Transaction Discussion Part 3 (Trades, Free-Agency, News, Rumors & Ideas)

[madmaxmedia]

It has gotten to the point this season that I'm actually optimistic that we surprise (relatively speaking) in the playoffs. No one is expecting the Clippers to do anything, I haven't looked at current seeding but I think most will expect us to lose in the first round at this point.

So now would be a good time for the team to collectively throw off the pressure and expectations of years past and just go out and flat out play hard, play with emotion, and let it loose. They should all play with a little Austin Rivers in them (except for Austin, he has enough Austin in him already.)

I have a feeling we could actually win 2 rounds if the guys actually did this.

[UKClipperfan]

That statement that Chris and Blake, and now JJ, are committed to re-signing is BS. Nothing is done until the contracts are fully signed (See DJ last year). Our success this off-season will depend on how we do this post-season. If we get to our goal of the the Western Conference Final, or better, I think we can re-sign all 3. If we fall short, we are going to have a tough off season and possibly lose all 3. I like our chances of doing well this off-season, because it looks like we will be healthy, we should have decent match ups for the first 2 rounds, and we will be underdogs. Go Clippers.

This group has never done well under pressure, so it might suit them to be underdogs for once. Chris, Blake and JJ being committed to re-signing could be half true, with the premise we offer them the most dollars. This is especially true when it comes to Chris. I don't know the exact numbers, but I've heard he can get about $30 million more if he stays. That's quite the incentive. And if Chris stays, Blake and JJ should stay as well right? There's also the Melo factor, which could still happen in the summer. With how bad the Knicks are doing, Chris and Melo will at least talk about it. Brooklyn, Philly and Orlando are the only teams below them in the east.

[fuzzy1]

Hawks fan, outside looking in...

If you guys resign Paul, Griffin and Redick, the tax bill will be MASSIVE for multiple years. So my question is, are you guys (the Clippers, I mean) willing to actually pay it? Just curious, because if not how in the world do you think the Clippers will rectify the huge bill?

[nickhx2]

definitely a good question and something that'll become exacerbated once jordan comes up for an extension.

i kind of think that once everyone is re-signed the team will have one more shot at seeing if they can make something happen. but if not then it'll be hard to justify the cost and at that point i could see the team offloading some pieces (jordan/jj) and retooling at a cheaper rate, or possibly just rebuilding completely around blake alone.

[og15]

Wonder if the Clippers are looking at Casspi. He's a week away from being cleared based on the last report. Clippers should be looking to bring him in right now.

[nickhx2]

he would be awesome indeed

[TucsonClip]

Casspi would be a good signing.

[og15]

I've been thinking of some ideas as it relates to the Clippers getting more talent and giving themselves more flexibility. If the Clippers plan on keeping Paul, Griffin and Jordan, they will cost $36 million, $31 million, and $22.6 million respectively, for a total of $89.6 million (87% of the cap, 73% of space before luxury tax). Add Austin Rivers $11.8 million, and Jamal Crawford $14.3 million, and before even thinking about re-signing Redick, the team is at $115.7 million with a $103 million salary cap and a $122 million luxury tax. Add Wesley Johnson ($5.9 million), Brice Johnson ($1.3 million) and Diamond Stone ($905K), and the team is already above the luxury tax with $123.8 million in salary with 8 players on the roster.

So how can they give themselves some wiggle room? Trading Jamal Crawford would be a priority, but what can he be traded for to clear some space? Do you keep Redick if he's going to be making something like $20 million/year, or do you try and sign and trade him somewhere and then try and replace him with a cheaper shooter like a Marco Belinelli ($6.3 million) for example? Would sign and trade even become an option, or would he just end up leaving for nothing? Is there a point in keeping Wesley Johnson or do you try and trade him for like an early second round pick on draft night. What about Austin? Is he a piece you can maybe use to get like a late lottery pick or a second or third year player who can be useful for the team, or do you say if you move on from Redick, then you have to keep Austin and you make him your starting SG?

There are certainly possibilities, though I don't know how realistic. The Clippers front office did not make it easy on themselves with a signing like that of Jamal's last off-season.

