I'm confused. You're worried about next summer's cap flexibility so you want to make moves now for a player who won't be available until next summer (I don't see memphis trading their UFA center for our UFA center) and we'll need cap space to get him. I'm not trying to start shit with you but it seems like you're all over the place.
Worrying about our 3rd/4th options on offense being able to create their own shot is the problem. It's the guy who's making the most money who needs to be able to create offense. That's the fundamental flaw with our team - we're locking up the most money in a PF who doesn't create offense. Unless you're Dirk or Duncan, a PF should never be the highest paid player on a team. PFs are meant to be complimentary players, not center-pieces.
Sure, but if the plan is to resign LA, how much are you willing to spend on your back up PF after next year? I would have liked to see him extended, but there are too many other scenarios out there for me to worry about this one. Neil seems to have a financial game plan for next summer. It will be interesting to see what it is.
I think what happens next summer will in large part be determined by how this team performs this year, LMA is the key guy, if he stays that means we likely had a good season and we pay people, if he leaves we likely didn't and then we have huge decisions to make, we'd probably try for a modest blow/quick rebuild up and let a guy like Wes go because of the huge payday he will likely get. Not sure about Rolo if LMA leaves.
I disagree. I think Matthews has developed a nice post up game and Batum is a damn good facilitator. Both are our best defenders and there is alway something to be said about players that have been together for so long.
I'm not worried at all. We have Bird rights on most of the guys. TRob isn't good enough or expensive enough to worry about not having his Bird rights. I think you go into the off season and look at maybe signing one FA and then match whatever is offered to our UFA's. Obviously timing will be important so we don't violate cap rules, but this is the right time to do this. I think the CBA is up after next season correct?
If anything Nate, Olshey has played this perfectly. We have bird rights on LA, Rolo, and Wes. Lillard's salary is still low, and Batum is locked in at a fair salary. This next off-season is the one where we have the chance to make a big move and truly jump to a contender. If Olshey plays his cards right and our FA's buy in, we can use our cap space to snag a max or near max level player and then resign all of our players and go over the cap to do so. This summer will truly be one of the last times we can add a significant piece without giving up much, if anything. Now if we were to get Gasol, we likely wouldn't be resigning Rolo so that improves our cap situation a bit. Should be interested and I'm excited for it. It's going to be a fun summer.
I think you may be right. I still would prefer to have more guy who can attack the rim, but I no longer believe it has to be at the expense of either Wes or Nic. Wes' post up game is key. Last year it was improved but was still not good enough to be a viable threat. This year so far, he seems to have expanded his range with it. If it is legit, it will open up a lot of things for his teammates.
Agree with what was said above about TRob. Would like to keep him, but he is replaceable. Utah found a gem in Trevor Booker off the scrap heap this year, and I think he's better than TRob in every way. We just look hard enough, and we will find a guy like him if TRob gets PAID
Basing off of hoopshype, if Blake exercises his player Option and stays on, we have $24.85 in guaranteed salary for next summer, 6 players. If we keep Kaman (TO) he adds 5mill putting us at 29.85. Lamarcus should get about $18.5. If the Cap is the expected $66.5 (could be higher) that leaves 18.15mil. Not quite enough for one max offer unless it's a guy like Monroe. But we would have to renounce our bird rights to all our other free agents, Wesley, Rolo, Robinson, Freeland, Wright etc...etc... I personally think our flexibility is between now and the trade deadline. We can trade for the guys we want to go after.
Where did I say we should or could get Gasol? I said he's probably the best player on the market next summer but it's a pretty big gamble. I did say we could make an offer for hibbert if he was the long term target and get his bird rights. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We could make it to the finals with this squad. Then all this is moot. We would just pay for everyone and use MLE and min for some other asset
Can some one actually explain 'bird rights' to me? From what I've heard, its just signing your players have have that exception over the cap, but it might be more complicated than that. But the bird exceptionis that simple, would this scenario work? Trade Robinson, cj + 1st rounder for david west. Pacers will probably tank and trade west and/or hibbert for less than they are worth. Then sign a 2 or 3 like rudy gay to a near max contract. Doesnt have to be rudy gay, but we could get him start at the 3 30-32 mpg and have batum playing backup 2/3 and playing 30-32 mpg every night. Maybe he'll be more agressive being the no.1 option off the bench. He's usually the 4th option behind LA, lillard, and matthews. Then re-sign LA, matthews, and lopez. All have their bird rights i'm pretty sure. LA is max. Matthews probably 10-12. Lopez probably 8-10. No doubt we'd be over the cap. Also, resign barton and freeland if possible. Idk if either of them will command alot of money. But if they do, we'll have to come up with cheaper options But a lineup of... Lillard/Blake (Batum can also handle the ball) Matthews/Batum/Barton/Crabbe Gay/Batum/Barton LA/West/Freeland Lopez/Kaman/Leonard This team could really contend. Is this possible or just a pipedream?
No, but they don't matter much because his cap hold will be the max and we can't offer more than his Rookie Scale 4th-year salary. So yeah, if we stay over the cap the whole time (resign Wes and LMA and anyone else and then sign Robinson to a 4-yr deal starting at 4.4M with 7.5% raises), then we can use Bird Rights. But if we are trying to get space, then his cap hold will be renounced and we won't have Bird Rights anymore.
