59 replies to this topic

[rockets best fan]

don't believe the hype. many have been lead to believe the contracts of both Asik and J-Lin are immoveable because of the BALLOON PAYMENTS on the back end of their contracts. some believe we will be forced to combine other good assets to move one of them...........not necessarily the case.

 

in order to understand how these contracts will actually benefit the Rockets, we must examine the benefit to another team. why would any team want a 8.3 mil cap hold while paying 15 mil? several reasons....

 

1. a teams wants to trade a multi-year player who makes 8-12 mil......if a player has 2 or more years left on his deal at 8 mil a year it means his contract is at least 16 mil total. his team could be looking to get from under the money burden early without it showing on the cap. while we view contracts from year to year....teams look more at overall value in addition to number of years.

 

2. a team over the tax threshold with a one year player or multi-year player making up to 12 mil can reduce it's tax liabilities by at least 4 mil not even counting the added pressure (savings) of the repeater tax

 

3. a team wants to acquire an impact player while keeping cap figures low for future moves. while it's debatable whether J-Lin is an impact player there is no doubt Asik is one. looking at the contract big men have been receiving lately Asik is not grossly overpaid. so his cap figure could be viewed as obtaining a more valuable asset without the stiff cap hit.

 

as you can see there would be many teams who fall into one of these categories. the Rockets have plenty of offers....of that I have no doubt, however they are not just interested in wholesaling these contracts. they want pieces they can use. these two contracts are flexible in the ways they can be used by the receiving team. we all know it takes two to tango and the rockets have two decent dance tickets. these contracts are not the anvils that have been portrayed by the media. I think there are a lot of teams who wouldn't even blink an eye about the 15 mil and consider it the cost of doing business within the scope of building their teams, in addition to those that the contracts would help 

[Buckko]

Sorry to say RBF, but how would you be able to expect a GM go to the owner before a trade to get a player like lin and tell him he's going to have to pay him max money. We're just going to have to swallow those deals as there is no point in moving asik if you can't move lin. Just wait it out and enjoy your 2015 cap space.

[rm90025]

The  way those contracts are moveable is if a team wants salary flexibility in 2015 and would rather take a short term hit in 2014 in exchange for wiping salary off the books in 2015.  There are teams that would make such a decision but Houston would have to get something in return.  The Knicks could do it if they packaged Tyson Chandler in a return deal.  

 

The other way it could work is if Houston is somehow able to pay down the deferred portion of Asik's and Lin's 2014-15 salary as a type of early partial buy out, in order to reduce the amount left on the contracts and make the contracts more tradeable. Not sure if that is permissible under NBA rules, or if Alexander would agree to partially buyout 2 young players who contribute without getting something meaningful in return (e.g., a player of Rondo's or Love's ability).

[Buckko]

You can't partially buy out contracts, you can only send a max of 3 million dollars in a trade.

[Steven]

You can't partially buy out contracts, you can only send a max of 3 million dollars in a trade.

Actually, I think you can only send out $3M per year. So you can send out $3M on one trade and not another dime the rest of the year, or break it up into multiple $1M trades.

If I am wrong I am wrong, but that is the way it used to be.

[dbd]

If you don't value your own players - not saying Lin deserved his money* - other teams will not value them for sure.

 

*Rumors said Lin wasn't Morey's plan; it was Leslie's. Lin's role was reduced lately on court: a decision by his coaches; but his face still showed up on posters all over including pregame advertisements from team's media accounts.

[Baller93]

Yeah, that poison pill contract looks awful.  Looked great a couple years ago.  With both Harden & Dwight, plus the emergence of Parsons, there's no way that contract justify a bench player.  I will light a candle for Lin and Asik both.  Wouldn't that be something though, if Lin ends up back in NY as part of Phil's master plan in rebuilding in two years or so?

[Steven]

Yeah, that poison pill contract looks awful. Looked great a couple years ago. With both Harden & Dwight, plus the emergence of Parsons, there's no way that contract justify a bench player. I will light a candle for Lin and Asik both. Wouldn't that be something though, if Lin ends up back in NY as part of Phil's master plan in rebuilding in two years or so?

