Free Agency Question

Big_Mac79 · Post #1 » by **Big_Mac79** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:45 pm

What is the maximum amount you can offer a UFA? Is there a limit or is it as much as you have in caproom?

Big_Mac79 · Post #2 » by **Big_Mac79** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:21 am

Never mind
I found it
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q11

A new suggestion for every one to talk about
Kobe
He has an opt out this year
We would be able to over him a contract offer that starts at $22,325,625 for 5 years with an 8% raise each year
I don't think any other team has that much cap
Would he leave LA? doubt it
Now I'm not saying this would happen but I think we need something new to talk about

Imagine
Westbrook/Kobe/Durant/Green/Griffin/Weaver/Colison/Den 1st/SA 1st and 2 1sts next year
that would be a solid group

Post #3 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:53 am

Hehe, good enough to dream about. I just wouldn't get too hung up on the idea of it happening

Post #4 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:51 pm

Most Bulls fans are assuming you are going to sign Ben Gordon. You can get him for approx $10-12 million per year

As for Kobe, he almost certainly will opt out & then immediately re-sign a max contract with Lakers. (Tim Duncan did the same thing with Spurs a few years ago)

Post #5 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:09 pm

I agree with your take on Kobe.

We'll see as far as Ben Gordon. He's actually changed my mind about him this year (a little bit)... I was pretty down on him heading into the season, but he's shown some good stuff. It's gone from the point where I would've been pretty upset if they blew 10 mil on him, to the point where I could see it happening and not be displeased.

Big_Mac79 · Post #6 » by **Big_Mac79** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:38 pm

Tommy Udo 6 wrote:Most Bulls fans are assuming you are going to sign Ben Gordon. You can get him for approx $10-12 million per year

As for Kobe, he almost certainly will opt out & then immediately re-sign a max contract with Lakers. (Tim Duncan did the same thing with Spurs a few years ago)

I would rather save our cap space than spend 12 mil on an average player
If it is saved there might be another chance to pull off a "Kurt Thomas" type of deal

Downtown · Post #7 » by **Downtown** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:25 am

My take is that your team is going to jump over some others by seasons end and I would focus on drafting James Harden and signing a free agent or two instead of drafting a power forward and signing someone like Ben Gordon. Doesn't Harden, an all around skilled team oriented type fit better between Westbrook and Durant rather than Gordon, a player who looks for his own shot first?

And the way Green has been improving doesn't he seem like a David West type who can be the starter? If so why go for Griffin, who also is going to not only compete with Green, but compete for touches as the main scorer? It's about the right chemistry and I see it with Durant, Green, and Westbrook. Drafting a Harden and signing a combo forward/center like Anderson Varejao, another consumate team first guy seems like a better fit to me.

Then find that great sixth man at shooting guard/small forward and with three additions such as those I could envision a big turnaround for your team. I think Presti is savvy enough to make an informed decision with regards to how any player(s) now being brought in will mesh with the Durant/Green/Westbrook trio.

Post #8 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:17 am

Yup, agreed Downtown. A few posters on here have been expressing similar sentiments. There are so many unknowns between now and then that it is hard to forecast anything, but I think that the Harden and a free agent center scenario is a better fit than the Griffin and Gordon scenario. All in good time though

Post #9 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:11 pm

wizkid27 wrote:I agree with your take on Kobe.

We'll see as far as Ben Gordon. He's actually changed my mind about him this year (a little bit)... I was pretty down on him heading into the season, but he's shown some good stuff. It's gone from the point where I would've been pretty upset if they blew 10 mil on him, to the point where I could see it happening and not be displeased.

Ben is weak with ball handling. He still bounces the ball off his foot out of bounds. he is not the person to play PG, although that was his position in college.

He tries on defense but is often not effective due to his short stature. His official 6'3" listing is a complete joke; he's no taller than 6'1"

There is a dispute about what happened in off season. Bulls offered Ben a contract - the most that they could offer without going over Lux Tax. It was 6 years for a total of $54 million - $57 million (reports vary). He was given until Oct 1 to sign & the contract was available for over 2 months.

Ben & his agent insisted on $72 million, saying he was teams top scorer & Deng just got $71 million.
Miami was interested, but backed out of a deal by saying ben's contract demands are too unrealistic.

