We may be getting a center and Q according to FOX

[Joe Mama]

People, I can't believe nobody has pointed out the biggest problem with this trade. If this is how they actually think it would happen look at what Houston is doing. They are trading a second-round draft pick and taking back Howard Eiseley and his contract. That is flat-out absurd. It doesn't matter whether he is needed or not. He is clearly a horrible contract. No team, even if they are desperate for a point guard, is going to take him without getting something in return. They certainly aren't going to give up a draft pick and also help a competitor in the conference along the way.

If the Houston Rockets really wanted Howard Eiseley they could just trade a future second-round draft pick and their trade exception straight across for him. They certainly wouldn't want to or need to help the Suns get a center.

Now, if this proposed deal had the Phoenix Suns giving the Houston Rockets Chicago's draft pick and $3 million cash I would say it makes more sense.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't know how big the Rocket's trade exemption is. If it is $6.2 million then there is no need to do anything but a straight up deal. But if it is only $3 million, then it would not be enough. Does any one have the exact amount?

Separate question. If Q is matched, would Jacobsen for Mihm make sense?

 

[coloradosun]

Since Chris Mihm is a RFA if this trade actually does happen does Phoenix have any say in what kind of contract he gets or is this all done in Bostons side?

He can sign the qualifying offer and then be traded.

I did read somewhere that the Rockets want to limit the amount they spend on a point guard to 6M and with a minimum of 2 years left on his contract. When I read that I immediately thought of Eisley. I think it will happen.

 

[AmareFan]

You're all wrong...we will get Magloire in a trade deal..come August 5th.

 

[coloradosun]

You're all wrong...we will get Magloire in a trade deal..come August 5th.

I've been in your shoes and thought we were going to get Ratliff. We will not get Magloire.

 

[carey]

You're all wrong...we will get Magloire in a trade deal..come August 5th.

If you say it enough times it will happen.

 

[sunsfn]

You're all wrong...we will get Magloire in a trade deal..come August 5th.

I have seen you post this a few times........how can this happen? Magloire was an all-star last year, "WHY" would anyone trade him with the problem of replacing him with a competent center??

 

[elindholm]

You're all wrong...we will get Magloire in a trade deal..come August 5th.

Dude, this isn't junior high school. If you want to make an outlandish prediction, fine, but don't just keep repeating it over and over. We get it.

 

[cly2tw]

Houston will likely send Weatherspoon our way in that trade. I guess Mihm for 2 mil + Weatherspoon for CJ and Eisley for the Suns.

as to the Clips not matching, maybe there is some clause in the contract that they really hate and thus will decline in the end.

 

[scotsman13]

as to the Clips not matching, maybe there is some clause in the contract that they really hate and thus will decline in the end.

yea since it is sterling it is the part where he (q) is getting money.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

It is an interesting deal. I really think Casey will turn into a nice player in the next year or two, but if we can loose Eisley and pick up a young center in return, that is just to good to be true.

 

[fordronken]

One promising reality, however, is that the Rockets really could use Eisley, if the Suns can make it worth their while. Unless I'm missing someone, their only point guard right now is Tyronn Lue, who isn't a whole lot better. I won't trouble everyone with my Juwan Howard dreams again, but I do think there is some hope that the Suns could pawn Eisley off on the Rockets while simultaneously improving the team.

Has anyone heard anything about how Reece Gaines has been doing in summer leagues, or if the coaching staff has any confidence in him?

 

[cly2tw]

Actually, if we get only Mihm back for Eisley through Houston, we'll get a big trade exception that can be really handy later on.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The contract put Clips in a situation where all the the money upfront would only allow them a mle.

This is your first clue that the report is bogus. The Suns have only about $6 million to work with. No matter how Richardson's contract is structured, if he's a $6 million cap hit to Phoenix, he'd be a $6 million cap hit to the Clippers. It's as simple as that.

Reports from the league office say that the Nash deal starts at about 8.8 mil per year. The Suns reportedly had around 16.2 at the start of free agency but the cap came in slighly lower. So, I think they ended up with somewhere around 15.8. That means that Q's first year offer is somewhere around 7 million.

The Clips have 13.2 available (heard this from a Clips exec on the radio last week). Subtract 7 from that and you've got 6.2. Very close to mid-level money. Probably close enough that most free agents would choose a mle offer from most anyone else over 6.2 from the Clips, just because they are--well--the Clips.

Its a stretch, but it is possible that this reasoning is sound.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The cap was 2 million less than the Suns predicted, not 500k.

MLE money is just under 5 million this year I think.

