It all comes down to just how badly Chicago wants him, tbh. If they're willing to give up assets for him or amnesty Boozer, then there isn't much we can do about it. If they're like us and just want to use their MLE, then he comes to San Antonio.
No point in getting all excited anymore, it was fun last night, but now it's just annoying. lol
The other problem with Chicago using the MLE is how that jives with the reports that they were close to a deal to bring over Mirotic. The presumption has been that he would get paid out of the MLE (same situation as Splitter, 1st round pick that waited three years and won't sign for the rookie scale).
35mil yesterday.
8mil for Lin.
9mil for Hill.
5mil for Swaggy.
That leaves them just a little over 5 mil on cap space. MLE anyone.
Who would the Spurs rather have...
Diaw by a mile.
End of that comparison.
Not any more. With renouncing Gasol (amongst other things) LA had about 24-26M in cap space. They signed Lin for 8M, Jordan Hill for 9M and Young for 5M. That is 22 of their 26M (for sake of high end). Leaves them with only 4M left (but very likely its more like 2M). They don't have any cap space to sign Gasol for the sign part of the S&T.
In order to do that, they have a few options (none of which have been reported): Stretch Nash. That gives them about 5M more to work with in cap space for a new total of 7-9M. That would get Pau more than the MLE and make sense in him choosing CHI (if reports are true that he only chooses there for more money in a S&T).
The second option is to renege on some of the deals before to get the cap space. There are a few other really complex options, but nothing at all has been reported at this point.
What other teams have the cap room and conceivably have the need for a big? (Other than those reportedly interested to date)
non gasol related
None except the Suns. But they are they are pursuing other options right now.
4 Duncan
5 Gasol
Bench
4 Diaw
4 Daye
5 Splitter
Atlanta?
Great point. Basically, S&T is the only option and that seems incredibly unlikely at this point because 1) Nothing has been reported which would physically allow for that to happen & 2) It's really complex between these two teams because of LA's cap situation and assets going back and forth.
If CHI really wants him, they obviously have the means to get him, but their own self-imposed logic/limitations appear to be real. They don't appear ready to amnesty Boozer effectively paying Pau 16M + his new contract for one player. They don't appear to be willing to use the MLE on Pau because that would mean it would cost them Mirotic.
A S&T appears to be the only real option and that means CHI has to talk LA into stretching Nash and taking that hit on their cap next year and beyond (for which they would want to be compensated for) OR talking LA into reneging on the other moves (Lin - for which they got a first round pick so not happening / Hill and/or Young - which would look really bad on them business wise).
Other than that, LA would have to do some incredible maneuvering in the timing/structure of each individual deal in order for a S&T to be possible.
There was a report last night that Atlanta made a lucrative offer.
You're full blown re ed if you think Nick Van Exel and Stoudamire were "big name FA" when they signed with the Spurs.
Van Exel was so "coveted" he signed with the Spurs for $1MM. Stoudamire was so coveted he signed for $500,000. Aside from maybe Boris, none of the names on the list you provided were anything near their primes when they signed with the Spurs. Boris signed with the Spurs because of Tony.
The Spurs have had money available and not been able to lure big names. Rasho Nesterovic was the best the Spurs could do with cap space in '03.
Gasol/Duncan pairing would suck at defending PnR especially with agile bigs.
The longer that drags out, the more I just hope Gasol doesn't go to HOU/OKC.
I wanted our team to stay pad and thats where we are (hense SloMo and maybe another young prospect signing and Bonner leaving).
Fantastic offseason!
Wow I go to bed and theres 27 more pages??
This. They'll need to limit that pairing on the floor if Pau ends up here.
The real key is if Pau himself is willing to choose CHI over SA for the MLE. If that is the case, it's really likely no matter what has been reported (or what we think) they get him.
At the end of the day, if signing Pau for the MLE means they can't bring over Mirotic (for one more year possibly - logically it means more probably) they probably go that route vs giving up more assets to work a S&T if that's what it boils down to. It all hinges on Pau's willingness to choose CHI over SA apples-to-apples.
Houston have any cap space, assuming they match the offer sheet for Parsons (or before)?
Near max cap space before matching Parsons, less than MLE-sized chunk after.
I'm beginning to think the Gasol camp has used SA from the jump as leverage with the Bulls to get a deal done that pays him more money. I think they have floated rumor after rumor, tweet after tweet of his imminent signing with SA to spook LA and Chicago into getting a deal done. He's a European, has played in all the big European cites, played in LA and I think his preference is to go to Chicago, or even the NYK after Melo announces. I think SA is third on Gasol's list at the MLE. He and his agent will fully exhaust working LAL, Chicago and NYK before conceding and signing with the SAS. He is 34, at the end of his career and is looking for as much money as possible with a good team and situation.
There's your compe ion then if Chicago falls through for Gasol.
I hate how these "reporters" only do enough work to say generic things without actually reporting on the "how".
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