Oct 1 came & Bulls pulled their contract.

Dispute - Ben now says he wanted to sign the contract but Bulls refused to let him sign after the deadline. If so, that proves Bulls do not want him back. Some fans think Ben may have offered to lower his contract demands (not actually sign the existing contract as is) & Bulls refused to keep negotiating. Since the Bulls have made no comment and the only version reported is ben's version, i dont know what the truth is.

bmw42690 · Post #10 » by **bmw42690** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:51 pm

If Gordon was brought here, I think he would be great as our 6th man. Will he accept coming off the bench, not sure. We need someone that can score off the bench and he has proven he can. He can also spread the floor and shoot which is another need. My only concerns with him are his ball handling and defense like its been mentioned. I would have to say that I'm torn on the issue. I would say if we can get him for a reasonable amount that it wouldnt be a bad signing.

Post #11 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:46 pm

I think if he could be had for a reasonable amount and he's cool with being a sixth man, then the Bulls wouldn't have hesitated to lock him up long term. It was that he wants star money and a star role...

sonic-ben · Post #12 » by **sonic-ben** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:56 pm

4 million a year max... if more no thanks

Post #13 » by **Tommy Udo 6** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:26 am

sonic-ben wrote:4 million a year max... if more no thanks

His qualifying offer this year is $6.5 million

If all you offer is $4 million per year, you just will not get him. Any team can beat that with their MLE

Post #14 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:46 pm

4 mil definitely wouldn't get it done. I think the realistic number (if Ben can come to his senses) is about 7-8 mil starting salary for 4 or 5 yrs. Not sure if I want him on the Thunder for that, but that would not be a bad contract for a talented scorer like Gordon.

sonic-ben · Post #15 » by **sonic-ben** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:00 pm

wizkid27 wrote:4 mil definitely wouldn't get it done. I think the realistic number (if Ben can come to his senses) is about 7-8 mil starting salary for 4 or 5 yrs. Not sure if I want him on the Thunder for that, but that would not be a bad contract for a talented scorer like Gordon.

and thus He is not worth 8 million a year...

Post #16 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:56 pm

But... I think to some teams he probably is worth that, just not to us. His big problem, is that there aren't going to be a lot of teams trying to spend much money this offseason.

Sauce Boss · Post #17 » by **Sauce Boss** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:41 pm

Sigh...I hate to break it to you, but you are going to need to overspend for talent in this franchises currnet posistion. Some players will come for the money, but only good/great ones will come for a championship and the current rate of play doesnt suggest that. I like the foundation of Westbrook/Durant/Green but I think a forth piece (Griffin for ex.) is getting...a little too much. The ball needs to be in Durant and Westbrooks hands the most and Green getting some slop being the PF and his occasional touches. I think what this team needs is a "Tyson Chandler" deal. Think about NOLA a few seasons back, they were playing West at C a few times cause they were thin and small up front. If they can get a guy who may unfold like tyson did in his first 2 years at NOLA they'd be much better. Having that height (7'1) and the rebounds and shot blocking while minimal offense is your first need and second is a defensive starting SG (maybe Weaver who u already have?) then fill the bench with size, shooting, and veteran mentality. The core is so young that u need a well seasoned vet to help lead the club a bit too. I think you need to maybe ship that 1st rounder away for the talent needed (you could even do sign and trades) but I'd say go get some talent now and keep a good chunk of your space for extensions to the "big three". Also this is random, but JJ Redick anyone? I think he could be a poor mans Gordon and be gotten for cheap by the Thunder.

Post #18 » by **wizkid27** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:07 am

I'm not a huge fan of Redick on this team personally, but overall I agree with your sentiments. Between Green/Durant/Westbrook we've already got our best 3 players excelling with the ball in their hands. If we want to be a good team, we need to have the other guys fill in the gaps. I think that in this current streak of playing well, Desmond Mason has filled the defensive wing role and Nick Collison has filled the hustle/rebounds/defense role in the post. We just need those two roles to get better in conjunction with the "Big 3" continuing to develop. I don't know if that's drafting Harden and signing a D/rebounds type big or drafting Thabeet and signing a great 2 guard or something completely different though...