[QRich3]

Am I the only one that thinks Casspi isn't worth much? he's a one dimensional shooter that doesn't add anything else, and he's fallen off the rotation of lottery teams pretty much every year he's been in the league. Who's he gonna take minutes from?

[og15]

Probably Wesley Johnson when they need someone to make some shots. It would be easier if the bench wasn't running three guards, but with the 3 guard bench it's harder because then he'd have to be a small ball PF.

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

[Poetry-In-Motion]

Good Morning All,
Toronto guy here just intrigued with your offseason situation. I could use help from one of you if you are able to. This is strictly hypothetical. I am not saying this is the way to go about it, but I am just curious if it is possible. I believe I am right, but I could be wrong. According to my analysis:
The salary cap for 2017-18 is at $102M. Let’s say Pierce retires, CP3 opts out of his final year for the big deal, Blake Griffin opts out of his final year for the big deal, and Mbah a Moute opts out for a bigger deal, and Speights opts out of his minimum deal. Let’s say all of that happens which should be likely.
I have roughly $56.8M between Jordan, Rivers, Johnson, Johnson, Diamond, and Crawford. Therefore, there is roughly $45.2M in cap space. Very rough figures.
Again, I am not saying it is the right move, nor a realistic one. But is it possible under the CBA to sign or trade for $44.8M of players come July 1st, and also on top re-sign Paul, Redick, and Griffin through going over the cap via bird rights?
I am well aware of what each of CP3, Redick, and Griffin are due. I am well aware of how crazy that payroll would be. I just need to know, is that an option.
Where am I wrong? Thanks.

[TucsonClip]

You are forgetting the cap holds on all free agents. We wont have any cap space unless all those guys sign elsewhere.

[Poetry-In-Motion]

You are forgetting the cap holds on all free agents. We wont have any cap space unless all those guys sign elsewhere.

Edit:

Hey TusconClip, thanks for the reply. I have a better understanding now. In order for Clips to fully use that cap, they would have to release those cap holds on BG and CP which then loses their bird rights? Correct?

[TucsonClip]

You are forgetting the cap holds on all free agents. We wont have any cap space unless all those guys sign elsewhere.

Edit:

Hey TusconClip, thanks for the reply. I have a better understanding now. In order for Clips to fully use that cap, they would have to release those cap holds on BG and CP which then loses their bird rights? Correct?

Right, which means they would have to re-sign them with cap space. Which means they aren't re-signing.

[Poetry-In-Motion]

You are forgetting the cap holds on all free agents. We wont have any cap space unless all those guys sign elsewhere.

Edit:

Hey TusconClip, thanks for the reply. I have a better understanding now. In order for Clips to fully use that cap, they would have to release those cap holds on BG and CP which then loses their bird rights? Correct?

Right, which means they would have to re-sign them with cap space. Which means they aren't re-signing.

Thanks. It definitely sways me to think re-signing the free agents is the best way to go versus the losing them for this free agent class. What do you feel is the best direction?

[madmaxmedia]

I've been thinking of some ideas as it relates to the Clippers getting more talent and giving themselves more flexibility. If the Clippers plan on keeping Paul, Griffin and Jordan, they will cost $36 million, $31 million, and $22.6 million respectively, for a total of $89.6 million (87% of the cap, 73% of space before luxury tax). Add Austin Rivers $11.8 million, and Jamal Crawford $14.3 million, and before even thinking about re-signing Redick, the team is at $115.7 million with a $103 million salary cap and a $122 million luxury tax. Add Wesley Johnson ($5.9 million), Brice Johnson ($1.3 million) and Diamond Stone ($905K), and the team is already above the luxury tax with $123.8 million in salary with 8 players on the roster.

