Teams with Cap Space

[EWT]

A nice little break down of teams with space this summer and how there will be some bargains available with the MLE:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12059


"Narrowing down the field, it looks like there will be four teams with spending power (Grizzlies, Pistons, Thunder and Blazers). The same executive suggests that Boozer is a natural fit in Detroit, likely to use up a big chunk of their cap space.

That leaves perhaps two significant salary slots in Memphis, one in Oklahoma City and one in Portland."

 

[Mediocre Man]

A nice little break down of teams with space this summer and how there will be some bargains available with the MLE:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12059


"Narrowing down the field, it looks like there will be four teams with spending power (Grizzlies, Pistons, Thunder and Blazers). The same executive suggests that Boozer is a natural fit in Detroit, likely to use up a big chunk of their cap space.

That leaves perhaps two significant salary slots in Memphis, one in Oklahoma City and one in Portland."

Boozer to Detroit woul dopen up Maxiel being dealt hopefully. I would love to have him as an 18-20 minute a night player.

 

[EWT]

If Boozer opts out that eats up a significant amount of cap space teams have:

Memphis Grizzlies - $20 million
Detroit Pistons $16-17.7 million
Atlanta Hawks - $13-14.6
Oklahoma City Thunder - $10 million
Portland Trail Blazers - $9.1-16.7 million - the latter if they cut Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake before the end of June.
Utah Jazz - slightly less than $9.0 million - if Boozer, Okur and Korver all opt out.
Sacramento Kings - $7.2 million
Toronto Raptors - $7 million


Leaving some of these players to be had for a descent deal:

Mike Bibby, Ben Gordon, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Andre Miller, Drew Gooden, Shawn Marion and Anthony Parker

 

[EWT]

Not to mention the Restricted FA's available also:

David Lee, Nate Robinson, Paul Millsap, Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Linas Kleiza, Jarrett Jack, Hakim Warrick, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon, Ramon Sessions, Charlie Villanueva, Marcin Gortat and Channing Frye

 

[STOMP]

"That leaves perhaps two significant salary slots in Memphis, one in Oklahoma City and one in Portland."

thanks for the link EWT

So Memphis has 20M in space & the #2 pick which looks to be Rubio by BPA. I've been gone over the holiday weekend so I haven't kept up with the latest... has he recanted the doesn't want to play in Memphis stuff? Thabeet would be a decent consolation prize for them, but I like how RR projects with Mayo and Gay on his wings. Is there some reason they wouldn't go after Boozer??? PF seems by far their biggest need. If I'm Carlos and the money is more or less the same, the Griz roster looks at least as ready to win then the one in Detroit...

The only other team (besides PDX) I could see possibly making a FA run at the two best PGs available (Miller, Sessions) is Olk. City. Westbrook can match up defensively at either guard spot but isn't a classic PG or SG on the other end. Because of Milwaukee's inability to match, Sessions seems especially available if KP wants to go that way.

STOMP

 

[illmatic99]

Isn't $9.1 million a bit generous?

 

[hasoos]

Have they placed the cap yet? Because if they haven't placed the cap, this is all just speculation.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Isn't $9.1 million a bit generous?

Our cap is about 50 mil without Channing, so that's pretty close.

 

[Tince]

Isn't $9.1 million a bit generous?

The Blazers technically have less cap space with the rights to Joel Freeland and Petteri Koponen but both can be renounced.

I don't expect either of those things to happen.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Our cap is about 50 mil without Channing, so that's pretty close.

I was watching courtside last week and Tom Penn was a guest; he threw out the 9 million estimate as well ... if anybody would know or least have a good educated guess, you would think it would be Tom Penn.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I was watching courtside last week and Tom Penn was a guest; he threw out the 9 million estimate as well ... if anybody would know or least have a good educated guess, you would think it would be Tom Penn.

I would trust his answer more than anyone's at this point.

I think most NBA teams are assuming the cap will stay right where it is this year with hopes of a better 09-10. If that doesn't happen the cap will probably go down after this next season.

 

[BrianFromWA]

My guess is that the number won't be "$9M" on June 30. For whatever reason...KP makes too many draft moves to be stagnant going into this draft/offseason.

That said, if we DO have b/w 9 and 16M, what are the priorities? If you attempt to sign an RFA, you're hostage for the 7 days that the other team has the right to match, right?

