Upcoming free agent thread!

[dream_catcher_9]

any interest in Luis Scola?

[slick_watts]

He'll be restricted, zero chance Houston doesn't match.

[dream_catcher_9]

He'll be restricted, zero chance Houston doesn't match.

damn both hoopsworld, and hoopshype say this is his last year on his contract....

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9183

[slick_watts]

He'll be restricted, zero chance Houston doesn't match.

damn both hoopsworld, and hoopshype say this is his last year on his contract....

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9183

It is, but he'll be a restricted free agent, which means Houston will have the right of first refusal. Any team can sign Scola to an offer sheet and Houston will have the opportunity to match the offer. So basically to sign a restricted free agent you have to over pay, which makes the player not worth it unless you really need him.

[HomieOmey]

If Bosh does stay in Toronto, you could probably get Amir pretty cheap. He's a lengthy PF who runs the floor, plays defense, and isn't completely useless on offense either. Don't know too many bigs better than Lee/Milsap who the Thunder obviously weren't convinced were good enough upgrades. At least Amir should get a much smaller contract than these guys were looking for.

[slick_watts]

I don't think we need another project / young big man. Serge Ibaka is the project, we have Nick Collison who will get minutes. We need a legitimate starter, and to get one Sam Presti will probably have to pay (in the form of assets, $$$, or both).

[HomieOmey]

I hope so!! I was here in the summer hoping for the same, but I'll believe it when I see it. Kind of worried Presti is already too attached to his young players for his own good (like Chicago has been). I didn't mind them taking an extra year to grow though considering how I know Toronto tried to grow up too fast.

Bogut or Biedrens would definitely be a great addition. Pretty sure those are the last guys their squads would trade though (well, not counting that new PG in Milwaukee). Can't think of any more likely candidates who I'd welcome with open arms. Would like Okafor or Dalembert, but I get the feeling management was happy that Chandler failed his physical so they wouldn't have to pay him. Can't see them paying either.

Noah would be a dream come true. Would give up pretty much whatever in order to have him, Durant, WB, and Harden together.

[theokie]

Of the true unrestricted Free Agents coming up for next summer, I think we need to take a serious look at either Carlos Boozer. I feel like he'd be a great fit around these guys. If not him I'd wouldnt mind going after David Lee or Marcus Camby even.

PG: Westbrook/Maynor
SG: Harden/Sefolosha
SF: Durant/Green
PF:Boozer/Collison
C: Krstc/Ibaka

Thats a sick lineup in my opinion.

And we still have those 2 first round picks this year, Mullens, Weaver, and White. Its gonna be intresting to see what changes if any happen over the next 10 months.

[Durantist]

Call me crazy but Lebron may pay a visit to OKC and Durant will be there with open arms! Imagine them two together. All you really need are hardworkers and spot up shooters around LBJ and KD to win titleSSS. If Lebron cares about his Legacy more than his marketing scheme I would choose OKC. Sounds funny but really think about it. Im not being a homer, Im not even from OKC, Im from LA, and Lebron choosing a winning path rather than a fan based marketing path seems the correct choice. Well its the right BASKETBALL choice

[HomieOmey]

James or Bosh probably would be better off signing with the Thunder, I just don't see it happening. If the goal was to seriously attract either one, I think they would have traded for another veteran or two by now. They'll obviously give both stars a call and offer their cap space, but I don't expect them to play the waiting game over the slimmer of a chance either star would pick the Thunder over a bigger market team like the Bulls, Knicks, Heat, or even Rockets (while they will still obviously consider just staying with their own team).

[dream_catcher_9]

what about Carlos Boozer?

[Big_Mac79]

I remember someone mentioning Kristic wanting to go back to europe and was going to opt out. Any truth to that rumor?

[HomieOmey]

Boozer would probably be the most realistic high impact type player easily obtainable. Utah seemed to prefer Milsap over him last season though because of his age/defense/attitude/durability, and Thunder didn't seem too interested in him. Boozer is more talented though!

[Julio]

Honnestly, I'm both a Rockets and Thunder fans, and I'm not sure about Scola being so difficult to obtain.
Here's my reasoning, Landry has been playing much better this year, which led to Scola's minutes not increasing, and his numbers staying roughly the same. In the rockets boards and the Houston newspapers, we were all waiting for Scola to explode due to more space in the post (and yes, he did improve his post game) and abscence of Yao and Tmac.It didn't happen.
I'm quite sure the coach, GM and teammates love Luis' game and attitude, and even if he would have to become Landry's backup next year, would like to keep him.
The thing is, I viewed ( and many rockets fans did too) Scola as an untouchable next year. Morey ( our GM) won't overpay him, but we were all sure he wouldn't hesitate paying him like 7M or something.
Now? I'm not so sure. I'm pretty sure they would like to keep him, but maybe on a more reasonnable scale.
It also depends on what he wants, if he views OKC as a better place to be or not, if he's all about money or not.. He sure does like the system in Houston, and is IMO very thankfull that we gave him a chance in the NBA ( regarding the Spurs' fiasco towards him).
Basically, it's still a long shot. But it's doable, witheout overpaying him way too much.
And he would fit , really , really great.
A 7M scola and Haywood in the paint would be killer, IMO