So how can they give themselves some wiggle room? Trading Jamal Crawford would be a priority, but what can he be traded for to clear some space? Do you keep Redick if he's going to be making something like $20 million/year, or do you try and sign and trade him somewhere and then try and replace him with a cheaper shooter like a Marco Belinelli ($6.3 million) for example? Would sign and trade even become an option, or would he just end up leaving for nothing? Is there a point in keeping Wesley Johnson or do you try and trade him for like an early second round pick on draft night. What about Austin? Is he a piece you can maybe use to get like a late lottery pick or a second or third year player who can be useful for the team, or do you say if you move on from Redick, then you have to keep Austin and you make him your starting SG?

There are certainly possibilities, though I don't know how realistic. The Clippers front office did not make it easy on themselves with a signing like that of Jamal's last off-season.

We never have cap room so we make moves every off-season to try to win now. But then each year we end up older, deeper in cap hell, and with diminishing returns to boot!!

Signing Crawford to that contract was the worst, even though I am happy for him personally. It was again a "we aren't able to replace him, so we may as well res-sign him" move. We're always afraid to take a step back, but because of this will never be able to take a significant step forward. Wesley Johnson was another bad signing, not as expensive but it just added insult to injury. At least Austin has been on a somewhat upwards trajectory and was probably worth the money because of that.

There's literally no way out unless Clippers are willing to do the 1 or 2 steps back, 2 or 3 steps (hopefully) forward in a year thing. But yet again we won't do so, this time due to impending FA. Although this year we may not actually have a choice, since it's up to the FA's.

All your ideas make sense. Unfortunately, I think we could gut the team, and the absolute best that we could hope for (but not care about) is saving Ballmer the repeater tax. I will say this- by at least trying to reduce salary this offseason, it might possibly set up the opportunity to free us up next offseason. So it's worth trying.

[Poetry-In-Motion]

I've been thinking of some ideas as it relates to the Clippers getting more talent and giving themselves more flexibility. If the Clippers plan on keeping Paul, Griffin and Jordan, they will cost $36 million, $31 million, and $22.6 million respectively, for a total of $89.6 million (87% of the cap, 73% of space before luxury tax). Add Austin Rivers $11.8 million, and Jamal Crawford $14.3 million, and before even thinking about re-signing Redick, the team is at $115.7 million with a $103 million salary cap and a $122 million luxury tax. Add Wesley Johnson ($5.9 million), Brice Johnson ($1.3 million) and Diamond Stone ($905K), and the team is already above the luxury tax with $123.8 million in salary with 8 players on the roster.

So how can they give themselves some wiggle room? Trading Jamal Crawford would be a priority, but what can he be traded for to clear some space? Do you keep Redick if he's going to be making something like $20 million/year, or do you try and sign and trade him somewhere and then try and replace him with a cheaper shooter like a Marco Belinelli ($6.3 million) for example? Would sign and trade even become an option, or would he just end up leaving for nothing? Is there a point in keeping Wesley Johnson or do you try and trade him for like an early second round pick on draft night. What about Austin? Is he a piece you can maybe use to get like a late lottery pick or a second or third year player who can be useful for the team, or do you say if you move on from Redick, then you have to keep Austin and you make him your starting SG?

There are certainly possibilities, though I don't know how realistic. The Clippers front office did not make it easy on themselves with a signing like that of Jamal's last off-season.

Hey OG, I am playing around with it as well. Same 8 players.

Where did you get the $36M figure for year 1 of Chris Paul's mega $201M Deal. To my knowledge a deal starting at $34.3M would mean this...

$34,300,000 $37,044,000 $40,007,520 $43,208,122 $46,664,771

Due to 8% increases.

That equates to roughly $201.2M which means my year 1 figure actually has a bit of a buffer if anything.

Is there an article or reference you are looking at to slot CP3 as $36M?

[TucsonClip]

I've been thinking of some ideas as it relates to the Clippers getting more talent and giving themselves more flexibility. If the Clippers plan on keeping Paul, Griffin and Jordan, they will cost $36 million, $31 million, and $22.6 million respectively, for a total of $89.6 million (87% of the cap, 73% of space before luxury tax). Add Austin Rivers $11.8 million, and Jamal Crawford $14.3 million, and before even thinking about re-signing Redick, the team is at $115.7 million with a $103 million salary cap and a $122 million luxury tax. Add Wesley Johnson ($5.9 million), Brice Johnson ($1.3 million) and Diamond Stone ($905K), and the team is already above the luxury tax with $123.8 million in salary with 8 players on the roster.