So let's say we signed Sessions to an offer sheet for, say, 5yr, 45M (tying up almost all of our 9M in cap space) on July 1. We can't go after any other free agents until either a) MIL declines and he signs with us--in which case we're done with FA or b) Milwaukee matches. That can take 7 days. So if MIL waits the 7 days and then decides that they want to match, then we've lost 8 days of being able to sign FAs and potentially alienated our second and third choices. Does KP and TP then say that they're going to negotiate with the UFA's first? Or just assume you can get away with signing an RFA offer sheet, b/c it'll get done in the end?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I was watching courtside last week and Tom Penn was a guest; he threw out the 9 million estimate as well ... if anybody would know or least have a good educated guess, you would think it would be Tom Penn.

But Canzano said 30M, right? And he's a columnist, so he has fact-checkers and editors.

 

[hasoos]

But Canzano said 30M, right? And he's a columnist, so he has fact-checkers and editors.

I think his editor is MS Word spellchecker.

 

[Blaze01]

What top tier level player is going to agree to sign and play for Memphis?

Seriously.....I'd love to hear it....b\c the only way I see such a player agreeing to go to that wasteland is if they are seriously overpaid....

 

[hasoos]

What top tier level player is going to agree to sign and play for Memphis?

Seriously.....I'd love to hear it....b\c the only way I see such a player agreeing to go to that wasteland is if they are seriously overpaid....

At the same time, I think the NBA players market this year will force some guys to go where they don't necessarily want to be in order to get paid. There are less teams willing to shell out the cash (look at how many free agents remained on the market last year, deep into the year) and unlike a lot of folks on this board, I believe the salary cap will go down this year. Possibly by about 6 million dollars. That being said, I don't think the Blazers will have jack to spend on a free agent.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What top tier level player is going to agree to sign and play for Memphis?

Seriously.....I'd love to hear it....b\c the only way I see such a player agreeing to go to that wasteland is if they are seriously overpaid....

Don't forget the Memphis can also trade for a player making a lot of money. They are in the same situation that Portland is in IMO. There just aren't a lot of players flocking to those cities to play. There are a lot of financially struggling teams that might love to unload some salary for a #2 draft pick or some cheap young talent.

 

[illmatic99]

They are in the same situation that Portland is in IMO.

In what sense?

The Blazers have much more national and international exposure, while the Grizz don't, and the Blazers have an owner who has historically overpaid to keep his players, while the Grizz have Heisley, who has been very judicious with his money. Portland is also a much more vibrant city than Memphis and has a much superior fan base for basketball. I don't see anyway free agents would sign in Memphis rather than Portland.

 

[BalancedMan]

That article makes some assumptions:

Considering the Hawks have already clinched a playoff spot, they may be inclined to keep free agents Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams (restricted).

I remember talking about Sessions a while back and I came to the conclusion that if he didn't stay in Milwaukee, he was likely to end up either in Portland or Atlanta. I wouldn't be so sure about they retaining a declining Bibby in lieu of going after a PG who is on the rise.

 

[Mediocre Man]

In what sense?

The Blazers have much more national and international exposure, while the Grizz don't, and the Blazers have an owner who has historically overpaid to keep his players, while the Grizz have Heisley, who has been very judicious with his money. Portland is also a much more vibrant city than Memphis and has a much superior fan base for basketball. I don't see anyway free agents would sign in Memphis rather than Portland.

Name the last high profile FA Portland has signed that they didn't overpay for? Sorry, but if the money is the same players prefer larger media markets and better weather

 

[hasoos]

That article makes some assumptions:



I remember talking about Sessions a while back and I came to the conclusion that if he didn't stay in Milwaukee, he was likely to end up either in Portland or Atlanta. I wouldn't be so sure about they retaining a declining Bibby in lieu of going after a PG who is on the rise.

I agree completely. Bibby looked old this year. Sometimes on defense he was standing there watching as the ball passed around him, not guarding anybody.

 

[illmatic99]

Name the last high profile FA Portland has signed that they didn't overpay for? Sorry, but if the money is the same players prefer larger media markets and better weather

We haven't historically been a big player in the FA market, that's true. But, Memphis is a larger market and has better weather?

 

[Ed O]

Name the last high profile FA Portland has signed that they didn't overpay for? Sorry, but if the money is the same players prefer larger media markets and better weather

Well, who has been "high profile"?

Derek Anderson or Brian Grant, maybe?

Jeff McInnis chose the Blazers over other teams. Joel re-signed as a free agent.

*shrug*

The Blazers are an up-and-coming team, in a way that they haven't been in a decade or more... I think that players would be willing to trade in some golf days over the season for a chance to still be playing in May.

