Not saying it will be easy, but it absolutely would be easier in the offseason compared to now. Right now teams either want to sell and tank, or a few teams want to become a bit more competitive. Detroit has made their move, nop is trying to make theirs. The rest don’t really need nor want the contract of Ryan. Currently his contract is roughly 2.5yrs for 50m. In the offseason he is 2yrs at 40m. Not only is that 10m less is committed salary, but the rockets could also send out 6m in cash making it a 2yr 34m commitment. Much easier to swallow. Also in the offseason everybody and lots of teams are much more optimistic. Many more teams would be willing to take a risk at getting better and taking that next step forward compared to now at this deadline.
The biggest difference in the offseason will be that teams that have cap space (like maybe the Bulls) will know for sure whether anyone they want will take their money. Also, we'll be able to trade our first round pick after the draft.
After the Pistons' trade moving their parts, Bradley, Harris etc, looks like Cod's signature has been updated/truncated.
No. Having salary cap space just for the sake of having salary cap space is not worth anything. How many teams have unloaded contracts to create max cap space with grand plans of attracting one or multiple superstars, only to watch as free agents go elsewhere? A few come to mind- Dallas, Las Angeles Lakers and New York. What do they all have in common? They are all lottery teams. The Rockets' have their best chance to be legit title contenders in over 20 years, since the 1997 season. Those opportunities don't come by often, and when they do, you do everything possible to try to go all in to push yourself over the top. Everyone knows Anderson is overpaid. No one would argue if we traded him for something useful. Against Golden State, Anderson averaged almost 9 rebounds a game this season. That is their biggest weakness. In a potential playoff series against them, his spacing and his rebounding would be way more helpful than having extra cap space.
I am not so sure it will be easier to move him this summer. Conventional wisdom agrees with you, but there are some rumblings of the market really contracting. If that is the case, teams will be even more apprehensive to take on someone like Ryan Anderson. I think of the Mirotic insistence that the Pelicans pick up his option. That is a 27 year old player having a career year wanting to be locking into next year.
He has spoken. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php?threads/trade-deadline-wishlist.287991/page-3#post-11558987
I want a 4-5 that can hit the 3. Start them at the 4 and move them to 5 when Capela goes out. I wouldn't mind Brook Lopez if he is bought out. he can play 5 on D to allow Capela to switch onto wings and play 4 on Offense to spread the floor. Lopez could also play 5 when Capela isn't in. Then again, you don't really want Lopez playing 25-30 minutes a game, so probably bring him out with Capela and go small with the 2nd unit. Anyway, I think he's a great option and one that the Rockets shouldn't have to trade for.
Channing Frye will be bought out after the Cavs trade him for whoever. Can work as a backup 5 & strech 4 in some circumstances plus played for D'Antoni iirc.
2 bigs IFs IF he starts slinging and IF he gets back to his career 3P% consistently at home and road I wouldn't bet on it though One thing's for sure he's been a BIG NEGATIVE all-season long -11PT NET SWING with Ryno On VS Off-Court (Rockets alot worse defensively & worse offensively when Ryno's ON) Rockets with Ryno On-Court: Offs 111 Def 108 Net 3 Rockets with Ryno Off-Court: Off 114 Def 100 Net 14 http://stats.nba.com/impact/advance...=201583&TeamID=1610612745&VsTeamID=1610612745 +9PT NET SWING with Luc On VS Off-Court (Rockets a ton better defensively Lucs's ON) Rockets with Luc On-Court: Off 109 Def 96 Net 13 Rockets with Luc Off-Court: Off 113 Def 109 Net 4 http://stats.nba.com/impact/advance...=201601&TeamID=1610612745&VsTeamID=1610612745 +6PT NET SWING with PJ On VS Off-Court (Rockets better defensively & better offensively when PJ's ON) Rockets with PJ On-Court: Off 113 Def 103 Net 10 Rockets with PJ Off-Court: Off 110 Def 106 Net 4 http://stats.nba.com/impact/advance...=200782&TeamID=1610612745&VsTeamID=1610612745
It's not just a matter of attracting a "top" free agent. Though, clearly in this case, the opportunity to actually add a top FA named Lebron James is about as good as it'll ever get... which admittedly doesn't mean squat... but we all know DM is willing to take that risk. But even without a Lebron, if ditching Ryan's $20 million cap space allows you to replace him with an approximate $20 million player next offseason (i'm not sure it does and the exact cap ramifications, but assuming it does), at this point that'd absolutely be worth it. RIGHT NOW, overall, the Rockets are better if Ryan simply doesn't play. That's how bad he's been on the whole recently. It just is. The upside is he returns to being solid... but, see below Yes, exactly. It's not like the guy's form was consistent ever with the Rockets. 33% at home both this year and last year. 43% on the road last year, 39% on the road (all 3 %'s). Then look at the playoffs last year... under 30% three point shooting. So are we hoping he gets back to that?? The upside with Ryan, I guess, is that he goes on a hot streak for 2 months beginning in April. Which seems pretty unrealistic.