Anyways, it is kind of close. Most DJ's throw terms like MLE around as a general thing. I don't think it takes to much away from the integrity of the rumor. Remember, Gambo and Ash get some rumors out before anyone else, and they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

 

[George O'Brien]

Sometimes reporters confuse cap space with money. In most cases this is not a problem. Increasing cap space by $2 million is the same as saving $2 million dollars. But there are some major exceptions. Front loaded bonuses are the primary example.

Just as an example, let's assume that there is a $12 million signing bonus on the Richardson deal. (For simplicity sake, I'll ignore growth rates and inferred interest.) This amount could be spread out over six years in cap hit at $2 million a year. So if the based salary started at $3.5 million, the first year cap hit would be $5.5 million. but the cash required would be $15.5 million ($3.5 base plus the $12 million in bonuses.

A team that is cash poor may not want to use its cash that way. This is a business decision rather than a basketball one, but it can certainly effect owners like Sterling.

 

[Michael]

I would love that to happen!

Getting a big man who still has some upside, losing Eisley, signing Q and keeping Shawn - perfect!

 

[slinslin]

We don't need Mihm. Maybe he is better than Lampe but if it is not by much and not for long.

I wouldn't give up Casey to get Mihm..

 

[George O'Brien]

We don't need Mihm. Maybe he is better than Lampe but if it is not by much and not for long.

I wouldn't give up Casey to get Mihm..

The report makes it appear that the deal is contingent on the Suns getting Q. If that is the case, there won't be many minutes available for Jacobsen. He would be the third SG and the third SF (at best).

Mihm would not be a "great" pickup, but his stats suggest he can be contribute. On a team with a rookie and a second year guy with only 225 minutes of NBA experience, Mihm could be very useful

One odd thing about the process is the assumption that the Suns would try to get Mihm to sign an extension off the RFA. However, it might actually be smarter not to, if the deal is structured the way it was described.

Why not just keep Mihm for one season? He would become an unresticted free agent next season and the Suns would keep his Bird rights if he produces. If there are better options next season, then they would get his $3.9 million off the cap, Eisley's second year off the cap, and Jacobsen off the cap -- all without giving up the Chicago pick.

Of course since Mihm would be an RFA, if some other team did want to sign him this year, it would mean the Suns got and extra $3.4 million in trade exemption and $4 million in cap space THIS year.

 

[SweetD]

One odd thing about the process is the assumption that the Suns would try to get Mihm to sign an extension off the RFA. However, it might actually be smarter not to, if the deal is structured the way it was described.

The only problem is that player like Foyle, Thomas, Okur, and others got much bigger offers that expected. I the they can get an extention for a little bit more than what he is getting now a year it would be worth it instead of letting him test the market next year to bump up his salary all it would take is Atlanta or someone else to jack everything up.

 

[elindholm]

I'm pretty sure that there are significant restrictions on trading players who are on their one-year qualifying contracts. It's either impossible or close to impossible. This came up frequently with Olowokandi during his last year with the Clippers.

 

[Gaddabout]

Boston is trying to unload players, particularly from their backcourt. They have 15 on their roster including Mihm. They want big guys just like everyone else. I can't see them taking on Casey Jacobsen at this point.

From the Boston Herald:

The Celtics won't be convening again until training camp. In the meantime, Danny Ainge will be trying to loosen up the roster a bit. The club will have 15 guaranteed contracts if Chris Mihm remains. Ainge is aware of the congestion.
``We have a logjam on the perimeter,'' he said, ``so I have to try to do something to alleviate that. If I can trade small for big, that could help us. But a logjam's not all bad. We should have some good competition, and that should help us.''

 

[SweetD]

Did Boston even make a qualifing offer? If we traded Howard in the deal we would have to take back some more salary or if they sign him to a deal there will be a trade kicker.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Boston is trying to unload players, particularly from their backcourt. They have 15 on their roster including Mihm. They want big guys just like everyone else. I can't see them taking on Casey Jacobsen at this point.

From the Boston Herald:

i think Gad's quote just about kills this idea.

 

[George O'Brien]

Actually they simply have too many players, big and small. This is one the problems with having three first round picks.

Paul Pierce
Ricky Davis
Chucky Atkins
Mark Blount
Jiri Welsch
Walter McCarty
Raef LaFrentz
Chris Mihm
Marcus Banks
Brandon Hunter
Jumaine Jones
Kendrick Perkins
Michael Stewart
Al Jefferson
Tony Allen
Delonte West
(HoopsHype also lists someone named Ernest Brown)

My conclusion is that the deal would have to involve the Suns taking some contracts along with Mihm.

On possibility is Jermaine Jones who played terrible for the Celtics but actually had OK numbers with the Cavs. 6'8" 218. $1.7 million this season and $1.9 next year.

2001-02 8.3 ppg and 6 rpg in 26.4 minutes 44.8% shooting
2002-03 9.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 27.6 minutes 43.4% shooting