Houston Targeting Chris Paul Too?

coachbadlee · Jun 1, 2013

It's Hoopsworld, but still interesting. This is the 1st time i have read about the possibility outside of Clutchfans. Please lock if posted.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-ho...paign=nba-pm-houston-targeting-chris-paul-too

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey stirred up a Texas-sized dust storm when he told an assembly of Rockets season ticket holders earlier this week that he planned to chase the top two free agents this summer. He didn’t mention names, of course, because that would draw a fine from the NBA, but it’s not hard to conclude that one of the two is Los Angeles Lakers free-agent-to-be Dwight Howard. Howard has talked with current Rockets, he has indicated to those around him that he really likes the idea of playing in Houston and multiple sources are happy to report that Houston is the front-runner for his services, though that is always hard to really gauge with the mercurial Howard. More than anything else, Howard likes to be liked, so he has a tendency to tell whichever team he’s talking to that he has them at the top of his list. Still, he is Houston’s biggest target in free agency.

The other top free agent this summer is, of course, Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul, but it’s debatable whether or not Morey was referring to Paul when he talked about the top two free agents. Paul is a free agent in title only, and has given every indication to those around him that he will not be leaving L.A. this summer. It’s still possible that Morey was dreaming of Chris Paul, but it’s also possible that he was thinking of Josh Smith, who is arguably the most available free agent once Howard is off the market. David West, like Paul, is highly unlikely to leave the Indiana Pacers, so saying he’s available would be a bit of a leap.

But let’s say Morey believes he has a chance to land both Howard and Paul, creating a monster Big Three in combination with James Harden. How does he accomplish that, exactly?
The NBA has told owners to expect a salary cap of roughly $58.5 million for next season, with a corresponding luxury tax threshold of $71.5 million. A max contract for Dwight Howard starts at $20.51 million, while a max contract for Chris Paul would start at roughly $18.69 million. Not counting cap holds, the Rockets currently have guaranteed contracts for next season totaling $39.3 million, meaning they can’t actually just sign the pair even if they could be persuaded to sign in Houston. The reality is that the Rockets would already be at roughly $53 million if they only had Howard, Harden and Paul on the roster, and that’s assuming they could unload basically everyone else. That leaves nine roster spots to fill, with minimum cap holds for each totaling $4.275 million. The math simply doesn’t work.

It’s possible that the Lakers will look to work a sign-and-trade if it becomes clear that Howard is leaving town, though only if they have exhausted every possible avenue to keep him. Remember that even the Cleveland Cavaliers worked a sign-and-trade when LeBron James left under one of the worst PR circumstances possible. In that event, it becomes fairly easy for Houston to offload at least Thomas Robinson and possibly even Omer Asik, if not to the Lakers directly, to another team in a three-way deal. If a sign-and-trade can’t be worked out, the Rockets could still move Royce White, Thomas Robinson and Terrence Jones in smaller deals. That clears the way for Houston to add Howard’s max contract while still maintaining a solid core group of James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin. Given Morey’s knack for adding overachievers at bargain prices, filling out the roster around Howard does not represent a daunting challenge.

Given Paul’s determination to stay in L.A. with the Clippers, it makes more sense for the Rockets to chase another key free agent who would come at a price tag below maximum, like Atlanta’s Smith, for example. Smith’s price is likely to be closer to $10-12 million in year one of his new contract, a much more manageable number for Houston to work with. Even at that number, however, there is absolutely no way Houston can afford him unless the Hawks are willing to do a sign-and-trade, which seems a remote possibility at best.
Any talk of adding a second star player along with Howard is, of course, premature. Howard has given some indications that he favors Houston, but if history has taught us anything it’s that Dwight’s favorite team is whichever one he’s talking to at a given moment. He could tell Houston they’re his team, and that will be true until he lands in Atlanta, where he could tell the Hawks they are his top choice. The same could happen when he visits the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks and even the Toronto Raptors. Then there’s the Brooklyn Nets, who are still very much determined to land Howard and have arguably the most attractive piece to offer via trade in Brook Lopez. What about the San Antonio Spurs? They will have room to add a max contract, and could be defending another championship, as well.

