From ESPN: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Melvin Ely signed a one-year, $3 million qualifying offer with the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday after turning down offers from Golden State and Phoenix.</div> In a way I'm glad about this. His coming here would have created as many questions as it answered IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Written By: JonathanG On October 2, 2006 01:15 AM Seems like even though it appeared very close, the deal has fallen apart, nixed on Golden State's end. Speculation seems to be that Ely is asking for too much money (7 million or so) and that GS's owner is not interested in going over the luxury tax. Charlotte is insisting on a 2007 1st round pick as well, which is a lot to ask considering the depth of next year's draft. http://www.truehoop.com/free-agents-and-tr...html#discussion </div> Whew, whether or not the $7 million figure was correct or not, I'm so glad Mullin didn't trade away picks. Nelson is great at finding talent and I'm looking forward to having his input on next year's pick. Whether or not its lottery or not, I'm not speculating, don't want any jinxes.
I knew the rumors were no good. I don't see the benefit of going for Ely when he's not that good (undersized center who got dumped to the expansion team) and the fact we have several players that have bird rights which can be valuable if teams want a player and they know they can re-sign them. Plus when we lack a wing, I'll take Devin Brown or Pietrus over nothing. I don't want 6'3 guys playing the first three positions. At least be 6'5 and 220-230 lbs.
Another insanity has passed us. When I first heard that we are interested in Ely, back up C, I thought it was an OK move although we already have Murphy, Foyle, Diogu, Zarko, Taft, Biedrins, and POB. Then, when I heard that we may need to give up Zarko, Taft, Brown and some pick for Ely, I thought it was a joke. THEN, when I heard that Ely's contract will be 7 mils per, I thought there is no way for us to do this deal. Glad that it didn't happen...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kwan1031:</div><div class="quote_post">Another insanity has passed us. When I first heard that we are interested in Ely, back up C, I thought it was an OK move although we already have Murphy, Foyle, Diogu, Zarko, Taft, Biedrins, and POB. Then, when I heard that we may need to give up Zarko, Taft, Brown and some pick for Ely, I thought it was a joke. THEN, when I heard that Ely's contract will be 7 mils per, I thought there is no way for us to do this deal. Glad that it didn't happen...</div> His agent is Dan Fegan and we know him quite well. 7 million is a joke. Here's to Taft getting healthy and becoming a younger, stronger, better rebounding version of Melvin Ely.
Yeah, can't trust Fegan's clients, except for maybe Jrich. I think the majority of Fegan's clients are one dimensional, tweener type guys who "just happen" to do well in contract years because they know what Fegan does best.
