Some helpful free agency info.

[Schilly]

I got into a discussion about Lamarcus leaving or not and ended up digging into the free agency and S&T rules now. Included are the projected differences between being a max player this summer vs next summer (9 years or less)

Free agency rules:
A player can sign a 5 year deal with 7.5% annual raises
A player signing with a new team or being signed and traded can only sign a 4 year deal with 4.5% annual raises

Sign and Trade rules
A team can not receive a player in a S&T if it leaves them above the apron ($4mil over luxury tax level)

So some examples
If Kevin Love were to opt out of his contract this year and leave for the Lakers either as a FA or via S&T the most he could make over a max Contract would be 4 years for $80.85mil. If he chooses to play out the upcoming season he retains the $16.74mil. If he were to then re-sign for a max deal with Cleveland that contract would be worth about $151.6mil. Or about a difference of 2 extra years and $87.5 mill in all.

Also using Cleveland, lets say Love doesn't opt out but Lamarcus wants to go to Cleveland and Love wants to come here. Sending Lamarcus to Cleveland in a S&T would leave Cleveland above the Luxury Apron and therefore they wouldn't be able to complete the trade.

Back to Lamarcus. Lets say he decides he wants to play for Dallas, regardless of he leaves or is Signed and traded the most he would be able to get this summer is $80.8mil over 4 years. If he were to stay he could get 5 years and about $109.8 that's a difference of $29 mil. Thats a lot of money to walk away from to go back home.

If he were to want to take less money to play for a contender then it gets to be a huge discrepancy. Lamarcus unlike Lebron and Wade doesn't have the fat endorsement cash coming in as incentive to be wanting to leave cash on the table.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What if he were to sign a i year deal with a team and wait for when the salary cap takes a huge jump?

 

[Schilly]

If he were to do that, the most he could get elsewhere is about $111.6 over 4 years or $151.6 over 5 if he were to stay.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Plus no stat tax in Texas, so that softens the blow of 30 million, a little.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Can you sign a free agent and immediately trade him for a player that also just signed? Like LA for Love for instance?

OKC is close enough to Dallas take a resigned LA and trade him to OKC for Durant.

 

[Schilly]

You could do that double S&T but both players would have to take 4 year deals with smaller raises.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

LMA could run for president, win, sign an illegal $300 mill contract with the Mavs, the pardon himself.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

What if he were to sign a i year deal with a team and wait for when the salary cap takes a huge jump?

Huge gamble. LeBron basically did this last off season (still making alot) and would not be surprised if he did the same thing again.

 

[Schilly]

I would think for Lamarcus the fact that he's had a couple minor heart issues and a couple hip issues, and seeing Greg,Brandon and now maybe Wes, he's going to want to get paid long term now/

 

[Denny Crane]

You could do that double S&T but both players would have to take 4 year deals with smaller raises.

Are you sure about this?

EDIT: I see you are right.

ALL S&T deals can be for no more than 4 years and at most 4.5% raises.

 

[Schilly]

Are you sure about this?

EDIT: I see you are right.

ALL S&T deals can be for no more than 4 years and at most 4.5% raises.

Thats a pretty significant change from the previous CBA. It takes that forced leverage down a bit.

 

[Kaydow]

I would think for Lamarcus the fact that he's had a couple minor heart issues and a couple hip issues, and seeing Greg,Brandon and now maybe Wes, he's going to want to get paid long term now/

Agree. Plus I don't think LA likes all of the buzz & media attention that free agency brings. Lebron could probably do it every year and be happy, but it seems to irritate LA. when he's asked about it. I would think LA would want to sign a 5 year deal & move on. But, I wouldn't be surprised if there is an opt out clause, just in case the team takes a step back or shows that it has reached it's ceiling.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Again I ask: Does that 169M scenario involve the Blazers being able to give the most money or it is it a total free-for-all where any team with the money could give the money?

 

[Denny Crane]

Again I ask: Does that 169M scenario involve the Blazers being able to give the most money or it is it a total free-for-all where any team with the money could give the money?

The Blazers can offer 5 years instead of 4, and 7.5% raises instead of 4.5%.

Something like that.

If I'm LMA, I'm signing a MAX deal with a player option after 1 year. If I want LMA, I sign him to that offer and let the Blazers choose to match.

 

[magnifier661]

Again I ask: Does that 169M scenario involve the Blazers being able to give the most money or it is it a total free-for-all where any team with the money could give the money?

If Aldridge signed a 2 year deal with Portland and a opt out in the first year, we still have his "bird rights". That means we can over 5 years and a 7.5% raise per season. We can still offer this even being over cap.

If the Spurs signed him to a 2 year and he opts out the first year, they can't sign him if they are over cap and can only offer him 4 years because they wouldn't have his full bird rights.

 

[riverman]

I think the Spurs would be interested in Wes or Rolo

 

[Denny Crane]

If Aldridge signed a 2 year deal with Portland and a opt out in the first year, we still have his "bird rights". That means we can over 5 years and a 7.5% raise per season. We can still offer this even being over cap.

If the Spurs signed him to a 2 year and he opts out the first year, they can't sign him if they are over cap and can only offer him 4 years because they wouldn't have his full bird rights.

If he signs a contract with 1 year opt out with the Spurs, he gets MAX dollars now, and can sign a new 4 year deal at the new TV contract MAX in a year. 5 years total. If the Spurs don't want to re-sign him after he opts out, anyone else can make it worth is while.