Landing Howard in Houston will take a great initial pitch and then a little bit of luck, with some serious TLC from Hakeem Olajuwon thrown in for good measure. Until they get Howard’s name on a contract, any other speculation about additional stars landing in Houston is pointless.
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ILoveTheRockets · Jun 1, 2013

Paul and Josh Smith would be better IMO.

ILoveTheRockets · Jun 1, 2013

I still say it would be foolish to let Asik go.

Rox>Mavs · Jun 1, 2013

I think the writer takes DM's comments out of context. I believe his comments during that luncheon were referring to going after either of the top 2 FA's. Not both. I think he did say he'd look at that as an obvious first goal but for that to happen 20 things would have to align.

REEKO_HTOWN · Jun 1, 2013

Some writing still haven't figured out Howard can't get to the nets a all. They are paying the tax and can't receive a player via sign and trade

coachbadlee · Jun 1, 2013

ILoveTheRockets said: ↑

I still say it would be foolish to let Asik go.
Click to expand...

Even if it got us Chris Paul?

coachbadlee · Jun 1, 2013

ILoveTheRockets said: ↑

Paul and Josh Smith would be better IMO.
Click to expand...

I'm just not feeling Josh Smith like everyone else.

Fullcourt · Jun 1, 2013

Rox>Mavs said: ↑

I think the writer takes DM's comments out of context. I believe his comments during that luncheon were referring to going after either of the top 2 FA's. Not both. I think he did say he'd look at that as an obvious first goal but for that to happen 20 things would have to align.
Click to expand...

Morey specifically touched on the subject of getting both. Said 20 things would have to go right for him to pull it off.

Fair Dinkum · Jun 1, 2013

Yeah, pretty flawed article.

The trade scenarios he pointed out are wrong.

The correct trade scenarios have been discussed numerous times on Clutch Fans already. It's like he read Clutch Fans for the ideas but didn't properly understand how it would work.

J.R. · Jun 1, 2013

It's HoopsWorld, it's not interesting. It's the first time you're hearing it reported because it was a (new?) season ticket holder event, in which Bill Ingram/HoopsWorld didn't even attend. This "story" was passed along to him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/therocketguy">therocketguy</a> Check your DM, Bill. Some interesting stuff.</p>— Alex Rankin (@ARankin11) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARankin11/status/339851018638610432">May 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/arankin11">arankin11</a> Daryl may have told season ticket holders he wants CP3 and D12 both, but there's no conceivable way for them to make that happen.</p>— Bill Ingram (@TheRocketGuy) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRocketGuy/status/339857247087759363">May 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Great stuff Bill.

Petey-N-Htown · Jun 1, 2013

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul please...

Francis3422 · Jun 1, 2013

IMO the source is Horry33.

Ingram sucks and is a fake.

thedude077 · Jun 1, 2013

Isn't hoopsworld one of the bad websites that give false sources?

rockbox · Jun 1, 2013

Bill Ingram's source is clutchfans and his wild imagination. He's terrible.

Nice Rollin · Jun 1, 2013

Hilarious

Juxtaposed Jolt · Jun 1, 2013

"What about the San Antonio Spurs? They will have room to add a max contract, and could be defending another championship, as well."

If the Spurs get Howard...

:O

Aruba77 · Jun 1, 2013

Of course we're targeting Chris Paul too. He's a top 10 player in this league. This is a non-story.

Clutch · Jun 1, 2013

Bill Ingram took this information posted here...

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=239206

... and made it a story without crediting who posted it. coachbadlee then posted it here simplified as the Rockets are going after Chris Paul too.

Stick to the original source of the info -- Horry33 on ClutchFans.

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