What Do You Mean We Couldn't Get Elton Brand??

by Rohan on Jul 9, 2008 10:48 PM CDT

With most of the big FA's on the verge of deals, the spotlight is now on teams like the Hornets and lesser free agents. The salary cap, announced yesterday, has been set at $58.68 million, the luxury threshold at $71.15 million, and the midlevel exception at $5.585 million.

Pradamaster did a great breakdown of the Wizards' cap situation over at Bullets Forever today, and I thought I'd emulate it for the Hornets. So here goes nothing:

2008_salaries_medium

Clearly, we have a ways to go before hitting the luxury tax level. That's misleading though. Since we're right at the salary cap, we can only use the full midlevel exception on free agents and nothing more.

Who can we get?

Jannero Pargo (last year: $1,183,000): The General qualifies for the "Early Bird" exception. This means that since he's played with us for 2 straight years, we can sign him even if it takes us over the salary cap (which it will). I wrote yesterday that the Hornets shouldn't bring him back. Current reports have him asking for a 3 year deal, and reported suitors include the Nets and Jazz. Bottom line: he'll be back if we want him.

Josh Childress (Restricted, last year: $3,600,000): The whole Elton Brand mess means the ATL might not match a midlevel offer to Childress (since the Clips could toss around 15 mil. at J-Smoove). Bottom line: we could get Childress with the full mid-level.

Mickael Pietrus (Signed Orlando, MLE: $5,585,000): I put this here because the Pietrus deal is interesting. I'm convinced Orlando overpaid. More importantly, the Pietrus deal virtually guarantees that Childress will command more than the mid-level. So maybe Childress is out of our reach after all.

Shaun Livingston (last year: $4,404,629): Oft-injured, the 21 year old Livingston could come dirt cheap. If the Hornets decide to chase a free agent with only part of the MLE, they could acquire Livingston with the remainder. Bottom line: No, thank you. I'd rather go all out for a Posey or a Childress.

Juan Dixon (last year: $2,550,000): Would be a cheap 3rd PG if Pargo or James were to leave. Bottom line: Same deal as Livingston- breaking up the MLE isn't a good idea.

We interrupt this telecast to present you with the following message: I'm gonna stop listing players like Dixon and Livingston because thinking up different ways to say "don't break up the MLE" is going to get taxing.

Now back to the scheduled program.

James Posey (last year: $3,206,000): Whoever gets Posey will end up over-paying. Posey certainly isn't worth the full mid-level. That said, he is worth it to a team he would put over the top. Which, arguably, is us. Bottom line: Offer him the full mid-level. His offense is overrated with all those dagger threes fresh in people's minds. But his defense is for real.

JamesOn Curry (last year: N/A D-League): Just kidding. I just love writing his name. JamesOn. JamesOn. JamesOn.

Ricky Davis (last year: $6,810,000): Wait a few seconds before you laugh me off the stage. He's not as bad as you think. Bottom line: He'd be a very nice consolation prize if we lose out in the Posey race. I seriously doubt any team offers him more than the mid-level.

Kelenna Azubuike (Restricted, last year: $687,000): Hustles, great energy, solid defender, killer name, good shooter, 24 years old... it's interesting that his upper level is considered the mid-level. The Spurs were thought to be his biggest suitors, but the Roger Mason Jr. signing ends that. Bottom line: You know what? I'd be just as happy to get Azubuike as to get Posey.

Bonzi Wells (last year: $2,284,000): I made the case for Wells a couple of weeks back. I still stand by it. There's a way we could get Wells without touching the mid-level exception or hindering any other free agent signings- the Million Dollar exception. It's a 1.91 million dollar exception designed for NBA veterans. If Wells is willing to take a slight pay cut (300 grand), he can potentially be back, next to Julian Wright and one of Posey/Davis/Azubuike. Bottom Line: Ryan Bowen's departure opens up a roster spot. At the very least, I would extend the 1.91 mil. exception to Wells. Plus, re-signing Wells makes another back-up big unnecessary (since Bonzi can man the 4).

So there you have it. My best guess: we re-sign Pargo (early Bird exception) and acquire Posey/Azubuike (full MLE).

Had we not sold our 27th pick, you know what we could've done? Re-sign Pargo, draft CDR, and acquire Turiaf (most of our MLE, and easily outclass GSW's offer of 4 years, 17 mil).

Pargo/CDR/Turiaf sure beats Pargo/Posey...

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it does?

