I know we are rebuilding but,

[JGib23]

There is a lot of young talent this offseason that I think we should pursue. The NBA Salary Cap for next season will be set at around 58 Million and we currently have 47 Million Committed in Salaries plus we need to sign Smack and Kemba (around 4.4 M combined 1st year salary). Even without Amnestying anyone, we could have around 7-8 million to offer, if we amnesty Diop, our cap space would be around 18 million before signing our rookies.

By offering contracts to these guys, we either get them or force the hands of the teams that have their rights to committ future cap space. By targeting young talent, we don't stunt the the rebuilding process.

DeAndre Jordan- 6'11" 265 lb 23 year old center, a restricted FA with the Clippers and has a 1.1 Million dollar QO (Qualifying Offer). DeAndre has the ability to be a consistent Double Double player with a little more seasoning. He shot 69% from the floor last season (mostly on Dunks)but, he doesn't have much offense outside of the paint. I think he has the ability to be an All Defense type player and would fit in well with our rebuilding. Donald Sterling is notoriously cheap and he may not want to tie up cap space if he truly intends on making a run at D12 or CP3 in the offseason.

Spencer Hawes- 7'1" 245 lb 23 year old center, a restricted FA with the Sixers and has a 4.0 M QO, While I don't think his ceiling is as high as DeAndre's, Spencer would still be a nice prospect and is a capable rebounder and shot blocker with a little more polished offensive game.

Thaddeus Young 6'8" 220lb 23 year old SF, a resticted FA with the Sixers and has a 4.0 M QO- He reminds me of a young Gerald Wallace (with more of an outside shoot than young Gerald). Can Philly really afford to pay both Hawes and Young with Brand and Igudola already set to make a combined 63 million dollars over the next 2 seasons?

Marco Belinelli 6'5" 200 lb 25 year old SG, a restricted FA with the Hornets with a 3.3 M QO- Avg'd double figures and shot over 40% form 3 point range last season. In my mind he would be the perfect back up SG to compliment Gerald Henderson.

None of these guys would break the bank but, I think the would be perfect additions to a yound rebuilding team and their strengths mold well with our needs. We can't sign them all but, it would be nice to land 1 or 2 of them.

[tondi]

I wouldn't mind going after Jordan but I suspect somebody is going to pay him a lot of money. Probably more than he is worth and I don't want that somebody to be us. Sure if we can get him for 5-6 million a year then I say sign him up but it really wouldn't surprise me to see somebody pay him much more than that.

Similarly with Young. He would be a nice addition, for the right price, but I think Philly would match any reasonable offer.

Wouldn't really have interest in Hawes or Belinelli.

[Chef]

jordan is the only one worth going after. it will be costly though. he will have suitors. the only way i'd do it if i were in charge of the bobcats is this:

if we are not going for paul or howard and are going to rebuild through the draft, i would overpay for jordan and hope he or biz can develop an offensive game. then lose as we will this year and next. draft perry jones, barnes, or (depending on how kemba and biz play) a pg or pf. try to get another pick this year with either dj and/or diaw. be bad the following year and draft two more players. hopefully someone turns into a superstar. it won't be jordan but he can be a great defensive anchor.

[Twan's Kin]

Shane Battier would be a good addition to this team. a true beast on defense, and a former Blue Devil... we'd have Hendo, Maggette, and Battier as a Duke II team. If there was one player I'd want on my team to help develop the younger players, it would be Battier.

Battier, Beasley, or Delonte West in helping to develop younger talent? hmmm... I think I'll go with Battier.

[Toocool]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Hawes a shooting big man?

[bes628]

I say yes to Deandre Jordan and Thad Young, although we just got Maggette.

[Scottley Crue]

Shane Battier would be a good addition to this team. a true beast on defense, and a former Blue Devil... we'd have Hendo, Maggette, and Battier as a Duke II team. If there was one player I'd want on my team to help develop the younger players, it would be Battier.

Battier, Beasley, or Delonte West in helping to develop younger talent? hmmm... I think I'll go with Battier.

I'd love to have Battier on this team, though I think he'll have more attractive offers. But if the Bobcats could snag him on a good deal, that'd be some excellent work. He's just a pro's pro and would be a great example to all the young guys we have in here. If it wouldn't hinder future flexibility, he's a guy I'd get in here and quick.

[stun704]

We should go after Hawes as a long term backup for Biyombo

[Plowright]

Hawes is a shooting big man you are right, used to kill me on 2k11! Battier would be great, but again all these players are going to be wanted by 90% of teams. Most of those teams can pay more than us and are going to win more games. Players always get paid more than there worth because of the competition to sign them. E.G. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva

[SWedd523]

We don't have anywhere near the money to go after Jordan, and Battier would never sign here on the tail end of his career.


Let's try and be realistic

[dav7z]

Hawes is a shooting big man you are right, used to kill me on 2k11! Battier would be great, but again all these players are going to be wanted by 90% of teams. Most of those teams can pay more than us and are going to win more games. Players always get paid more than there worth because of the competition to sign them. E.G. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva

I just don't want to over pay unless we getting a all star player. We just now getting flexability . And if we are careful we could get some very contract frindly deals in the next few years.

