Roughly half the NBA teams could have max cap room this summer; but there are only a couple of elite players that are locks to get the max contracts. Gasol, Aldridge, Butler, Love, Kawhi will get those deals but are likely staying with their current teams. Teams such as the Lakers, Knicks, Celtics, Spurs, Magic, Pistons will have tons of cap room and a desire to spend it on a quality starter. The cap will be going up in future summers so it will be a case where those teams can sign a max player in 2015 and still have max cap room again the following summer in 2016 when Durant and others are free agents. Wesley may be one of those second tier free agents that a team offers the max to try and lure him away from Portland. Chandler Parsons and Gordon Haywood received max contracts last summer. Eric Gordon and Josh Smith received max deals the year prior. Obviously resigning Aldridge is priority #1 this offseason so I'll assume that is done right on July 1st. Supposedly he and the team have agreed he will receive a 5 year max deal. But keeping Wesley appears to be priority #2 and of course Lopez is priority #3.
Man people are sure going to bitch about Wes when he makes Max since they already bitch about Nic and he doesn't even make Max.
well said Draco Besides, Paul can afford to reward Wes for his hard work with as big of a check as Wes deserves
I'll say this, I bet the Cavs will be one team with Lebron that will be banging down Wesley's door this summer.
It looks to me like the cavs have $88M in committed payroll this summer. They're not offering anyone MAX money.
I don't know if it will be max money, but he's due for a large pay raise. I think both Rolo AND Wes will get significant pay upgrades.
Don't think so here or don't think so period? Legit chance someone tries to give him Max just to convince him to leave. He seems loyal though. He might spurn them and take our offer if it is close.
I agree. In fact I think he, rolo, and aldridge all sign 1 year contracts and then get a raise the next year when the cap increases, assuming there is no regression at least.
I wouldn't expect him to leave money on the table. I'm thinking some place like Milwaukee trys to go after him.
So in that case you think we should let him go? Remember, even if we do let him walk we will be over the cap so won't have money to replace him via free agency.
ok? Nic is playing like shit this year, not living up to his contract. If Wes makes max and doesnt live up to his contract he deserves criticism. Not that hard to understand.
Wes isn't going to live up to Max because only 5 or so players in the whole league live up to their Max contract. If he doesn't live up to Max he can still do very well and not deserve criticism.
I can't answer that right now. I'll trust Olshey on that one. My preference is to keep him, but we'll be entering a situation of having a repeater tax in all likely scenarios once we max out Aldridge and Lillard.
I do not agree. LMA can hold his own with any PF in the league. He's very important to this team. Wes is equally as important, and I think he is the most important for the mental toughness factor.