I’m no dratnik, but CDR likely slipped for a reason. If he’s like a typical 2nd rounder (where most are out of the league in 2 years) then he’s negligible, and it’s Turiaf or Posey.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jul 10, 2008 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

You probably right

I’m just peeved that my countless draft analyses were rendered moot.

Seriously, of all the teams we could’ve given the pick to… Portland? They could probably set up their own farm system with all those draft picks.

by Rohan on Jul 10, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Well...

CDR is starting off well in Summer Camp. My acceptance of passing up on him was believing in 2 things: 1) the Hornets believed they’d bring Adam Haluska back and with his experience of a year, would be more ready than CDR, and 2) that they’d use the extra cash to land a solid big. They did 1, let’s see if it pans out. But I’m still waiting on 2.

by ticktock6 on Jul 10, 2008 8:34 PM CDT reply actions

I agree I thought CDR would have been a solid pick for the Hornets

I don’t really get why you guys sold your pick to us, I’m still not entirely convinced about the Hornets depth.

A Time For Heroes,
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And its all up the walls
Well the stale chips were up and the hopes stakes were down
Until Kp came into Town!
'Sing it Petey!

by Dheepan on Jul 10, 2008 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh and do you guys even have a backup center?

Even though DeAndre Jordan is a raw prospect, getting him at 27 would have been a steal. He would at least provide some relief for Tyson.

by Dheepan on Jul 10, 2008 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Eh

For the upcoming year, I’d say Hilton Armstrong is just as serviceable as Jordan. Obviously that could change in a few years. Of course, I’m still not sold on Hilton. Tyson needs some relief in the worst way, and it doesn’t look like this free agent market can provide any.

by Rohan on Jul 10, 2008 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions

We sold it

because 3 million dollars is a tidy sum for a small-market team. Despite all our success this year, New Orleans is still a pretty small NBA market, even smaller than our old home Charlotte I believe. So every penny helps.

by Rohan on Jul 10, 2008 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I would offer the MLE to Childress

And see if the Hawks match. I doubt that they would match both Childress AND Smith.

Childress is a very efficient player who plays great defense. He also comes with his amazing afro. He’s not the deepball threat that I think the hornets would like to have from their starting SF, but him and Julian Wright would make a great tandem coming off the bench. Besides Peja isn’t getting any younger.

Although I’m not sure about one thing, is Julian Wright a SF, or a SG? I thought he was a small forward?

Oh and for backup PG how about Jason Williams of the heat? He’s old but he would be cheap and he’s pretty solid. This is of course if all else fails but still.

by Dheepan on Jul 10, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply actions

Good point on the Childress/Smith

At this point I’d still rather have Azubuike over Childress though (floor-spacing, mostly). But Childress would still be a great pickup.

Wright’s definitely a SF. Coming into the year, I thought he was potentially a swing-man, but if he can fill out his frame and bulk up a bit, he’ll end up a 3.

I’d say definite no on Williams. He doesn’t bring much over Pargo or Mike James and as you say, he’s on the decline. On top of all that, he made almost 9 million dollars last year. He def won’t make that much this year, but he’ll be expensive compared to Pargo. At the end of the day, I still hope that the Hornets don’t re-sign Pargo and hand James the backup job. Then pick up any really cheap FA as the 3rd string.

Thanks for all the input dheepan! That was some good stuff.

by Rohan on Jul 10, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

What about Gordon?

I heard we were interested in landing Ben Gordon (with a sign and trade). I would rather not add another streaky jump shooter, he would give us a little more depth… provided that we don’t sell too much of the farm to get him. I’d rather us attempt a sign and trade for a solid big man.

Also, I posted something yesterday on HH advocating that we go after Childress, but I had totally forgotten about Azubuike. Good call on that one. He’s not the hot commodity that Childress is despite the fact that his ceiling is pretty similar.

http:///www.hometownhornets.blogspot.com

by hldomingue on Jul 11, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

Where'd you hear that?

I would be absolutely thrilled if New Orleans got Gordon. He’d be the perfect 6th man if he could revert back to 2006-2007 form. It’s interesting that Gordon turned down a 5 year/50 million contract last summer. He clearly thinks of himself as a ~15 mil. kind of player, but his current contract is still sub-5 mil. So the dollars in a sign and trade could be anywhere from 6-8 mil. to really high.

Sign and trade for a big man would be better like you say. But who’s available? I highly doubt the Warriors part with Biedrins and everyone else (ie Okafor) is too expensive.

by Rohan on Jul 12, 2008 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions