Atlanta's Ambitious Offseason

[azuresou1]

Premise: Atlanta right now has a lot of salary flexibility and trade assets to work with, and are in a good spot considering Al Horford is coming back from a season-ending injury. As is, they believe they're a Top 3 team in the East. However, they believe they are also in need of some elite talent in order to become a true contender.

Move 1: Clear capspace
Atlanta trades Lou Williams, 2015 2nd
Boston trades Keith Bogans

Atlanta clears cap space by acquiring Bogans' unguaranteed contract. Boston acquires a useful expiring player as well as a minor future asset.

Move 2: Atlanta signs Carmelo Anthony - 4/$73 (backloaded, year 3 player option year 4 team option)

Atlanta adds one of the premier scorers in the league, and one who fits a position of need. Atlanta has faith that Melo can buy into their team basketball system due to his maturation over the past few seasons. This shores up one of their biggest weaknesses (consistent perimeter scoring) and creates an elite team.

Melo takes less money to greatly increase his chance to win, like Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Dirk, and others have done. He realizes that despite being an elite player, he needs talent around him in order to achieve success, and that in order to do that his teammates need to get paid. He also realizes that Atlanta is the single best team he could go to this offseason, as he won't be forced to carry an offense like he will in Chicago (given Rose's uncertainty) or in NY. It helps that Atlanta is a major metropolitan area.

Move 3: Draft Rodney Hood or Jerami Grant

Atlanta will need some additional depth behind Melo. Hood offers offense and more immediate production, Grant offers defense and more long term upside.

Move 4: Offer 2-year MLE to Paul Pierce

Pierce solidifies the bench as a veteran presence who still has a little left. He'll see this as his best shot to win (unless he goes down as a Net), and I don't think he cares much about the money anymore.

Move 5 Sign cheap bigs at minimum

Elton Brand, Kris Humphries, Nazr Mohammed... big bodies for the playoffs

Move 6 (OPTIONAL) Trade Millsap for a C

Possible ideas:
S&T Monroe ($9M.5 year 1, with increases), 2015 1st
Asik + 1st


End Roster:

Teague/Schroeder
Korver/Carroll/Jenkins
Carmelo/Pierce/Hood
Millsap/Humphries/Muscala
Horford/Nogueira/Antic/Brand

Total salaries
Melo - $17M first year
Horford - $12M
Millsap - $9.5M
Teague - $8M
Korver - $6.3M
Pierce - $5.3M
Carroll - $2.4M
Schroder - $1.7M
Hood or Grant - $1.5M
Nogueira - $1.3M
Jenkins - $1.3M
Antic - $1.3M
Brand - $1.3M
Muscala - $800K

Total = $71.2M ($63.2M salary cap, $77M luxury tax threshold)

Without Pierce's MLE or minimum players that exceed the minimum salary holds (12 players, 1st round pick guaranteed), the salary is $63.1M which would fall under the cap.

Thoughts?

[loserX]

As someone who likes the Hawks from afar, I think it would be great for a real superstar to show up there and really fire up the franchise. I have my doubts that Melo would agree to go there, but it would be nice to see.

I will say that I don't think you'll be able to clear LouWill that lightly.

[mcfly1204]

As someone who likes the Hawks from afar, I think it would be great for a real superstar to show up there and really fire up the franchise. I have my doubts that Melo would agree to go there, but it would be nice to see.

I agree that Carmelo going to a team like Atlanta would stir up things, and would be a shot of life into that franchise. However, that team, as constructed, would be suspect on the defensive end. A 3 and D starting SG would do wonders to balance things out, allowing Korver to come in off the bench and gun.

[azuresou1]

As someone who likes the Hawks from afar, I think it would be great for a real superstar to show up there and really fire up the franchise. I have my doubts that Melo would agree to go there, but it would be nice to see.

I agree that Carmelo going to a team like Atlanta would stir up things, and would be a shot of life into that franchise. However, that team, as constructed, would be suspect on the defensive end. A 3 and D starting SG would do wonders to balance things out, allowing Korver to come in off the bench and gun.

We can always start Carroll if defense is a concern, although personally I'd feel like Korver's shooting ability would be amazing as the 4th or even 5th option on offense.

If we do a Millsap for Asik+ trade, I think we'd have to start Korver or teams would begin crowding the paint.

[jayjaysee]

Why would Melo give any team a TO?

The team isn't far fetched and would be a contender so I could see the argument for Melo going there as a 5th option..

But the team option is just wrong.


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[HartfordWhalers]

Okay, so you have Melo giving up ~10m or so on a 4 year deal to play for Atlanta as the main base of this? I don't see why he would do that, at least having it be max money would make it feel more 'likely'.

Some minor quibbles --
Melo's contract cannot be as described --

In fact, a contract may not contain more than one option at all, with the following two exceptions:

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q84

Pierce's contract probably cannot be as described -- You have to rescind the full MLE to get the cap space or else the MLE cap hold is there. (Maybe your Melo contract is so cheap that Pierce can also be signed using cap space?). But otherwise, your Pierce signing would look to have to be with the room mid-level, or 2.6m a year.

