That's kinda the point I was setting up. I've kinda gotten to the point with Olshey that if he thinks we should sign or trade for a guy then I tend to take his word for it.
I'm more open to a move that Olshey actually makes than I might be with it on paper. If it's a move that I didn't like on paper, I take the attitude, "I don't like this move, but maybe I'll understand it over time." And sometimes (this is in general, not always with Olshey--it applied to Whitsitt, Pritchard, etc) I do see why it made sense. Other times, I don't and the move doesn't appear to work out any better in real life than it seemed to on paper.
Howard is an option, but he's aging. He made 22 million this year and we had 16 million of cap room. If we lose Henderson to FA, then we can afford Howard's salary without a pay cut. I don't know what kind of cut he might accept, but with that salary on the books, we have less flexibility down the road, e.g. CJ McCollum seems destined for a max or near-max deal, and I would rather be paying him than Dwight Howard in 2018. I go after Whiteside or Drummond, younger players at better value. Whiteside made less than 1 million this year; Drummond was just over 2 million. Who knows what they are worth now that everyone who averages double figures expects a max deal.
Drummond is completely pointless to go after. No way detroit doesnt match. Whiteside.... meh. Maybe, but i dont see him leaving. Dwight is the most likely big to give us major consideration based on his mentors words.
Howard really needs to be the last girl to be asked out to the prom. He's got to hear the crickets chirp this summer when the "opportunity" emerges and all the good teams pass on him for other prospects. If after everyone else is signed and he's left standing there knowing that none of the good teams made him a priority, well, maybe he'd be a really nice fit for our team.
Probably what happens. Maybe it positions the Rockets for a sign and trade to a team willing to absorb his last year.
Miami doesn't have his bird rights and can't offer him as much as other teams can. He's leaving Miami unless he takes a major discount.
Not sure Dwight at age 31, with an expiring contact would have ANY value. No more Billy Kings in the NBA unfortunately
From what ive seen and read they have maneuverability to retain him with cap space they can have after renouncing a couple guys and resigning wade
Their base salaries are basically 50M for 6 players, and Wade's cap hold is 30M. Whiteside's max starts at about 23M. Roster charge holds are 550K each. So assuming a $92M cap, Heat would need to renounce every free agent and cap exception, and resign Wade to a contract starting below $17M, and then fill the rest of their roster with minimum-salary guys. So yes, it's possible, but not likely.
I just don't see this happening - this Free Agent class is weak and he's one of the only "big names" that has a realistic shot of changing teams.
After 11 NBA seasons, Dwight has a personal net worth over $100 million. The question is which is more important to Dwight. Does he want to go for the big $$$, or, does he want to help his new team win more games? If Dwight holds out for a huge near max contract, then stay away from him. However, if Dwight is ready to take a smaller contract (Tim Duncan style) to help a young upcoming team win more games, then let’s talk to him. I would rather give Dwight $14 million per year than be forced to match a $10 million contract for Meyers, or even a $14 million contract for Crabbe.
$14 million LOL.... You have to be at least competitive. He's making 22 million this year, maybe you offer something close to that, but there's no way he's gonna take any less.
Miami can offer Whiteside more than any other team. Yes, they have to renounce all their free agents but they can offer 7.5% raises as opposed to 4.5% raises. Not saying they will, but technically they can, and he is obviously their most important free agent. They also don't have to renounce Wade if they can make him take a *wink* *wink* sort of deal where he signs a contract less than his caphold before they resign Whiteside. Depends on the discount Wade takes, because Whiteside sure as hell isn't doing it.
