10 replies to this topic

[coach_fletch]

Next Season - 58.044Mil
Rockets Salaries for next season 30.057
Difference about 28 Mil.

Max players available? Max Players worth it? Willing to overpay for?

If the Rockets want to resign Dragic it will cost them. Probably not max but well more than his 2.1 million.
Will they pick up Bud's Option (only 942,000)? Patrick Patterson (if picked up they have another option for the next season)? Dalembert (6.7 Mil)?

[rockets best fan]

was trying to put graph here but format not working

[Rahat Huq]

keep in mind that they have cap holds on dragic and lee which total about $9million. you also have to account for motiejunas and whatever other rookies they bring in at their scaled contracts.

I do expect them to exercise that option on Bud.

[blakecouey]

Probably not max? If Dragic found an offer of max or near max weve got to let him walk. The drop off isn't so huge between he and lowry that its worth that kind of money. You won't find a better contract for bud, gotta keep him even if its just a nice piece of trade bait. Patt deserves another opportunity, and if he doesn't improve we've got to pursue other options. Let dalembert go, did not play to his contract and that's our biggest need, resign camby to a cheaper deal and look for a starting C in a trade, fa, or draft. Resigning Lee is a need as well try to get that done before we have to match an offer.

[bob schmidt]

I favor signing our "proven" talent, both Dragic and Lee. Letting either walk should not be an option, but not everyone can be a guaranteed starter. If we cannot fit all of our pieces together and maintain good chemistry, then use the re-signed extra player as trade material to complete the best team that we can assemble after seeing the results of the draft and free agent possibilities.

Regarding Lee in particular, until the team pushes the button on Martin's future, it is impossible to foresee his real role in the future. Nontheless, his trade value in the open marketplace would be good. With our current unknowns, it would be impossible to know what positions are going to be our biggest need areas excepting for our ongoing search for a center to build around in the future. We need to make it clear to all of our players that no one is "entitled" to be a starter, but has to earn the role on the court.

[Stephen]

Re the Cap Room.
Martin.................$12.44mil
Scola..................$9.41mil
Dalembert...........$6.7mil...only $1.5mil guaranteed,eligible for stretch buyout at $500,000/yr over 3 yrs,if done before July 8
Lowry..................$5.75mil
Lee Cap hold.......$5.56mil
Dragic Cap hold...$4.00mil
Patterson.............$2.10mil
Morris..................$1.91mil
Budinger..............$0.89mil...his salary is less than his Cap hold,Rockets will take his option
Parsons...............$0.89mil
14,16 Firsts.......@$3.5mil
Motiejunas..........$1.04mil
Smith,Saunders,Fortson. Not sure if they count against Cap,if so each at min salary @ $500,000.

The Rockets have $46.6mil counting against the Cap,and possibly up to $48mil+.
The Salary Cap this yr will be a little over $58mil.
The Rockets as is have some $12mil in Cap room(perhaps a little over $10mil),not enough for a Max FA.
If they stretch buyout Dalembert,they end up w/about $18mil,enough for a Max.
Lee and Dragic's Cap holds are likely lower than what their eventual salaries will be and the team can wait until the rest of the Cap room is used before signing them.

[blakecouey]

Find a home for martin and dalembert and that's nearly 30m free space, enough for a max, resigns of lee and dragic, and enough room for one more decent contract(and even better if you find a home for lowry too). If the right deals come up we could drastically imrpove our team and stay below the cap still.

[rockets best fan]

I know a lot of you aren't, but this is why I am pumped about the rockets chance to reshape this team. we have some nice pieces, but I think this is the year we get our chance to get a prize talent. it may not happen, but I am even pulling for us to win the lottery(never know). stranger things have happened.

[Rahat Huq]

it may not happen, but I am even pulling for us to win the lottery(never know). stranger things have happened.

That would really make things quite a bit easier.

[ChinaConor]

Aside for Deron Williams is there any free agent worth the maximum this season? I don't think so. There aren't many 10 million dollar players and most of those are restricted free agents on teams that are likely to match.

It might be a good idea for the Rockets to use their cap space to either take on a bad salary that comes with a pick ((Lowry for Salmons and #5?)/(Patterson for Gordon and #9?)) or with a high quality player a team wouldn't normally consider trading (Budinger, Patterson #16 for Josh Smith and Marvin Williams?).

Another possibility is to offer a Dragic a front loaded contract. Say the Rockets value him at 5 years 35 million. Offer him a first year of 14.5 million and then 4.5 million for the remaining 4 years. A front loaded 32.5 is worth more than a backloaded 35.

As to winning the lottery, that would make things a lot easier.

[areteejay789]

I think front loading the contract for Dragic (or anyone really) might be a great idea, if we realise that we are not going to be able to bring in dwight/williams. As long as dragic gets his money he wont mind how it is payed to him. that way we have a low salary/high output player towards the end of his contract, which would be perfect, as it would leave more capspace to bring in superior players. i dont know why teams dont do that more with non-max players, in years where they have lots of capspace, but no chance of signing marquee players.

as for trading for a bad salary + pick, thats not a bad idea if we can get maybe top 5, but is it worth having ben gordon for another 2 or three years to get a mid lottery pick? i dont really think so, unless we can then package that pick with our remaining 14 and 16 for something better.