Also, I agree with the others that have said Louis Williams will take more to move for free and clear cap space. However I do like the idea of Atlanta taking a swingman where they are drafting.

[the_process]

Premise: Atlanta right now has a lot of salary flexibility and trade assets to work with, and are in a good spot considering Al Horford is coming back from a season-ending injury. As is, they believe they're a Top 3 team in the East. However, they believe they are also in need of some elite talent in order to become a true contender.

Move 1: Clear capspace
Atlanta trades Lou Williams, 2015 2nd
Boston trades Keith Bogans

Atlanta clears cap space by acquiring Bogans' unguaranteed contract. Boston acquires a useful expiring player as well as a minor future asset.

Move 2: Atlanta signs Carmelo Anthony - 4/$73 (backloaded, year 3 player option year 4 team option)

Atlanta adds one of the premier scorers in the league, and one who fits a position of need. Atlanta has faith that Melo can buy into their team basketball system due to his maturation over the past few seasons. This shores up one of their biggest weaknesses (consistent perimeter scoring) and creates an elite team.

Melo takes less money to greatly increase his chance to win, like Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Dirk, and others have done. He realizes that despite being an elite player, he needs talent around him in order to achieve success, and that in order to do that his teammates need to get paid. He also realizes that Atlanta is the single best team he could go to this offseason, as he won't be forced to carry an offense like he will in Chicago (given Rose's uncertainty) or in NY. It helps that Atlanta is a major metropolitan area.

Move 3: Draft Rodney Hood or Jerami Grant

Atlanta will need some additional depth behind Melo. Hood offers offense and more immediate production, Grant offers defense and more long term upside.

Move 4: Offer 2-year MLE to Paul Pierce

Pierce solidifies the bench as a veteran presence who still has a little left. He'll see this as his best shot to win (unless he goes down as a Net), and I don't think he cares much about the money anymore.

Move 5 Sign cheap bigs at minimum

Elton Brand, Kris Humphries, Nazr Mohammed... big bodies for the playoffs

Move 6 (OPTIONAL) Trade Millsap for a C

Possible ideas:
S&T Monroe ($9M.5 year 1, with increases), 2015 1st
Asik + 1st


End Roster:

Teague/Schroeder
Korver/Carroll/Jenkins
Carmelo/Pierce/Hood
Millsap/Humphries/Muscala
Horford/Nogueira/Antic/Brand

Total salaries
Melo - $17M first year
Horford - $12M
Millsap - $9.5M
Teague - $8M
Korver - $6.3M
Pierce - $5.3M
Carroll - $2.4M
Schroder - $1.7M
Hood or Grant - $1.5M
Nogueira - $1.3M
Jenkins - $1.3M
Antic - $1.3M
Brand - $1.3M
Muscala - $800K

Total = $71.2M ($63.2M salary cap, $77M luxury tax threshold)

Without Pierce's MLE or minimum players that exceed the minimum salary holds (12 players, 1st round pick guaranteed), the salary is $63.1M which would fall under the cap.

Thoughts?

It's going to cost more than that to sign Monroe. And I don't know if BOS will take Lou off your hands for a non guaranteed contract. Bass, sure. That doesn't clear the cap though. Melo, you have a shot at I suppose. He's married though, and ATL is known for its "nightlife." But LaLa could join Real Housewives so there's a plus in your favor lol.

[LApwnd]

I highly doubt Melo takes a paycut to go to Atl.

[ORANGEandBLUE]

I'm too lazy to do the math, but it seems like if Atlanta dumped everybody but Horford, Millsap, Korver, Carroll, and Teague (which is feasible cause they have a lot of young assets), they could spend the max on Melo, and then use the minimum for every other roster spot. To me, that team would be good enough to justify sacrificing youth and depth and overpaying Melo. Melo would be hard pressed to turn down that combination of money and immediate winning, if the alternative is taking less to retool in NY.

[azuresou1]

You're right - if we dumped everyone but CORE players we could sign Melo to a true max. However that seems 100% antithetical to what Atlanta is trying to do in terms of building a team. Atlanta NEEDS to talk Melo into taking a paycut or I don't know that it's worth it.

While I doubt Melo is jumping for joy to get paid less, he's already made over $120 million in his career so far. $10-12 million, while not chump change, is not going to stop him from feeding his family. Moreover, I think for the first time in his career, his desire to win is trumping his desire for personal stardom.

Hartford, thanks for the clarification on contract details - haven't had time to study the new CBA. In that case, I guess it becomes a 4 year deal with Melo receiving a player option for the 4th year, in order to be feasible. Also, I think that somewhat hurts Atlanta's chances of signing Pierce, but if he's looking for another ring I don't think he'd do much better short of backing up LeBron (unlikely), Durant, or going to SA.

A taker for Lou Williams seems to be a sticking point. What do you guys think it would take to feasibly move him for both teams? Would a team like the Bucks take him on for a second? What if we threw in John Jenkins?