[dav7z]

We don't have anywhere near the money to go after Jordan, and Battier would never sign here on the tail end of his career.


Let's try and be realistic
We have the money to give either one a max contract with our 3 mil tax expt. But giving either close to that much would be stupid.

[SWedd523]

We're looking at having $5 million under the cap, at most.

[dav7z]

We're looking at having $5 million under the cap, at most.

I was just saying it couuld be done . Say we at 54 . We 5 mil under the soft , we cut say Diop 7 milion . Tax exempt 3 mil . Thats 15 mil we could offer either of those guys first year . But like i said be for it would be stupid. Then a trade could be done for CP3 and still be under the luxery tax.
Im thinking 15 mil first year could get Nana

[JGib23]

We don't have anywhere near the money to go after Jordan, and Battier would never sign here on the tail end of his career.


Let's try and be realistic

I think we could easily have the money to go after Jordan. Amnesty Gana or Boris and we have plenty of "room", not sure if MJ's pockets have enough is the only issue. Jordan's QO is only $1 million, I think we could easily offer him a contract in the $8 million range and force the Clippers to pay him and eat up some of there cap space that they are hoping to spend on D12 or CP3... We could even frontload the first 2 years and have him on a modest per year for years 3 & 4 when our cap really gets under control and we have a real shot to compete.

Agree with Battier, I don't think he would consider us at the end of his career and I wouldn't blame him for not playing here.

In general, we will have to "overpay" to attract a quality free agent and all the cap room in the world will never bring a "Max" contract player here as a free agent. I think our best shot at a superstar is getting lucky in the draft with a Duncan/Durant type that don't have neon lights of a big city in their dreams.

[DY_nasty]

Diop isn't getting amnestied. We'll suck again this year and probably use him as an expiring next season.

[Plowright]

Draft is the way to go for a star for sure. Unless your a massive team eg Lakers then the draft is the way. I dont want spend unless were getting a star as well.

[davcbow]

We will do good to win 15 games this season... so might as well use whom we have and then get rid of Diop with his expiring next season while still rebuilding through the draft.. Think then of the cap we will have for next season... Lets just play for next year or maybe the next... :)

[SWedd523]

I was just saying it couuld be done . Say we at 54 . We 5 mil under the soft , we cut say Diop 7 milion . Tax exempt 3 mil . Thats 15 mil we could offer either of those guys first year . But like i said be for it would be stupid. Then a trade could be done for CP3 and still be under the luxery tax.
Im thinking 15 mil first year could get Nana

Tax exemptions only work as a trade piece. You can't just use it to sign new players

[SWedd523]

I think we could easily have the money to go after Jordan. Amnesty Gana or Boris and we have plenty of "room", not sure if MJ's pockets have enough is the only issue. Jordan's QO is only $1 million, I think we could easily offer him a contract in the $8 million range and force the Clippers to pay him and eat up some of there cap space that they are hoping to spend on D12 or CP3... We could even frontload the first 2 years and have him on a modest per year for years 3 & 4 when our cap really gets under control and we have a real shot to compete.

Agree with Battier, I don't think he would consider us at the end of his career and I wouldn't blame him for not playing here.

In general, we will have to "overpay" to attract a quality free agent and all the cap room in the world will never bring a "Max" contract player here as a free agent. I think our best shot at a superstar is getting lucky in the draft with a Duncan/Durant type that don't have neon lights of a big city in their dreams.

Realistically, we'd have about 9 ish million to offer DeAndre. And I really don't think that'll get it done. He's going to be fielding offers similar to what Tyson Chandler got

[Ghost Kat]

This is depressing. :facepalm:

[dav7z]

Realistically, we'd have about 9 ish million to offer DeAndre. And I really don't think that'll get it done. He's going to be fielding offers similar to what Tyson Chandler got
ok if we cut MAGGS we have 15 ..................................LOL

After looking at most teams . Im thinking Nana or TC don't get over 12 if that much . I can't see teams doing doing the max at the drop a hat any more. Next year is the prize of free agents most teams will save til then. Dallas would be resigning TC if it was any chance at all of him getting a max. The way Dallas spends.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/216975/Raptors_Plan_On_Preserving_Cap_Space_For_2012

[TheBeagle]

This is depressing. :facepalm: Yeah, but it's two months less of depression than it would've been if not for the lockout. I'm actually really looking forward to the season though. Last year of Diaw; no Jack; high liklihood of a top 3 pick in the draft. Beats the hell out of last season regardless.

OT: I'm all for staying pat with the roster as it is. Maybe sign a guy or two on a 1-year to fill out the roster, but don't even think of signing anyone, especially anyone on that list, for any kind of real amount. Unless it nets us a significant, meaningful upgrade in talent, or helps us with shedding salary, I don't see a reason to be active in free agency or trading.

[dav7z]

Yeah, but it's two months less of depression than it would've been if not for the lockout. I'm actually really looking forward to the season though. Last year of Diaw; no Jack; high liklihood of a top 3 pick in the draft. Beats the hell out of last season regardless.

