NBA Off-season thread

[chester]

All of a sudden, all of the teams thinking they were making enough cap space to sign max contracts next year might be wrong. Although, I believe the max contract amount is related to the salary cap as a percentage, so that could affect the players also.

Basically, what it's could prevent is a team signing two max players to deals, I would think, unless they wanted to pay out the nose in luxury taxes. And even if you sign one to a deal, if he's not your own free agent, you're likely going to have to put so many average to below-average players around him that it might not be worth his while to sign elsewhere.

 

[cwilson3]

First post on the thread, I'll try to make it a good one.
Just saw a report on ESPN News that the 2010-11 salary cap is going to be in the low $50 million range. That ought to throw a monkey wrench in some teams' plans.

According to the wire stories I've seen tonight, Stern sent out an e-mail/memo to all teams that, yeah the cap may drop considerably after this season, so act accordingly. However, that has the union up in arms, because -- get this now -- that kind of talk may discourage some of the big money deals. REALLY?!?!?!? I bet Stern had no idea that could happen with that kind of warning [/bluefont]. Pretty sure that was the intent of the whole thing, preaching financial responsibility and all with a falling cap, instead of handing a, let's see here now, an 8 ppg player a six year, $50-mil deal. Absolute stupidity.

I guess the deal is more like $42M plus incentives that could equal $50M. He was paid like $5.8M last year, so for him to get around $7M actually isn't that bad. It's a 20 percent pay increase for a dude that is fearless on defense and has good chemistry with LeBron.

 

[sgreenwell]

First post on the thread, I'll try to make it a good one.
Just saw a report on ESPN News that the 2010-11 salary cap is going to be in the low $50 million range. That ought to throw a monkey wrench in some teams' plans.

According to the wire stories I've seen tonight, Stern sent out an e-mail/memo to all teams that, yeah the cap may drop considerably after this season, so act accordingly. However, that has the union up in arms, because -- get this now -- that kind of talk may discourage some of the big money deals. REALLY?!?!?!? I bet Stern had no idea that could happen with that kind of warning [/bluefont]. Pretty sure that was the intent of the whole thing, preaching financial responsibility and all with a falling cap, instead of handing a, let's see here now, an 8 ppg player a six year, $50-mil deal. Absolute stupidity.

I guess the deal is more like $42M plus incentives that could equal $50M. He was paid like $5.8M last year, so for him to get around $7M actually isn't that bad. It's a 20 percent pay increase for a dude that is fearless on defense and has good chemistry with LeBron.

The guy is a league-average PF, though, and I can't see him getting any better. The Cavs are rewarding him for his past performance, not taking into account his future production. Varajeo is the type of guy you replace every couple of years with a solid second round pick you've developed - Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Paul Millsap, that sort of player - as opposed to locking up for multiple years at relatively big money. While there is a chance the Cavs don't regret this contract, since Varajeo seems like a hard worker on the boards and what not, I think it's more likely that they regret it and try to move him after two or three years, like other contracts given to "middle class" NBA players.

 

[cwilson3]

First post on the thread, I'll try to make it a good one.
Just saw a report on ESPN News that the 2010-11 salary cap is going to be in the low $50 million range. That ought to throw a monkey wrench in some teams' plans.

According to the wire stories I've seen tonight, Stern sent out an e-mail/memo to all teams that, yeah the cap may drop considerably after this season, so act accordingly. However, that has the union up in arms, because -- get this now -- that kind of talk may discourage some of the big money deals. REALLY?!?!?!? I bet Stern had no idea that could happen with that kind of warning [/bluefont]. Pretty sure that was the intent of the whole thing, preaching financial responsibility and all with a falling cap, instead of handing a, let's see here now, an 8 ppg player a six year, $50-mil deal. Absolute stupidity.

I guess the deal is more like $42M plus incentives that could equal $50M. He was paid like $5.8M last year, so for him to get around $7M actually isn't that bad. It's a 20 percent pay increase for a dude that is fearless on defense and has good chemistry with LeBron.

The guy is a league-average PF, though, and I can't see him getting any better. The Cavs are rewarding him for his past performance, not taking into account his future production. Varajeo is the type of guy you replace every couple of years with a solid second round pick you've developed - Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Paul Millsap, that sort of player - as opposed to locking up for multiple years at relatively big money. While there is a chance the Cavs don't regret this contract, since Varajeo seems like a hard worker on the boards and what not, I think it's more likely that they regret it and try to move him after two or three years, like other contracts given to "middle class" NBA players.

I definitely see your point, but I also think it's a good move because their other two rotation bigs are old as dirt. Locking up a young guy who you know is going to give you solid minutes is paramount for a team in that situation. Like I said, their cap number on him only goes up 1.2 mil. It's not that big of a deal.

 

[Sp0rtScribe]

Apparently another major deal is looming that would send Boozer to Chicago, Hinrich to Portland and Tyrus Thomas to Utah.

Pretty sure this helps everyone except the Jazz. I still don't know why they value Millsap so much over Boozer. Millsap is undersized and is not the passer or shooter Boozer is, though I know Carlos is pretty injury-prone. Anyway, Chicago and Portland would make out pretty darn well with this deal.

 

[cwilson3]

Apparently another major deal is looming that would send Boozer to Chicago, Hinrich to Portland and Tyrus Thomas to Utah.

