LkrFan
10-02-2011, 07:18 AM
Notable teams and who they are recommending to be amnestied:
L.A. LAKERS
Abrams: Luke Walton. It's too bad they can't use the clause on a two-for-one deal to extract both Metta World Peace and Ron Artest. Even though Artest's Lakers career probably peaked during his first playoff run with the team, they still probably need an invested Artest to regain their title hopes. Walton does not really contribute on the court anymore and is due $11.5 million over the next two seasons.
Simmons: Respectfully disagree. Artest looked washed up last season; he's owed more money ($21.8 million through 2014) than Walton; his wife is starring on Basketball Wives; and … wait, I'm forgetting something … hold on … oh, yeah, he just changed his name to Metta World Peace!!! Really, they're not cutting the cord with Metta? Besides, he already paid off that contract with that soul-crushing 3 in the last minute of Game 7 of the 2010 Finals that never should have gone in under any circumstances and somehow did. I can still see it when I close my eyes every night. (Abrams is a Lakers fan, he's cackling right now. I hate everybody.)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Abrams: So long, Richard Jefferson. He's set to make $9.3 million, $10.1 million, and $11 million over the next three years.
Simmons: And even after they dump him, they're still at $66.2 million for 14 guys next year. If there's a hard cap, or even a semi-flaccid cap, they're still screwed unless they can turn Tony Parker ($50 million through 2015) into a significantly cheaper point guard (like Ricky Rubio or Kyle Lowry). I think it's fascinating that (a) Spurs owner Peter Holt has the most juice of any owner in this lockout, (b) the owners are pushing for a hard cap, and (c) no 2011-12 team would be more screwed over by a hard cap than the Spurs.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Abrams: Would you want to pay Brendan Haywood $45.4 million through 2016? Me neither. Ian Mahinmi can supply what Haywood did — for about $7 million less a year.
Simmons: Good call. Only one way this doesn't happen: If Dallas can't re-sign Tyson Chandler. Do you realize that one of us has suggested a combined total of THIRTEEN amnesty guys who were signed or extended in the summer of 2010? Jermaine O'Neal, Linas Kleiza, Carlos Boozer, Travis Outlaw, Josh Childress, David Lee, Mike Miller, Ryan Gomes, Darko Milicic, Richard Jefferson, Drew Gooden, Al Harrington and Brendan Haywood. The owners' complaining about player salaries being too high is like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills complaining about being in the public eye. It makes no sense. I'm starting to get bitter again, Abrams.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Abrams: Pick one — Gilbert Arenas ($62.4 million through 2014) or Hedo Turkoglu ($34.5 million through 2014). Both have underperformed (and then some), but Otis Smith has a longstanding relationship with Arenas that dates back to their days together in Oakland. My take: They need to shed Arenas to give Dwight Howard extra help.
Simmons: Agreed — has to be Arenas. Although it's a shame Hedo is going to escape Amnesty 2.0's wrath; few deserve the indignity more than him. Lemme throw this idea at you: What if the Magic amnesty'd Arenas, then traded Hedo and J.J. Redick to Atlanta for Joe Johnson? That's the best possible teammate out there for Dwight Howard; meanwhile, Atlanta could use the clause on Hedo (wiping $11.1 million off their 2012 cap) and turn Johnson ($107.3 million remaining through 2016) into Redick ($12.9 million through 2013) while dropping their 2012 cap from $66.56 to $55.3 million. I'm a genius. How am I not running a team, Abrams?
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Abrams: Trevor Ariza. Freeing themselves of Emeka Okafor's contract ($40.5 million through 2014) makes sense, but the Hornets need an inside presence (especially if David West is lost whenever free agency commences). Ariza has $21.8 million remaining through 2013-14, and you can replace swingmen pretty easily.
Simmons: I can't believe I'm saying this … but I think Okafor is fairly paid. Isn't $12 million a year market value for a starting center who defends the rim and grabs 10 boards a game? Anyway, I liked watching last year's Hornets team — I'd rather see them bring their core guys back; use their amnesty on David Andersen (our most random amnesty guy: He's owed $2.7 million this season); use the extra cap room (they'd be at $43.4 million post-Andersen) to either to re-sign West, splurge for a rebounder (Kris Humphries?) or target two cheaper veterans (Andrei Kirilenko and Kenyon Martin?); then tell Chris Paul, "Re-sign with us, let's make a run at the title here. We're close. We could be this year's Dallas."
(Important note: I don't have a Plan B if Paul shakes his head and responds, "Um, we don't have an owner.")
LINK (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7026680/welcome-amnesty-20-nba)
I'll go on record to say that if Hornets amnesty Ariza, I want him back in LA. Bye bye Luke Walton.
