2012 NBA Off-Season Thread

[Matt]

Wizards possible to Amnesty Andray Blatche

According to the Washington Post's Michael Lee, following the recent trade that sentRashard Lewis to the New Orleans Hornets for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, theWashington Wizards will be on the hook for about $62 million next season.The salary cap is expected to be about $58 million, which means that the Wiz would be forced to pay the exorbitant luxury tax under the new CBA. With that in mind, Lee speculates that Andray Blatche could be a candidate to be released under the amnesty clause.
Under his current contract, Blatche is owed a little more than $23 million over the next three seasons. He battled injuries the past two seasons, which has limited his production. But questions still remain about whether he's capable of consistently posting great numbers like he did during the 2010-11 campaign (16.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.5 spg, 0.8 bpg) when he averaged 33 minutes per game or whether he's really just an unfocused reserve who can only help in small bursts.
Now that the Wiz have the likes of Okafor, Nene, Jan Vesely, Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Bookerin their frontcourt, there's little doubt that Blatche is expendable.

[Matt]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/sports/basketball/jeremy-lin-granted-early-bird-rights.html?_r=1&smid=tw-share

An arbitrator has granted Jeremy Lin his so-called early-Bird rights, which will give the Knicks much greater latitude in free agency on July 1, according to a person who was informed of the ruling. The arbitrator, Kenneth Dam, issued his ruling Friday, siding with the National Basketball Players Association, which challenged the N.B.A.’s interpretation of the rules under the collective bargaining agreement. Dam handed the union a complete victory in the ruling. The ruling means that both Lin and Steve Novak of the Knicks will be able to re-sign with the team without respect to the salary cap, for a starting salary around $5 million each. Just as critically, it means that the Knicks will not need to use their midlevel exception to sign either player, which will allow them to use that slot for another free agent. The ruling — which applies to any player who was claimed off waivers — also affects Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers and J. J. Hickson of the Portland Trail Blazers. Billups and Hickson will now have full Bird rights, allowing them to re-sign with their teams for any amount up to the maximum salary.

[Matt]

Raymond Felton done in Portland http://www2.scnow.com/sports/2012/jun/21/latta-native-felton-hosts-annual-basketball-camp-ar-4010993/ Felton is a free agent in the NBA. He played this season with Portland, but has been with four teams in the last three years. Ultimately, he hopes to end up in a system that fits his abilities. “It’s big and it’s major in the NBA – no question about that,” he said. “I see a lot of guys who are great basketball players get into the wrong system and you never hear about them again. So I think that’s the biggest thing. But with me being a hard worker and me having the knowledge that I have of the game, I can go pretty much anywhere and play any type of system.” Felton said the ideal system for him would be similar to the fast-paced style the New York Knicks used when he was with the team two years ago. New York is among the places he says he could end up next season. He says Portland also is still in the mix along with Phoenix and New Jersey. “You’ve got a lot of teams, you know, different things that can happen,” Felton said. “So we’ll see what happens. You’ve got the draft coming up, and a lot of crazy things can happen during free agency – that’s just the way of the business.”

[Matt]

Thunder To Consider Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy If Extension Talks With Brooks Collapse

Scott Brooks and the Thunder are still working on a contract extension. Brooks' contract expires on July 1st.

Sources told ESPN.com this week that the Thunder have offered Brooks an annual salary "north of $4 million."
Sources say the front office has brainstormed internally about possible replacements in case talks collapse. Jeff Van Gundy and Phil Jackson have been mentioned.

Read more:http://basketball.realgm.com/news#ixzz1yZgO9UFP

[BiggaAdams]

Raymond Felton done in Portland http://www2.scnow.com/sports/2012/jun/21/latta-native-felton-hosts-annual-basketball-camp-ar-4010993/

Thank god. Biggest piece of shit. McFelton was most hated Blazer this year.

[Matt]

Jason Terry, O.J. Mayo and Ray Allen top the Knicks’ free-agent wish list for shooting guards. Allen wants a big offer, of course, but he’ll also favor the team that shows him the most love when it comes knocking on his door on July 1. Looks like the Knicks, who don’t have a lot of money to offer Allen, will have to out wine-and-dine the Bulls and Heat ... Dallas thinks it’s 70-30 that Deron Williams will decide to re-sign with Brooklyn. Before you think that’s great news for the Nets, the Mavs haven’t given up on pursuing their favorite free-agent point guard.


The Bulls want to give Omer Asik and Taj Gibson new deals, so they’re exploring ways to trade Luol Deng and/or Joakim Noah to teams that can send them a trade exception and a No. 1 pick

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz1yfX94JSC

[1ke]

What exactly is a trade exception?

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[A Tasty Burgerr]

If they give away more salary than they acquire the difference is the "trade exception" which they can trade on its own in a different trade. Pretty much saves the same purpose as an expiring-contract throw in, and I think you only have a year to use it.

[EmpireWF]

Rockets are trying to get Andre Drummond, trading up from their two picks in the teens....but the latest rumor is they're trying to trade for Dwight Howard.

[SuperKevin]

As much as I hate Andray Blatche, I would prefer the Wizards keep him. He's the only "post" player the Wizards have with any form of offensive skills.

[EmpireWF]

JR Smith will decline his option with the Knicks but talk is he will sign a long term extension.

What the fuck?

[Matt]

JR Smith will decline his option with the Knicks but talk is he will sign a long term extension.

What the fuck?

They can give him 125% raise on the contract. Smart decision.

[Argath]

As much as I hate Andray Blatche, I would prefer the Wizards keep him. He's the only "post" player the Wizards have with any form of offensive skills.

Uhhhh....... We traded for these 2 guys.. Okafor and Nene? Maybe you've heard of them?

Cause we brought them in to help solve that problem.

[ralaw]

Nene, yes.....Okafor not so much. Blatche is by far a more talented offensive player than both. However, his head ain't right.

[Argath]

Nene, yes.....Okafor not so much. Blatche is by far a more talented offensive player than both. However, his head ain't right.

Depends which Blatche comes out to play. I wouldn't say he's far more talented than Nene on the block and his jumpshot is shaky at best. Blatche is a 4 who wishes he was a 2. The only problem is he's too inconsistent. He'll come out one night and put up 30 and 10 and then put up 4 and 4 in the next 6 games and then come out with another huge game. It's cause he floats outside too much, the entire team hates when he does it cause it fucks with the spacing of everyone on the floor. Doesn't matter anyways though, Wizards are gonna amnesty him and be done with it. I wonder which team is going to take a risk and pick him up