Actually, that could make it easier for the Rockets to also trade with us without us giving up a big. The finances are important to look at. The Rockets are $3.6M over the tax line at $73.7M. Battier ~ $7.4M for Thabeet ~ $4.8M sheds $2.6M off the Rockets cap number. Close, but not quite under. However, if we came along and took Lee's ~ $1.4M for picks, that would bring their cap number down to $69.7M - under the luxury tax. It saves them a good $10M dollars.
That actually makes sense for Houston to do. My only question is whether they'd be willing to give up two potentially productive players for a project and picks when they're still within four games of the 8th spot. By thinking of moving Battier, though, it seems like what they're really trying to do is get under the cap as opposed to bolstering their team for a playoff run.
I don't see this happening. I think the Bulls could live with the Asik component, but Miller's contract goes one year too long. The Bulls' off-season moves were all structured on the next two years. All of the role players have two year windows and are expiring next year. This move would remove a ton of flexibility, both in the teams' ability to make a big free agency move and in structuring their budget under the new CBA.
Oh god I hope not...not for Lee. I like miller and all, but i dont want him to be packaged with lee so hou would have a reason to ask for asik
now Bucher says no lee, but Bulls determined to add SG, if the Bulls make a trade, it's going to be for somebody that we haven't really heard mentioned. That was his insinuation.
Wow. My bad. I wouldn't be shocked if it happens then. I bet the Rockets and Jazz make some move to get under the tax before the deadline.
Rumor has it that we've got Lee. Traded Bogans to minnesota, while Minny gets Flynn and Miami's 1st rounder
http://twitter.com/#!/KCJHoop/status/40826839073030144 It's unclear which team tried to expand CLee talks, but one variation became Asik/Bogans for Brad Miller/C Lee. Bulls want to keep Asik.
8 minutes ago: Teams calling Houston on Courtney Lee keep getting same message: No big in deal, no trade. Will Bulls cave and give Omer Asik? So far, no. http://twitter.com/#!/WojYahooNBA/status/40825541741391872
That there is some high stakes negotiating. You're playing with potentially six million dollars of real money in luxury tax payments and there's two hours left before the deadline.
No evidence that I see that the Bulls have even contemplated a deal that would get the Rockets under.
Bulls offered multiple picks for Lee. Not budging on Asik. Only 15 minutes left to blink. http://twitter.com/#!/Jonathan_Feigen/status/40859113520893952