Without the poison pill, neither Asik nor Lin would be a Rocket, had to say it looks awful, since it was the only way to get said players.

[thenit]

Agree Steven at that time it was the the few players with high reward high risk proposition. If we knew we would get harden, Lin wouldn't have been offered that contract, and Asik probably still would have got that one since we didn't have a C.

[NorEastern]

Sigh. Asik is trade-able in a heartbeat. Morey was just asking to much. Plus how could the Rockets ever get back fair value for Asik? He quite possibly could be the difference maker in the playoffs this season or next. 48 minutes of paint protection. Priceless.

 

Lin's contract is problematic. Good point guards are a dime a dozen. Top seven centers? Rare and expensive.

[Jatman20]

Teams are spiteful.......no team wants their player lured away by poison-pill method. Houston did it twice in the same off-season. A few GM's would have taken one or the other while the true cost was approx 5 mil back in Dec. Few will now. Ainge would have re-traded Asik at the trading deadline back to the western conference. This serves as a lesson to other GM's not to go by poison-pill route. Parsons may be an example of Karma coming full circle back on us. How would we like it if Orlando came knocking on Parsons door to come back home this summer with a poison-pill offer? NY with their big profits is one of our last hopes to take these contracts. Otherwise the contracts may be on our books until the trading deadline. Cross your fingers for a good showing in the playoffs by Asik and Lin....so their stock will increase enough to trade this summer.

Edited by Jatman20, 29 March 2014 - 05:31 AM.

[rockets best fan]

@Jatman20

any Gm that would allow personal feelings to get in the way of doing good business will probably be out of a job pretty quickly. it's his job regardless of feelings to make his team a winner. if that involves trading for Asik or Lin I doubt he would hesitate because of his personal feelings.

[timetodienow1234567]

If Lin is as worthless as RBF claims then the only way we get rid of him is if we package Parsons with him.

[rockets best fan]

@TTDN

Lin is worthless but his contract isn't.......or did you even take time to read the above post?

[timetodienow1234567]

I did, but unless we're willing to take on Gerald Wallace(an equally useless player) I don't see a team jumping on the Lin express since he won't get another contract and will be playing in china/Europe next year.

[rockets best fan]

@TTDN

this is only an example just to let you know the concept is valid...............the Rockets trade Lin plus first rounder for A-Affalo. Affalo's deal has 2 years left at 8mil per making the total worth 16 mil. if Orlando makes that trade they get from under Affalo money a year early without it showing on the cap and reel in a first rounder to boot. is Affalo useless? there are several players that Lin's or Asik's contracts can help acquire. sure we would have to move more assets in some cases, however they offer plenty of flexibility.

[Cooper]

Orlando likes Afflalo, lin and pick 25 or whatever isn't gonna work.

[rockets best fan]

@Cooper

I agree Orlando likes Affalo, however they were trying to move him before this years trade deadline and took him off the market because they were unable to get what they wanted ( a first round draft pick this year). it is unlikely he is part of their future. he will bolt after his current contract and they know it and will be powerless to stop it. I expect to see him traded before next season's trade deadline. in any ordinary year I would agree with you a #25 draft pick isn't worth much..........however this year I would disagree. I watched a lot of college ball this year and this draft is deep. Sure the potential stars will be gone, however the talent level will remain high throughout the first round IMO and there's always a sleeper or 2. most of the GM's in the league know this. that's why they have been clutching first round picks like a fist full of 100$ bills. I don't see the Rockets bringing in another first round rookie because of the cap hold, so they are very likely to trade either it or the player it lands. if someone drops in the draft Orlando likes I could see them trying to pull the trigger on this deal.................then again this is only an example to show the flexibility that the Rockets really have. I believe their are more appealing options on the Rockets plate right now.............can you say Melo, Harden and Howard.........ah well a man can dream can't he

[timetodienow1234567]

Idk the Jazz turned down a late 1st for Marvin. So late 1sts aren't worth as much as you think.

[rockets best fan]

@TTDN

who offer a first for Marvin Williams?