Here is a list of players that are on expiring contracts or players that are expected to opt out in 2019. The Rockets do not have many avenues to get better. Since we are currently low on high valued assets, trading for an expiring makes the most sense. Dewayne Dedmom - 6.3M Kyrie Irving - 20.1M - *Player Option in 2019, hard to know if he will opt in. Terry Rozier - 3M DeMarre Carroll - 15.4M Kemba Walker - 12M Jeremy Lamb - 7.5M Justin Holiday - 4.3M Robin Lopez - 14.3M Wes Matthews - 18.6M Wilson Chandler - 12.8M Paul Milsap - 29.7M - *Team Option in 2019, I doubt they pick it up. Darrell Arthur - 7.4M Kenneth Faried - 13.7M Stanley Johnson - 3.9M - *2019 - RFA Reggie Bullock - 2.5M Darren Collison - 10M Cory Joseph - 8M Bojan Bogdanovic - 10.5M Thaddeus Young - 13.7M Pat Bev! - 5M Milos Tesodosic - 6.3M Tobias Harris - 14.8M Wes Johnson - 6M Sam Dekker - 2.7M Ben McLemore - 5.5M JaMychal Green - 7.8M Marc Gasol - 24M - *Player Option in 2019, hard to know if he will opt in. Justise Winslow - 3.4 *2019 - RFA Goran Dragic - 18M - *Player Option in 2019, hard to know if he will opt in. Eric Bledsoe - 15M Malcolm Brogdon - 1.5 *2019 - RFA Khris Middleton - 13M - Player Option in 2019, Zach Lowe said he will opt out. Jimmy Butler - 20.5M - Player Option in 2019, reports say he will opt out. KAT - 8M - 2019 - RFA Taj Gibson - 14M Nikola Mirotic - 12.5M Enes Kanter - 18M Kristaps Porzingis - 5.6M *2019 - RFA Melo - 27M Terrence Ross - 10.5M Nikola Vucevic - 12.7M Troy Daniels - 3.2M Jared Dudley - 9.5M Tyson Chandler - 13.5M Iman Shumpert - 11M Garrett Temple - 8M Zach Randolph - 11.6M Kosta Koufos - 8.7M WCS - 4.6M Danny Green - 10M Jodie Meeks - 3.4M Kelly Oubre - 3.2M *2019 - RFA Tomas Satoransky - 3.1M - *2019 - RFA Markieff Morris - 8.6M
Yep. It's not how you start... It's how you finish. Lot's of serviceable contracts to be had at a later date. All the names I bolded are guys I think would be prime targets for Morey.
The Butler situation will be interesting to watch. Lots of rumblings last year that Thibs was having a hard time with the younger kids (KAT, Wiggins, Jones), and there is no way Minny can pay KAT his 25m max (which he will certainly get) plus Wiggins at nearly 30, and then resign Butler on top of that. If they have trouble this year, Butler could be on the block by the trade deadline, or if he opts in. And he would be the perfect fit here.
Thought I should bump this as our end of free agency drags, feels like they are working on some type of trade.
Other the obvious choices like Jimmy Buckets, who are some under the radar Maori surprise acquisitions? I like Stanley Johnson a lot. Terry Rozier has been another that I was hoping to get but he blew up in the postseason and his value has skyrocketed.
I'm glad the DMC transaction happened early, it gives Morey time to adjust and view the market differently.
Thanks for the list. Majority of those guys are up for BIG PAY DAYS.... you have to be sure when trading for one that.... 1. They move the needle. 2. You will pay them what they are worth and also pay the TAX that comes with it. There are only a handful of players on there that make sense when you look at it that way.
That's where i think the Rockets can come in with an interesting offer of cost controlled vets, which I think Minny will prefer to prospects and/or picks. No doubt whoever loses the Kawhi sweepstakes will turn to Butler, but we have a competitive offer IF we include Tucker and perhaps take back some salary. For example: HOU In: Butler, Gibson MIN In: Gordon, Tucker, Nene, Onuaku, Jackson, Cash for Onuaku and Jackson This lowers Minnesota's payroll by $7 million this year, but more importantly, it provides cost controlled vets that solve Minnesotas needs perfectly. Tucker provides the spacing that Gibson can't at the 4 with no drop off in defense, and Gordon provides better spacing than Butler does. Nene can mentor KAT. Basically this trade helps to build around KAT. Houston gets not just Butler, but Gibson can be a backup 5 and an interesting trade piece as a $15 million expiring at the deadline. $15 million worth of salary and a 1st or 2nd could get you a key piece like Avery Bradley or Marvin Williams.
Trade Ryan and a 1st round pick for Dudley and Chandler. Then use the MLE to sign Melo after the Thunder buy him out. Now you've got a solid 9 man rotation of Paul, Harden, Gordon, Green, Tucker, Anthony, Dudley, Capela, and Chandler with the rookies on the bench.
Wings with 1 year left on their contracts. The listed players are 6'6 and up. DeMarre Carroll - 6'8 - 15.4M Justin Holiday - 6'6 - 4.3M Wilson Chandler - 6'8 - 12.8M Stanley Johnson - 6'7 - 3.9M - *2019 - RFA Reggie Bullock - 6'7 - 2.5M Bojan Bogdanovic - 6'7 -10.5M Thaddeus Young - 6'8 - 13.7M Tobias Harris - 6'8 - 14.8M Wes Johnson - 6'7 - 6M Sam Dekker - 6'7 - 2.7M JaMychal Green - 6'8 - 7.8M Justise Winslow - 6'7 - 3.4M *2019 - RFA Khris Middleton - 6'8 - 13M - Player Option in 2019, Zach Lowe said he will opt out. Jimmy Butler - 6'8 - 20.5M - Player Option in 2019, reports say he will opt out. Terrence Ross - 6'6 - 10.5M Jared Dudley - 6'7 - 9.5M Garrett Temple - 6'6 - 8M Danny Green - 6'6 - 10M Kelly Oubre - 6'7 - 3.2M *2019 - RFA
Good bump, DeMarre Carrol or Danny Green would be ideal but I don't see Toronto getting rid of Green. Not sure how realistic any of these guys would be in a salary dump trade/buyout. Jared Dudley will be bought out but he was terrible last year.
