OT: Bobcats make offer to Landry

[Irish]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3607511

Bobcats make 'big' move, extend Landry offer sheet

ESPN.com news services

Updated: September 24, 2008, 7:54 PM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats moved to bolster their thin frontcourt Wednesday, signing Houston Rockets restricted free-agent forward Carl Landry to a three-year, $9 million offer sheet.
ESPN Insider's Chad Ford reports that Landry would receive $3 million in each of the three years. However, the Bobcats have a team option on Landry's last season.

The Rockets have a week to decide whether to match the offer or lose Landry to Charlotte.

The 6-foot-9, 248-pound Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games for the Rockets as a rookie last season. Houston extended him a qualifying offer, but the two sides have not been able to reach a deal.

The Bobcats have been looking for another big man to complement Emeka Okafor, Nazr Mohammed and rookie Alexis Ajinca before they open training camp next week.

"We saw an opportunity to possibly get a guy that can play both big spots, probably more so the power forward," general manager Rod Higgins said. "He's versatile enough to play the center position in a pinch."

Landry played in college at Purdue. He was drafted by Seattle in the second-round last year, then sent to the Rockets in a deal involving draft picks and cash.

Landry's playing time increased late last season after Rockets center Yao Ming was lost to injury. He scored 22 points in a game at Indiana and was voted to the all-rookie second team.

"It's a shot at improvement," Higgins said. "The clock start now to see if we indeed get the opportunity."
The Rockets have much more depth than Charlotte up front and are also approaching the luxury tax, which could affect their decision whether to match the offer.

It's the second time in a year the Bobcats have tried to get a restricted free agent from another team. In December, Cleveland matched Charlotte's three-year, $17 million deal for forward Anderson Varejao.

The Bobcats open training camp under new coach Larry Brown on Tuesday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

In other articles it is speculated that the Rockets are concerned about Landry's knee. If they let him go, it will be a loss for them; but to match puts them into luxury tax.

 

[nowagimp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3607511



In other articles it is speculated that the Rockets are concerned about Landry's knee. If they let him go, it will be a loss for them; but to match pusses them into luxury tax.

I am all for anything that weakens the rockets and Landry was a real thorn in the side. The kid can play both O and D, and at 60% the cost of marcus banks money, a very effective backup PF. Larry Brown is probably salivating at the prospect of getting him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I've read elsewhere the Rockets will undoubtedly match as a foregone conclusion. Needless to say, I'd like the Rockets not to match from a Suns perspective.

 

[Irish]

I've read elsewhere the Rockets will undoubtedly match as a foregone conclusion. Needless to say, I'd like the Rockets not to match from a Suns perspective.

You are probably right, but this seems to be a lot more than they were counting on. Hoopeshype has them at over $73 million before matching Landry.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6021605.html

With next week’s start of training camp bearing down, Landry on Wednesday signed an offer sheet for a contract worth $9 million over three seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats. The last season of the contract is at the team’s option. If the Rockets wish to retain Landry, they have up to one week from the receipt of the offer sheet to match the proposal.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey did not comment about the offer or the Rockets’ plans.

Morey had said since the end of last season that he would match any offer Landry received up to the value of the mid-level exception. He avoided spending that salary-cap exception, keeping it to retain Landry and to sign this year’s second-round pick, Joey Dorsey.

The offer sheet Landry received with the Bobcats will not prevent the Rockets from retaining him or signing Dorsey, but Landry’s contract would push the Rockets’ player payroll past the luxury-tax threshold unless they make cost-cutting moves.


The threat of the luxury tax is not expected to be the determining factor in the Rockets’ decision. They had expressed concern with Landry’s right knee, asking him to undergo more complete and invasive medical testing and potentially giving them reason to balk at matching the Bobcats’ offer.

They did, however, eventually make an offer worth roughly $5.4 million over three seasons, which would indicate the threat of paying the luxury tax might not drive the decision. The Rockets began each of the past two seasons past the tax line, though midseason trades prevented them from having to pay a luxury tax.


Complicating matters


Signing center Dikembe Mutombo could be complicated by Landry’s offer, though Mutombo could choose to wait to see how the Rockets’ roster shakes out before signing.


Landry, acquired on a draft-night deal with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007, averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games as a rookie. He made 61.6 percent of his shots and was an NBA All-Rookie second-team selection. He helped seal a Rockets playoff win with a last-second blocked shot and rebound at Utah.


“Landry is an emerging NBA talent, as evidenced by his play over the final 42 regular-season games and into the Rockets’ first-round playoff appearance,” Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said. “His ability to play both the power forward and center position will complement our post play.”


While the Bobcats bet that the Rockets’ luxury-tax issue will prevent them from matching the offer sheet, Landry’s agent, Buddy Baker, said Landry would be happy to return to the Rockets should they choose to match the offer.


Knee said to be OK


Baker added that Landry’s knee is sound and that he will report to camp in better shape than at the start of last season, when his quickness and leaping ability earned him playing time ahead of the Rockets’ anticipated schedule.


“He feels great about the Bobcats’ situation and is excited about it but has no ill feelings at all with the Rockets,” Baker said. “Carl understands the process. Charlotte has a great young team and a Hall of Fame coach (Larry Brown). But he feels like Houston is a championship-caliber team.

“If the Rockets choose to match it, he would be equally confident and excited about playing for the Rockets. If they don’t match it, he will go to a great situation to play for an incredible coach and with an emerging team.


“The business part that he can control is over. We’ll see how it plays out.”

 

[LV-Suns]

Rockets matched the offer. This could mean DJ Strawberry wont be on their roster next year.

 

[Shzm13]

Thats a steal for Landry. He's a very solid player off the bench