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We haven't historically been a big player in the FA market, that's true. But, Memphis is a larger market and has better weather?

No, it's not. My point was they are both smaller markets.

 

[hasoos]

No, it's not. My point was they are both smaller markets.

I guess it will depend on whether you prefer Microbrews to Mash Whiskey for your good times!

 

[Minstrel]

Name the last high profile FA Portland has signed that they didn't overpay for?

High profile players rarely switch teams in free agency, because they can be paid more by their current team and their current team can generally exceed the salary cap to sign them. Beyond that, it's rare for a team to be attractive in terms of winning and also have cap space at the same time. When you combine those things, almost no one signs high-profile free agents. I don't think market has much to do with it at all.

Portland right now is attractive in terms of a place to win and also has money to pay a free agent. They still have to overcome the problem of most high profile free agents staying put, but I don't think market size is much of an issue. Players want cash first and foremost and secondly a chance to win. Market size is a pretty small factor, IMO.

 

[Mediocre Man]

High profile players rarely switch teams in free agency, because they can be paid more by their current team and their current team can generally exceed the salary cap to sign them. Beyond that, it's rare for a team to be attractive in terms of winning and also have cap space at the same time. When you combine those things, almost no one signs high-profile free agents. I don't think market has much to do with it at all.

Portland right now is attractive in terms of a place to win and also has money to pay a free agent. They still have to overcome the problem of most high profile free agents staying put, but I don't think market size is much of an issue. Players want cash first and foremost and secondly a chance to win. Market size is a pretty small factor, IMO.

You would be wrong about market size being a small factor. If the money is about the same, they can make a lot more in a larger market from endorsements.

Portland is extremely attractive if they can offer the most money, but with everything else not so much. Young players want to run and score and not play a lot of defense. That makes Portland the worst place for any of them because we never run, and we play defense. Older players want to win a title, but Portland realistically is still a couple years away from being a serious players. No player would come to Portland during basketball season for the weather. (If Portland had a MLB team then great though.) Portland players also have to pay state tax (unlike Memphis by the way). Another factor is playing close to home. Nate Robinson is a prime example. The reason he wants to come to Portland isn't to win or whatever, it's to play closer to home. Most NBA players don't come from the Pacific NW, so that's not a good reason. Most FA's likely want to be more of "the man" than they could be in Portland with Roy, Aldridge and Oden hopefully.

What I am saying is that if the money is the same Portland is not the most likely place for a player to come right now.

 

[Ed O]

You would be wrong about market size being a small factor. If the money is about the same, they can make a lot more in a larger market from endorsements.

Is this actually true?

We hear it all the time, but... what "endorsements" are these? Are we talking local ones (car dealerships, local Subway marketing, etc.) or national advertising (since Nike might prefer LeBron to be in NY, rather than Portland)?

For super-duper stars, I could see how major endorsements would make a big difference, but when free agents are making $5m+ a year, does another hundred grand a year from endorsements really matter?

I think that income tax considerations might be a bigger deal than "endorsements".

Ed O.

 

[Minstrel]

You would be wrong about market size being a small factor. If the money is about the same, they can make a lot more in a larger market from endorsements.

Very few players make a lot of money from endorsements. Those who have that kind of star power get their national endorsements regardless of where they play. Vince Carter was getting nationwide ads while he was playing in Toronto (which is not considered a large market when it comes to US visibility). Kobe Bryant would be in tons of commercials whether he was in LA or Portland.

So, yes, I think the "endorsements" angle is overhyped. There is something to it, but I think it's a pretty minor concern to most players.

Young players want to run and score and not play a lot of defense. That makes Portland the worst place for any of them because we never run, and we play defense.

This seems like completely baseless speculation, nothing more than pop psychology. "Young players" don't have a single mindset. Neither do older players. Each person has their own desires and motivations. Money and success (individual and team) are pretty universal human desires. "Running" and "not playing defense" aren't.

What I am saying is that if the money is the same Portland is not the most likely place for a player to come right now.

Yes, and I disagree. Portland was tied for the second-best record in the West and projects to get better simply due to having a lot of pre-prime talent that won those 54 games. If the money is equal, I think a lot of players would want to be involved with a team that gives them a good chance of going deep in the playoffs every year and being a title contender as soon as next year or the year after.

 

[Blaze01]

I think veterans want to win and make thier money.....The question is at what point does the money outweigh the "I want to win".....

THAT would be barometer for a veteran signing with a team like MEM over a team like POR....

and market size and marketing opportunities do not come near to eclipsing either of those reasons....