OT: I'm all for staying pat with the roster as it is. Maybe sign a guy or two on a 1-year to fill out the roster, but don't even think of signing anyone, especially anyone on that list, for any kind of real amount. Unless it nets us a significant, meaningful upgrade in talent, or helps us with shedding salary, I don't see a reason to be active in free agency or trading.

Jokes aside welcome back you old dog . Hows the beard doing ?

[Scottley Crue]

Yeah, but it's two months less of depression than it would've been if not for the lockout. I'm actually really looking forward to the season though. Last year of Diaw; no Jack; high liklihood of a top 3 pick in the draft. Beats the hell out of last season regardless.

OT: I'm all for staying pat with the roster as it is. Maybe sign a guy or two on a 1-year to fill out the roster, but don't even think of signing anyone, especially anyone on that list, for any kind of real amount. Unless it nets us a significant, meaningful upgrade in talent, or helps us with shedding salary, I don't see a reason to be active in free agency or trading.

I'm with you on the roster moves (or lack thereof). Maintaining the the future flexibility we have and increasing it should be a major priority. Short deals to fill out the roster or trades that shed future salary or garner draft picks is the way to go this year. I'm very excited about this season, too. Sure the W/L column will have an ugly balance, but for this year, that's not the point. Its the beginning of the rebuilding process and I'm looking forward to watching the young guys grow.

[westbrook08]

I know alot of people will disagree with me, but if i'm jordan, the first phone call i make on monday morning would be to to the clippers for kaman.I know he's had some injuries the last few years, but the is young, is a good low post scorer(which we desperately need and have never really had here), and the guy was an all star in the west just a few years ago, and if healthy,could be very good in the east.We could offer diaw's expiring and one of our trade exceptions since kaman makes more, and maybe offer to swap second round picks this year or next.And since his stock is down, we could probably sign him to a very favorable extension, which if were going to build a contender in charlotte, we need to take chances like this sometimes.I think he and bismack could make a great 1-2 punch in the east.I know they're trying say that bismack's a power foward, but he has the skillset of a center and i don't buy it.Also i think josh howard is worth a look.He was hurt, his stock is down, mike has always liked his game, he can play both wing spots, and since this coming draft is loaded a@ both forward spots, we could potentially fill out a very nice roster quickly with he and kaman.
Kemba/DJ
henderson/ Howard
Lottery SF/ Magette
Lottery PF/ Tyrus
Kaman/ Bismack
And with potentially having 2 more lottery picks in 2013 and cap flexibility going foward, I think this would be a very nice start!

[Plowright]

You know what, i think you made some really good points there. Smack and Kaman would be cool. Obv Kaman is over paid atm, and his deal expires this year so we woul dpotentially only have him for one season unless re resigned him. But still, if did something like this: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7vkn4ha They are very short at PF, we need a 3rd PG. Maybe throw it some second rounders, i dont know. I know this deal is too good for the Cats and would prob never happen lol but we can dream

[Sik Infant]

All of those guys aside from Bellinelli will be paid way more than they are worth so I'm not down for signing any of them.

I do like Deandre & Thaddeus but they are going to get paid this offseason.

[ALong13]

I've always been a fan of Spencer Hawes and think he could do very good things if given the opportunity. We focus so much on defense, why not worry about an offensive center for once? We've never truly had one, and its about time we could use one. Make it happen mike!

[TattoodCats4life]

I'm all for the idea of us standing pat, signing a few old ass players just for backup (think of guys like Jawan Howard) who would also be basically in the (now defunct) position of player/coach. As far as young talented players I'd honestly offer something big (or sign and trade with a big contract) for Marc Gasol. The thing is memphis has said they will match almost any offer, so we could suck out some of the cap space memphis has. Just my opinion, probably not the consensus but I like it ;)

[mrtarheel]

I actually like the idea of Kaman. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=78op7y8. That is my trade thought. The Clippers could use the capspace for Jordan and the Pacers need a pf. Maybe we could squeeze a first or second from the Clippers for giving them the capspace for Jordan.

[Sik Infant]

I actually like the idea of Kaman. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=78op7y8. That is my trade thought. The Clippers could use the capspace for Jordan and the Pacers need a pf. Maybe we could squeeze a first or second from the Clippers for giving them the capspace for Jordan.

If Kaman was definitely on the market then other teams would most likely have more to offer than us.

Not bad though.

[mrtarheel]

If Kaman was definitely on the market then other teams would most likely have more to offer than us.

Not bad though.

They don't want players right now they need money to resign DeAndre Jordan and some free agents maybe. That trade gives them more on the money side than anything and I think that is what they are looking to do.

[Sik Infant]

They don't want players right now they need money to resign DeAndre Jordan and some free agents maybe. That trade gives them more on the money side than anything and I think that is what they are looking to do.

They already have the money to resign Deandre don't they??

Why would Indy do this??

[Plowright]

they have $13 free, plus they can amnesty whoever they want. Mo Williams maybe? They dont need cap sapce, and if i was the clippers i would excpect a lot more back for Kaman than Najera and cape space

[fallen xxi]

Thaddeus Young would be a great addition to this team. He's a natural 3, but has the size to play 4, and the offense to play 2. I bet he'd go for cheap too.