[Narf]

Move 1: Clear capspace
Atlanta trades Lou Williams, 2015 2nd
Boston trades Keith Bogans

Atlanta clears cap space by acquiring Bogans' unguaranteed contract. Boston acquires a useful expiring player as well as a minor future asset.
Boston probably say no. Maybe if they strike out in free agency themselves, otherwise they need more value then a future 2nd. I'd think they'd rather use that cap space on Lance Stephenson, or someone of that ilk that's a free agent.

Move 2: Atlanta signs Carmelo Anthony - 4/$73, year 3 player option year 4 player option)
Fixed that for ya

Melo takes the same money in a different city to greatly increase his chance to win, like Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Dirk, and others have done. He realizes that despite being an elite player, he needs talent around him in order to achieve success, and that in order to do that his teammates need to get paid. He also realizes that Atlanta is the single best team he could go to this offseason, as he won't be forced to carry an offense like he will in Chicago (given Rose's uncertainty) or in NY. It helps that Atlanta is a major metropolitan area.

Tried to fix it, but I can't. Melo loves his wife and cares about her career as well. She has a job and life in NY, and Melo wants to stay there with his family and her. I think that's just the way it is. However, Atlanta would be on the list of possible but not likely if he wasn't happy. I think you'd have to find another route from here.

Thoughts?

There's my thoughts.

[reignfire]

The only way I see Melo doing this was if Melo had intimate ties to Atlanta. Maybe if he wanted to retire in Atlanta or something.

The point is, he will want to go to a team that is a proven winner, contender.

[Narf]

You know, if Atlanta wanted to go full rebuild they could take back Jason Thompson from Sacramento for Milsap and get a kings ransom in young talent as well (starting with Sacramento's pick).

Find a nice home for Horford where he'd be on a contender and get max value that way as well.

Not sure that'd be such a bad idea.

[Karmaloop]

Let me get this straight...not only does Carmelo Anthony not team up with another star, he's also taking a backloaded contract that is essentially asking him to opt out of the contract when the meat of the contract comes up? Carmelo isn't coming to Atlanta.

[giberish]

Atlanta's more ambitious offseason:

Step 1: Trade for Rondo. If Boston goes rebuild, Atlanta makes as much sense as anyone for a Rondo trade. Schorder, Nogueira, 2014 1st, Teague (perhaps routed to a 3rd team) for Rondo is a solid haul for Boston.

Step 2: Clear our all non-essential personal. I'm not sure exactly who Atlanta would need to move, but if they got down to Rondo/Carroll/Korver/Milsap/Horford/(maybe Antic) they'd have close to $20M in cap space to offer. They don't have any particualrly bad contracts, so this can probably be done without using a future 1st (and certainly could be done with using a future 1st).

Step 3: Sign Melo. Melo gets $20M/yr (more or less, with raises off of the initial salary) or more to play with 3 other stars (Rondo/Milsap/Horford) who are good enough to make the team a contender but would have Melo as the clear #1.

Step 4: Use room exception and min salary deal to round out the roster.

[Colbinii]

I like the opposite as I don't think Atlanta is even on the radar of Melo

Sac gets Millsap
ATL gets 7/Thompson/Terry

Bulls get Lou Williams
ATL gets 49
Bulls get TPE
ATL gets Boozer/16

Bos trades 5/2015 Nets 1st/Sullinger/Wallace
Bos gets Horford/Korver

Charlotte gets Smith/Antic
Atl gets 8/Jennings/Neal
Det gets Teague/Carroll/Haywood/Henderson

Atlanta rolls out with 5/7/8/15/16 and the tank Commanders in Jennings, Terry, Wallace, Boozer and Neal! Atlanta then fires there GM and lose 5k season ticket holders in 1 night.

[jayjaysee]

I could see grounds for Atlanta doing

Thompson/Outlaw/7 for Millsap.

Still have plenty of money for free agency and add a quality young piece..

Two top 12 picks and Lucas is a nice youth movement for one offseason. Especially if they add a high level free agent ( thinking Hayward/Lance more than Melo but whatever you want to call it..)

Thompson could play 3rd big.. They could technically still go after Asik using other contracts/assets and sign Melo..


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[azwfan]

The Warriors are a team that may be interested in taking Lou if we get picks (either a lotto protected 1st or several 2nds). They have a TPE, are far enough under the LT to take him while still use the MLE, and have a use for backup PG / combo guard.

They would shop around for the best offer, but i have to think a few 2nd rd picks would get it done.

[165bows]

Atlanta should just sign Deng.

Horford/Millsap/Deng/Korver/Teague is a very solid team they could roll with for the next couple of years while drafting and grooming some young players.

[azuresou1]

Atlanta should just sign Deng.

Horford/Millsap/Deng/Korver/Teague is a very solid team they could roll with for the next couple of years while drafting and grooming some young players.

Deng is a zero-impact player. Easy pass.

I like the Millsap for Thompson/7 pick, but that would depend on who's left at 7, as well as if we can sign Melo or not.