If he signs a 5 year contract with the Blazers, it starts at the pre TV deal MAX. I haven't run the numbers, but I suspect he makes out better signing with the Spurs.

All this is hypothetical.

The very best thing for LMA would be to sign a 5 year MAX deal with opt out after 1st year with the Blazers, then sign a new 5 year deal at post TV deal MAX.

 

[magnifier661]

If he signs a contract with 1 year opt out with the Spurs, he gets MAX dollars now, and can sign a new 4 year deal at the new TV contract MAX in a year. 5 years total. If the Spurs don't want to re-sign him after he opts out, anyone else can make it worth is while.

If he signs a 5 year contract with the Blazers, it starts at the pre TV deal MAX. I haven't run the numbers, but I suspect he makes out better signing with the Spurs.

All this is hypothetical.

The very best thing for LMA would be to sign a 5 year MAX deal with opt out after 1st year with the Blazers, then sign a new 5 year deal at post TV deal MAX.

No you are missing the point that states "5 years is only offered to a full bird player", one that has played for a team for 3+ years.

So my comment is correct. Portland would still be able to offer 5 years over anyone else, even if he has a opt out after 1 year. That's because he's played with Portland for more than 3+ years.

So if it's about money, he still needs to stay in Portland. We can always offer more than anyone else.

Also, I agree with the opt out in the first year. He can still do that with Portland and still get a 5 year max after next season.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Plus no stat tax in Texas, so that softens the blow of 30 million, a little.

Only by about $4.2 million. So, he'd still be leaving a guaranteed $25 million on the table.

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

No you are missing the point that states "5 years is only offered to a full bird player", one that has played for a team for 3+ years.

So my comment is correct. Portland would still be able to offer 5 years over anyone else, even if he has a opt out after 1 year. That's because he's played with Portland for more than 3+ years.

So if it's about money, he still needs to stay in Portland. We can always offer more than anyone else.

Also, I agree with the opt out in the first year. He can still do that with Portland and still get a 5 year max after next season.

5 years at current MAX and 7.5% raises may be less money than MAX for one year, opt out, then MAX (non bird) under TV deal for 4 years and 4.5% raises. If it's about 5 years and more money, maybe staying isn't his best choice.

So maybe it doesn't make one bit of difference - it's 5 years either way. However, if the Blazers would re-sign him as a FA after he opts out (after re-signing with the Blazers), then he gets 6 years and more money.

I may be wrong about signing elsewhere scenario. I didn't run the figures in a spreadsheet to see. I'm thinking he'll make more over the course of 5 years signing a new MAX after a year, even a 4 year deal elsewhere.

 

[magnifier661]

5 years at current MAX and 7.5% raises may be less money than MAX for one year, opt out, then MAX (non bird) under TV deal for 4 years and 4.5% raises. If it's about 5 years and more money, maybe staying isn't his best choice.

So maybe it doesn't make one bit of difference - it's 5 years either way. However, if the Blazers would re-sign him as a FA after he opts out (after re-signing with the Blazers), then he gets 6 years and more money.

I may be wrong about signing elsewhere scenario. I didn't run the figures in a spreadsheet to see. I'm thinking he'll make more over the course of 5 years signing a new MAX after a year, even a 4 year deal elsewhere.

You are correct if you compare the outside 5 year to a current 5 year deal this summer. I'm not arguing that point.

But to your same scenario, Aldridge can have a max with Portland next season with an opt out next summer, then sign a MAX deal of 5 years. So he would get 6 years, instead of 5 years. Something Portland has over any team. Also, the other teams would need significant cap space next summer to cover that "new max deal". When Portland can still sign him max, even if they are over cap.

What does this mean? Well if Aldridge trusts Olshey, then we would have the best chance to net the best roster for him. As many have said already, Spurs are the only team we worry about. It's close to home, they have the best coach in the league, his child idol Duncan will play next to him and they can still net a championship team around him.

 

[Denny Crane]

If it's wise to be paying him $30M+ salary at age 36, sure.

 

[magnifier661]

If it's wise to be paying him $30M+ salary at age 36, sure.

Well, that's an entirely different subject all together. The question is "Can we give Aldridge more than any other team?" Yes we can.

Will we? Maybe

 

[riverman]

Living away from his hometown probably saves him millions in it's own way. Those entourages haven't always worked out just because you have more money...Antoine Walker didn't do too well with it. Nostalgia can come with a lot of baggage.

 

[riverman]

Don't Aldridge and Olshey have the same agent?

 

[magnifier661]

Also, it could be possible that Aldridge signs a MAX 5 year with Portland with an opt out the first year so he can try them out for one more year. The season has been injury riddled, so our outcome is a little skewed.

So this could be insurance for him. If he is a monster next season, he can demand even more. If he's lackluster, then he can stay with the current max 5 year. If he's unhappy with the direction, he can opt out and go to another team.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Also, it could be possible that Aldridge signs a MAX 5 year with Portland with an opt out the first year so he can try them out for one more year. The season has been injury riddled, so our outcome is a little skewed.

So this could be insurance for him. If he is a monster next season, he can demand even more. If he's lackluster, then he can stay with the current max 5 year. If he's unhappy with the direction, he can opt out and go to another team.

This is a brilliant idea if we're insecure about LA staying. It gives him ultimate flexibility, while letting us say we resigned him and giving us one more year to figure things out.