Pretty sure this helps everyone except the Jazz. I still don't know why they value Millsap so much over Boozer. Millsap is undersized and is not the passer or shooter Boozer is, though I know Carlos is pretty injury-prone. Anyway, Chicago and Portland would make out pretty darn well with this deal.

Yahoo called it bogus based on their sources, but ESPN hasn't backed off it. Chicago hasn't had a big who could score in a long time. That'd be good for them.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Apparently another major deal is looming that would send Boozer to Chicago, Hinrich to Portland and Tyrus Thomas to Utah.

Pretty sure this helps everyone except the Jazz. I still don't know why they value Millsap so much over Boozer. Millsap is undersized and is not the passer or shooter Boozer is, though I know Carlos is pretty injury-prone. Anyway, Chicago and Portland would make out pretty darn well with this deal.

Yahoo called it bogus based on their sources, but ESPN hasn't backed off it. Chicago hasn't had a big who could score in a long time. That'd be good for them.

Chicago Tribune says it's probably not being too seriously discussed.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-10-bulls-bits-jul10,0,4975283.story

You have to scroll down a bit to get there.

 

[Sp0rtScribe]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ... Brandon Bass goes to Orlando (nice pickup, I like his game) ... and, as expected, Grizz let Stackhouse loose.

 

[Some Guy]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

 

[broadway joe]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

Actually he also had the option of going to Boston as Paul Pierce's backup, but for less $$ than either Phoenix or NY offered. So it's fair to say he chose money and playing time over the chance to win a ring.

 

[Sp0rtScribe]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

Yeah, I just think Boston made the most sense. But as Broadway Joe said, it was clear he was going for the money. I had heard his wife was pushing hard for NY.

 

[Songbird]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Portland Trail Blazers draft pick Patty Mills broke his right foot during practice and won’t play in the NBA’s summer league.

The Blazers said Friday that Mills fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during practice Thursday night. He will have surgery on his foot on Monday, the team announced.

A timetable for the point guard’s return has not been determined.

 

[cwilson3]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

Yeah, I just think Boston made the most sense. But as Broadway Joe said, it was clear he was going for the money. I had heard his wife was pushing hard for NY.

He'd be what, the third guy off the bench for them? He'd barely get any crunch time minutes either. As solid a player as he is, he's not going to take minutes from KG, Allen, Pierce, Rondo or even Sheed. I actually admire him for not trying to pull a Gary Payton/Karl Malone '04 and ride other guys' coattails to an NBA title while taking a paycut.

 

[sgreenwell]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

Yeah, I just think Boston made the most sense. But as Broadway Joe said, it was clear he was going for the money. I had heard his wife was pushing hard for NY.

He'd be what, the third guy off the bench for them? He'd barely get any crunch time minutes either. As solid a player as he is, he's not going to take minutes from KG, Allen, Pierce, Rondo or even Sheed. I actually admire him for not trying to pull a Gary Payton/Karl Malone '04 and ride other guys' coattails to an NBA title while taking a paycut.

I imagine he, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce would have split time at the 3. Right now, Pierce's backup is Tony Allen, who hasn't been the same player since injuring himself in that meaningless 2007 season.

 

[Sp0rtScribe]

Grant Hill stays in Phoenix (why, I have no idea, aren't they rebuilding?) ...

New York was his other choice, speaking of rebuilding.

Yeah, I just think Boston made the most sense. But as Broadway Joe said, it was clear he was going for the money. I had heard his wife was pushing hard for NY.

He'd be what, the third guy off the bench for them? He'd barely get any crunch time minutes either. As solid a player as he is, he's not going to take minutes from KG, Allen, Pierce, Rondo or even Sheed. I actually admire him for not trying to pull a Gary Payton/Karl Malone '04 and ride other guys' coattails to an NBA title while taking a paycut.

I think he'd be getting his share of minutes, maybe 18-22 per game. He can handle the offense in a pinch and can play three positions pretty much. I could see him and Pierce sharing the SF spot, and the Hill and Pierce also on the floor at the same time due to their versatility. I definitely don't think he'd be a bit player.

 

[cwilson3]

I definitely don't think he'd be a bit player.

They did, they wanted to offer him at like $1.9M.

 

[sgreenwell]

I definitely don't think he'd be a bit player.

They did, they wanted to offer him at like $1.9M.

They offered him that much because that's all they had left of the midlevel exception, I believe. Because they didn't offer him $10 million they didn't want him on the team? He's probably not going to play 30+ MPG for the Suns either.

 

[broadway joe]

I definitely don't think he'd be a bit player.

They did, they wanted to offer him at like $1.9M.

They offered him that much because that's all they had left of the midlevel exception, I believe. Because they didn't offer him $10 million they didn't want him on the team? He's probably not going to play 30+ MPG for the Suns either.

There's a pretty good chance that he will. He's averaged about 30 mpg each of the last 2 seasons for the Suns. Playing time is particularly important to him because he missed so much time due to injury early in his career. He's had enough sitting.

 

[Den1983]

So now the Clippers are apparently targeting Iverson. Does not make sense at all, and if anything, stunts Eric Gordon's growth. I can't believe this is even an option, but, then again, they're the Clippers.

 

[Football_Bat]

Rich DeVos lubes up his rod and slips it to a much-too-pliant Cubes.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/071409dnspomavslede.4023c17.html