With the Roko signing, most of you will probably assume that we would've used a part of the MLE (Mid Level Exception), but I'm more inclined to think that we've used a part of the LLE (NBA $1 million Exception). It totals roughly in the neighbourhood of $1.7 million this upcoming season and Roko will earn around $1 million, which leaves $700,000 of the LLE and the entire MLE free. With the remaining $700,000 of LLE, we can sign Pape Sow to a 1~2 year contract and with a part of the MLE, we can sign Matt Bonner to a 3 year contract starting at roughly $1 million with annual raises of 20%. That means we'll still have $4.2 million left to sign a big or a guard. I'm starting to think that Babcock had this planned all along.. since teams can't use the LLE in two successive years and he didn't use it last year. So don't worry people, I think he knows what he's doing!
Matt Bonner will definately make a lot more than just $1 million a year. Have you seen the market this season? It doesn't matter if he wants to be here, Brian Scalabrine got a 5 year $15 million dollar deal, that's $3 million a year, and I'd say Bonner is even better than him. Bonner will get something starting with at least $2 million a year, unless he's getting underpaid, especially for someone with his shooting ability.
Well, even then we still have some flexibility, although I highly doubt that Bonner will get anything close to Scalabrine's deal. If he wants to be here and he hasn't talked to any other teams like his agent claims, I don't see any reason why we'll have to overpay him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, even then we still have some flexibility, although I highly doubt that Bonner will get anything close to Scalabrine's deal. If he wants to be here and he hasn't talked to any other teams like his agent claims, I don't see any reason why we'll have to overpay him.</div> Well his agent and him should be negotiate a contract with Bonner, so he gets paid what he's worth (in this market), which is atleast a starting salary of 2 million/year. I don't really know who we could pick up. I actually like most of our roster. We need to buy Lamond out and do something with Aaron Williams so we can free up the roster spots. Assuming Pape and Bonner return, our roster will look like this for the upcoming season: PG: Alston/Ukic/Alvin Williams SG: Jalen Rose/Mo Pete/ SF: Joey Graham/Eric Williams/Lamond Murray PF: Chris Bosh/CV/Bonner/ -C: Hoffa/Pape/Woods/A-Train Looks pretty decent, but as you can see (or count), there are 15 people there already. We need to buyout Lamond in order to free up a roster spot for Cook. We could do the same with Aaron Williams, but Lamond makes more sense. If we do both, then that will allow us to sign a Cook and a FA. Either that...or don't sign Cook, and leave the roster as it is 15.
I'd like to see us sign Cook. He's very efficient in running the offense. Sometimes he may not have the best stat line, but his impact is more than just stats.
I have no problem with paying Bonner $2 million. He's worth that much, but as for the starting lineup I think Villanueva will likely start at either the 3 or the 5 spot.
Villanueva can't play the 5. But I think he should be given the 3 and split minutes there with Graham.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting R_ChutneY:</div><div class="quote_post">Villanueva can't play the 5. But I think he should be given the 3 and split minutes there with Graham.</div> You can't say he can't play the 5 without actually seeing him play there. Put him there first and see how it works and if it doesn't work, then we can move him down to 3.
If he has a hard time in the lost post during summer league, if he's already admitted that he plays the 3 and the 4, if nobody except some fans have expected him to play the 5, then he most likely can't.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">You can't say he can't play the 5 without actually seeing him play there. Put him there first and see how it works and if it doesn't work, then we can move him down to 3.</div> Nah man, Villy is strictly a 3 and a 4. He got pushed around in college at the 5, so he won't fair any better in the NBA.
I certainly don't want to see Bosh or Araujo at centre. Who do we have as a better option? Unless Babs can pull off a trade for a Lorenzen Wright I don't see who else we can put there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinKanaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">I certainly don't want to see Bosh or Araujo at centre. Who do we have as a better option? Unless Babs can pull off a trade for a Lorenzen Wright I don't see who else we can put there.</div> Unfortunetly we will have to unless we do make a trade. If Graham starts, Bosh will be at the 5, if Graham comes off the bench as 6th man, Hoffa will start. Not liking either situation.
I don't know man.. Villanueva can't do much worse than Bosh in his rookie season. Bosh was a twig and he still managed to put up 11 points and 7 rebounds every night, so I'm thinking Villanueva at 240 lbs will do okay at centre if not better than Bosh.
I think we need to develop Hoffa some, the only way he will get better is through experience and we really don't have many other options at center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">I think we need to develop Hoffa some, the only way he will get better is through experience and we really don't have many other options at center.</div> Well, I hope that he will gain some experience playing against the likes of Tiago Splitter / Nene Hilario in his national team training sessions. Please prove me wrong Hoffa
They'd probably Bosh at center before they play Villanueva. Bosh was at least comfortable playing in the post during his rookie season. I've said it before, but I think the Raps should sign Zaza Pachulia for the 5 spot. The Bucks already got Bogut and Gadzuric so we could probably steal him. Pachulia's cheap and is servicable enough in the East. Plus with a name like Zaza, how can you go wrong? btw, is Andray Blatche from Brazil?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting R_ChutneY:</div><div class="quote_post">They'd probably Bosh at center before they play Villanueva. Bosh was at least comfortable playing in the post during his rookie season. I've said it before, but I think the Raps should sign Zaza Pachulia for the 5 spot. The Bucks already got Bogut and Gadzuric so we could probably steal him. Pachulia's cheap and is servicable enough in the East. Plus with a name like Zaza, how can you go wrong? btw, is Andray Blatche from Brazil?</div> I wouldn't say Bosh was comfortable at the 5, but he showed he could withstand an Eastern conference frontcourt for a majority of the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting R_ChutneY:</div><div class="quote_post">They'd probably Bosh at center before they play Villanueva. Bosh was at least comfortable playing in the post during his rookie season. I've said it before, but I think the Raps should sign Zaza Pachulia for the 5 spot. The Bucks already got Bogut and Gadzuric so we could probably steal him. Pachulia's cheap and is servicable enough in the East. Plus with a name like Zaza, how can you go wrong? btw, is Andray Blatche from Brazil?</div> Nevermind.. I got myself confused with someone else. Regarding Pachulia, Chad Ford said the Raptors were interested in him and we do have the money to sign him as my topic states. But then it's Chad Ford so I don't know
