In ESPN's latest update on free agents, a source mentioned CHI as a possible destination for David Lee. http://bit.ly/5Qdj2 Has CHI moved on past Boozer and now focused on David Lee? If so, this could be Portland's way of getting Hinrich. We'd be the only team left willing to use our cap space to facilitate a deal and circumvent Lee's future BYC status. New York deals Lee to Chicago (let's say $8M going out and $4M coming in; satisfies BYC requirements of CBA) Chicago deals Hinrich to Portland ($9.5M going out and $8M coming in). Portland deals Blake to New York ($4M going out and $9.5M coming in; use $5.5M of our available $7.7M) and if NY didn't want Blake ...
... we could replace Blake with Outlaw. Because Out makes $3.6M, we'd either have to include another player so that Lee would make more money in the first year, or Lee would need to make a starting salary of $7.2M. Then it would work. I don't like moving Outlaw though unless we have a back-up for Aldridge in place (i.e. Freeland). I suppose Batum could come off the bench and replace Outlaw. Cunningham may be just fine in that role as well. Or, another player could be traded for. We'd still have Blake, Bayless, or one of our traded-player exceptions to get a reserve 4.
I like it or you could sub in Outlaw who might be more of a D'antoni guy then Blake. It's a pity we trade Sergio, I bet Sergio + Outlaw would have gotten it done.
Hm. Another option, we move Blake AND Outlaw. Blake to CHI and Outlaw to New York. We get Hinrich and still have $5.8M in cap space.
I thought of going after Robinson. Just seemed too complicated, especially considering Robinson also would be now a BYC player. It's not impossible. Surely, Blake would need to be included and we need to send out additional salary, so Outlaw too. Plus, New York would need to take back the bulk of the salaries. Something like this. Portland sends out Blake, Outlaw and Bayless; receives Hinrich and Robinson ($15.5M in and $9.7 out; Nate's starting salary at $6M; left with 1.9M in spending money) Chicago sends out Hinrich and receives Lee and Bayless ($10.1M in and 9.5M out) New York sends out Lee and Robinson; receives Outlaw and Blake ($7.6M in and $14M out)
Has to be something in it for NY. Something tells me they would rather wait 'till: 1) Someone signs him to an MLE deal that they match (provided we/OKC don't want him. Why doesn't OKC want him BTW?). 2) Lee signs for what they're willing to give him. 3) Lee signs the QO which I think they would prefer the most, as they would have his Bird rights in 2010 to eventually keep him with. As both Outlaw and Blake expire next season, who would you rather have as your FA in 2010 with Bird rights if you were NY? Edit: Same with Robinson.
