http://tracking.si.com/2013/06/09/rockets-dwight-howard-chris-paul/?sct=hp_t2_a7&eref=sihp

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Dwight Howard is not the only free-agent Los Angeles superstar the Houston Rockets plan on pursuing this summer.

Houston is planning a simultaneous pursuit of Clippers point guard Chris Paul and is working to create enough cap space to pull off the coup, according to The Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen.

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I love how the Rockets are aiming high but this is probably highly unlikely. It would be awesome though. Harden, Howard, Paul and Parsons would be a stout lineup.

Dont see how it's possible considering they'd have to find someone willing to trade for Asik (not so hard) AND Lin and his overpriced contract (virtually impossible).

Who the hell wants Lin at over $8M/year? If Morey actually was able to unload Lin that alone should win Executive of the Year.

That would be a great lineup but I'd go ahead and say to stay cautiously optimistic. Remember what happened with Dallas last year in free agency. They tried to swing for the fenses and didn't make it.

My biggest question that no one seems to know:
If the Rockets trade Asik or Lin, does the other team have a cap hit of their next two seasons averaged together OR do they get actual salaries or do they get the three seasons of the contract averaged together.

three seasons averaged together: 8.3 hit/year
Each season individually: 5.2 this year and 14.9mm next year (immovable)
two seasons averaged together: 10mm hit/year

Rockets have:
Harden 13.7
Asik 8.3
Lin 8.3
TRob 3.5
Royce 1.7
Terrence Jones 1.5
DMo 1.4
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38.4

Cap will be around 58-62mm. You are charged a league minimum for each open roster spot. So they can sign one player without making a move. Moving TRob/Lin/Asik gives you room for two maxes and little else.

Yea I would like to see a few more details leak about how they plan on pulling this one off. There would have to be a lot of moving and shaking to land both Howard and Paul. If they do get this deal done it seems like our depth is going to be pretty much non-existent.

Time to put those Rio Grande Valley Viper Champs to the test!

The cap hit will be averaged for the team that accepts the contract. The rockets were able to average them, so the team that assumes the contract will retain the right to average over the remaining 2 years of 8 mil

Are you sure, because they were designed to keep Chicago/NYK from matching. Chicago/NYK were going to have to take the hit at face value every year, which means 15mm hit in year 3.

Even so, Lin at 8.2mm/year with 2y20mm left to pay is hugely difficult to sell to anyone. No way Donald Sterling or Buss Jr takes that back for Dwight or Paul.

I think for salary cap reasons it is averaged, but for luxury tax reasons it isn't. I'm not sure on that.

yes, that is the case for any team that would accept the players in a trade.

The poison pill's averaging would count for salary cap reasons, but if you're in lux tax territory, the full amount is considered to calculate tax. The team that accepts the players in a trade, if over the luxury tax, will have to pay the penalties for accepting the player

this is a great write-up of what the poison pill is. I just asked my old salary cap manager to verify that the new team accepting the contract would still get the same terms the rockets got, provided they're under the tax

http://basketball.about.com/od/nba-cba-glossary/g/Poison-Pill-Contract.htm

Thanks for the link, Token.

Lakers are over the lux tax next year even if they let Howard walk. Kobe+Pau+Nash=over the cap by themselves.

Clippers will be about 15mm under the cap if they let Odom+Billups+Paul walk.

I think you could entice the Clippers much more easily than the Lakers for Lin and the Lakers may be interested in Asik to play D while Gasol plays O. I could see those two together.

To get either team to take on the salary and lux tax risk, I think you have to give up Parsons.

Paul for Lin+Parsons+TRob?

Jordan
Blake
Parsons
Butler/Crawford
Lin

Could be worse.

In Morey we trust

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To get either team to take on the salary and lux tax risk, I think you have to give up Parsons.

Paul for Lin+Parsons+TRob?

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Which sucks because the only two players I don't want to see move are Harden and Parsons....Oh and Beverley the enforcer....

That stupid frickin Lin contract makes me want to rake my eyes out with a fork

[This message has been edited by CFTXAG10 (edited 6/10/2013 11:27a).]

I like to think that the Lin contract was an ownership dictated contract, not a Morey contract. They wanted the Chinese dollars to continue rolling in.

They might get Howard

Won't get CP3, I think he stays in LA.

I don't think Howard is worth the money or trouble anymore.

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I don't think Howard is worth the money or trouble anymore.

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Agreed.

If he comes to Houston, I will gladly eat crow if he works out.