So how can they give themselves some wiggle room? Trading Jamal Crawford would be a priority, but what can he be traded for to clear some space? Do you keep Redick if he's going to be making something like $20 million/year, or do you try and sign and trade him somewhere and then try and replace him with a cheaper shooter like a Marco Belinelli ($6.3 million) for example? Would sign and trade even become an option, or would he just end up leaving for nothing? Is there a point in keeping Wesley Johnson or do you try and trade him for like an early second round pick on draft night. What about Austin? Is he a piece you can maybe use to get like a late lottery pick or a second or third year player who can be useful for the team, or do you say if you move on from Redick, then you have to keep Austin and you make him your starting SG?

There are certainly possibilities, though I don't know how realistic. The Clippers front office did not make it easy on themselves with a signing like that of Jamal's last off-season.

Hey OG, I am playing around with it as well. Same 8 players.

Where did you get the $36M figure for year 1 of Chris Paul's mega $201M Deal. To my knowledge a deal starting at $34.3M would mean this...

$34,300,000 $37,044,000 $40,007,520 $43,208,122 $46,664,771

Due to 8% increases.

That equates to roughly $201.2M which means my year 1 figure actually has a bit of a buffer if anything.

Is there an article or reference you are looking at to slot CP3 as $36M?

Salary cap is expected to come in at $102 mil for next season. CP3 is a 10-year vet and he can start at 35% of $102 mil, which would be is $35.7 mil in year one.

The five-year max with 8% raises would then read:

$35.7, $38.56, $41.42, $44.28, $47.14

[Poetry-In-Motion]

I've been thinking of some ideas as it relates to the Clippers getting more talent and giving themselves more flexibility. If the Clippers plan on keeping Paul, Griffin and Jordan, they will cost $36 million, $31 million, and $22.6 million respectively, for a total of $89.6 million (87% of the cap, 73% of space before luxury tax). Add Austin Rivers $11.8 million, and Jamal Crawford $14.3 million, and before even thinking about re-signing Redick, the team is at $115.7 million with a $103 million salary cap and a $122 million luxury tax. Add Wesley Johnson ($5.9 million), Brice Johnson ($1.3 million) and Diamond Stone ($905K), and the team is already above the luxury tax with $123.8 million in salary with 8 players on the roster.

So how can they give themselves some wiggle room? Trading Jamal Crawford would be a priority, but what can he be traded for to clear some space? Do you keep Redick if he's going to be making something like $20 million/year, or do you try and sign and trade him somewhere and then try and replace him with a cheaper shooter like a Marco Belinelli ($6.3 million) for example? Would sign and trade even become an option, or would he just end up leaving for nothing? Is there a point in keeping Wesley Johnson or do you try and trade him for like an early second round pick on draft night. What about Austin? Is he a piece you can maybe use to get like a late lottery pick or a second or third year player who can be useful for the team, or do you say if you move on from Redick, then you have to keep Austin and you make him your starting SG?

There are certainly possibilities, though I don't know how realistic. The Clippers front office did not make it easy on themselves with a signing like that of Jamal's last off-season.

Hey OG, I am playing around with it as well. Same 8 players.

Where did you get the $36M figure for year 1 of Chris Paul's mega $201M Deal. To my knowledge a deal starting at $34.3M would mean this...

$34,300,000 $37,044,000 $40,007,520 $43,208,122 $46,664,771

Due to 8% increases.

That equates to roughly $201.2M which means my year 1 figure actually has a bit of a buffer if anything.

Is there an article or reference you are looking at to slot CP3 as $36M?

Salary cap is expected to come in at $102 mil for next season. CP3 is a 10-year vet and he can start at 35% of $102 mil, which would be is $35.7 mil in year one.

The five-year max with 8% raises would then read:

$35.7, $38.56, $41.42, $44.28, $47.14

Thanks TusconClip. That's helpful.