount was 21mil over 3years, thought the entire ~30mil would count against OUR salary cap. So still 02/02 & 03/04 on our books/roster. Here's a question for you: why was there no luxury tax this year even though one was widely predicted pre-season? The answer is the Jordan effect - ratings (and therefore advertising dollars to the nba) went up for his games, as did ticket sales (and food/drink sales at games). And lets not forget the almighty merchandising fees/royalties. A huge extra amount of money going into the nba coffers. My point is i believe that if the Rockets & Yao gets off to a great start, he could have the same effect on revenue/luxury tax level, though obviously not the same impact (yet), as Jordan. How many non basketball people went to see the warm up game in SF (i'll ignore the attendance at the World champs - the crowds seem to be appallingly (sp?) low across the board there )! I'll acknowledge the huge asian community there (SF), but the numbers still speak for themselves. So i think we should roll the dice... no need to be stupid/irresponsible, but don't be a wuss either ... and yes, i do have rose colored glasses
oh... and matt maloney is in training for his new job... the bags of frozen chips at mcdonalds are heavy