It all depends on Paul and Howard. If they make it clear that they will not resign, then do you let them walk or take Asik, Lin, T-Rob, Jones, and picks? Lin only has 2 more years, so in a year he can be an expiring contract. To me, I think you take the assets and try to package them later. Again assuming Paul and/or Howard refuse to sign with their respective teams.

I think anyone who 'wins' the Dwightmare contest will ultimately regret winning.

Asik, Robinson, and Jones aren't worth also having to take on Lin and his terrible contract. I don't think the Clippers or Lakers would have a remote interest in doing that, they'd rather just let them walk and get cap space for 2014. Paul + Howard isn't going to happen in Houston, the only team that could realistically pull it off that has the space is the Hawks.

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Asik, Robinson, and Jones aren't worth also having to take on Lin and his terrible contract. I don't think the Clippers or Lakers would have a remote interest in doing that, they'd rather just let them walk and get cap space for 2014. Paul + Howard isn't going to happen in Houston, the only team that could realistically pull it off that has the space is the Hawks.

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You act like it's a Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay contract. It's 2 years at $8.375M.

I don't think Houston will get both either. Maybe Josh Smith and Dwight though.

Maybe Morey knew the Lakers would fire Mike Brown midseason and hire Mike D'Antoni, thus signed Jeremy Lin knowing that he would later be used in a sign and trade for Dwight with the Lakers to re-unite coach and player.

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It's 2 years at $8.375M.

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The team will have to pay over $20mm over two years. And if they are a second time offender for luxury taxes, they could be forced to pay up to $4.25 for every $1 in the contract. So that 15mm he gets paid next year could easily turn into tens of millions.

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I think anyone who 'wins' the Dwightmare contest will ultimately regret winning.

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At this point, probably......

But at the same time, anybody who doesn't try to win Howard might end up regretting it. We've seen what he can do when he is healthy/happy. And he will bring attention, publicity and ticket sales.

I would take my chances on Dwight. How many other centers in the NBA are better than him?

1. Have to pay someone to take on R White's deal for a year.

2. trade T Rob

3. Trade Asik and Lin in a 3 way deal involving Paul

That is the start of what would have to be done

2 questions on trading T. Robinson.

Was he a disappointment or if he got traded, would it be a painful loss?


I'm assuming they don't want salary back, which means what for options: only trading with teams under salary cap that offer draft picks, traded player exception, or what options are there? (assuming he isn't part of a S&T deal with one of the LA teams)

[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 6/10/2013 1:43p).]

Howard is a monster stat stuffer and great talent who put Orlando on his back to get to the finals. He's only 27 with fantastic postseason stats; his career averages are 20 points, 14 boards, 2.7 blocks, and 60% shooting. On the flip side, next year will be his 10th in the league and he has been injured for parts of the last two years. His game is predicated on athleticism, so he may not age with grace. Every year he seems to spend more time on Sportscenter for tantrums and controversy and less time for his play.

As a one or two year rent-a-player to make a run, he's a great option. It's hard to imagine building around him though.

Does Howard want to be the guy? If he comes to Houston, Harden is still t he man here and Dwight is the second option.

In Atl, Dwight is the man.

^ I think that is a big factor in his decision. Especially if Morey can pull of a deal for Paul or Smith to come with Howard to Houston.

it's a done deal already! and then we get LeBron next since he won't be able to resist being part of the big 4!

I think if I was the Rockets I'd pass on giving up T-Rob to clear cap space for a max FA like Howard or blowing up the team to add Howard + Paul or Howard + Smith. It's just going to be too difficult to unload Lin.

If I were the Rockets I'd try to add Josh Smith for something like 4 years $70M. Then I would try to trade T-Rob plus future draft pickn ot for cap space, but for an upgrade at PG, like Eric Bledsoe or something like that. Then I would try and use the room mid-level (I think it'll be $2.65M this year) to try and get an upgrade at back-up C, someone like Jermaine O'Neal. Then I would use the 2nd-rd pick this ummer and try to get the best available wing defender/athlete. Then the Rockets could roll out something like this:

C - Asik
PF - J. Smith
SF - Parsons
SG - Harden
PG - from T-Rob trade

Bench:

PG - Beverley/Lin
G/F - Delfino
G/F - rookie draft pick
F - T. Jones
C - J. O'Neal
F/C - Donatas

That would be a more complete roster than gutting everything for Howard, who I'm not sure if he's even worth a max contract anymore.

They don't have to gut anything to get Howard.

Howard AND Paul, yes.

[This message has been edited by Frok (edited 6/10/2013 4:43p).]

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Then I would try and use the room mid-level

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You can't use your cap space + mid level exception. One or the other.

Next year will be Jermaine O'Neal's 18th season in the league and he's only averaging 35 games per season over the last 3 years.