L.A. LAKERS
Abrams: Luke Walton. It's too bad they can't use the clause on a two-for-one deal to extract both Metta World Peace and Ron Artest. Even though Artest's Lakers career probably peaked during his first playoff run with the team, they still probably need an invested Artest to regain their title hopes. Walton does not really contribute on the court anymore and is due $11.5 million over the next two seasons.
Simmons: Respectfully disagree. Artest looked washed up last season; he's owed more money ($21.8 million through 2014) than Walton; his wife is starring on Basketball Wives; and … wait, I'm forgetting something … hold on … oh, yeah, he just changed his name to Metta World Peace!!! Really, they're not cutting the cord with Metta? Besides, he already paid off that contract with that soul-crushing 3 in the last minute of Game 7 of the 2010 Finals that never should have gone in under any circumstances and somehow did. I can still see it when I close my eyes every night. (Abrams is a Lakers fan, he's cackling right now. I hate everybody.)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Abrams: So long, Richard Jefferson. He's set to make $9.3 million, $10.1 million, and $11 million over the next three years.
Simmons: And even after they dump him, they're still at $66.2 million for 14 guys next year. If there's a hard cap, or even a semi-flaccid cap, they're still screwed unless they can turn Tony Parker ($50 million through 2015) into a significantly cheaper point guard (like Ricky Rubio or Kyle Lowry). I think it's fascinating that (a) Spurs owner Peter Holt has the most juice of any owner in this lockout, (b) the owners are pushing for a hard cap, and (c) no 2011-12 team would be more screwed over by a hard cap than the Spurs.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Abrams: Would you want to pay Brendan Haywood $45.4 million through 2016? Me neither. Ian Mahinmi can supply what Haywood did — for about $7 million less a year.
Simmons: Good call. Only one way this doesn't happen: If Dallas can't re-sign Tyson Chandler. Do you realize that one of us has suggested a combined total of THIRTEEN amnesty guys who were signed or extended in the summer of 2010? Jermaine O'Neal, Linas Kleiza, Carlos Boozer, Travis Outlaw, Josh Childress, David Lee, Mike Miller, Ryan Gomes, Darko Milicic, Richard Jefferson, Drew Gooden, Al Harrington and Brendan Haywood. The owners' complaining about player salaries being too high is like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills complaining about being in the public eye. It makes no sense. I'm starting to get bitter again, Abrams.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Abrams: Pick one — Gilbert Arenas ($62.4 million through 2014) or Hedo Turkoglu ($34.5 million through 2014). Both have underperformed (and then some), but Otis Smith has a longstanding relationship with Arenas that dates back to their days together in Oakland. My take: They need to shed Arenas to give Dwight Howard extra help.
Simmons: Agreed — has to be Arenas. Although it's a shame Hedo is going to escape Amnesty 2.0's wrath; few deserve the indignity more than him. Lemme throw this idea at you: What if the Magic amnesty'd Arenas, then traded Hedo and J.J. Redick to Atlanta for Joe Johnson? That's the best possible teammate out there for Dwight Howard; meanwhile, Atlanta could use the clause on Hedo (wiping $11.1 million off their 2012 cap) and turn Johnson ($107.3 million remaining through 2016) into Redick ($12.9 million through 2013) while dropping their 2012 cap from $66.56 to $55.3 million. I'm a genius. How am I not running a team, Abrams?
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Abrams: Trevor Ariza. Freeing themselves of Emeka Okafor's contract ($40.5 million through 2014) makes sense, but the Hornets need an inside presence (especially if David West is lost whenever free agency commences). Ariza has $21.8 million remaining through 2013-14, and you can replace swingmen pretty easily.
Simmons: I can't believe I'm saying this … but I think Okafor is fairly paid. Isn't $12 million a year market value for a starting center who defends the rim and grabs 10 boards a game? Anyway, I liked watching last year's Hornets team — I'd rather see them bring their core guys back; use their amnesty on David Andersen (our most random amnesty guy: He's owed $2.7 million this season); use the extra cap room (they'd be at $43.4 million post-Andersen) to either to re-sign West, splurge for a rebounder (Kris Humphries?) or target two cheaper veterans (Andrei Kirilenko and Kenyon Martin?); then tell Chris Paul, "Re-sign with us, let's make a run at the title here. We're close. We could be this year's Dallas."
(Important note: I don't have a Plan B if Paul shakes his head and responds, "Um, we don't have an owner.")
LINK (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7026680/welcome-amnesty-20-nba)
I'll go on record to say that if Hornets amnesty Ariza, I want him back in LA. Bye bye Luke Walton.