OT: Report: Chris Paul will not take a pay cut to re-sign with Rockets

[Killakobe81]

Dame, Wall, Kyrie, Lamarcus etc are all max players too because of market value but are a notch below the above guys

[DAF86]

Declining stars get paid. It happens. That’s just the way it is. That’s how teams keep or acquire stars. If you don’t pay a star, another team will. It happened with Hakeem. He was getting what at the time was essentially max money three years after he had fallen off. Stars get paid, declining stars get paid. Just because you want your team to go cheap, it doesn’t mean a star player should give you a discount. Why should Chris Paul do that when the vast majority of stars don’t? Duncan and Dirk are exceptions.

And you severly underrate Capela’s value. It’s not only rebounding or finishing around the rim. Capela is the main reason the Rockets were able to switch everything, particularly in the playoffs against better teams. He could play perimeter scorers up all the way to the three point line and still stay in front on drives. And he still provided help defense. You’re not just going to easily replace that. You need to find a Kevin Garnett in his prime type of big man defender... as if Bogut or any cheap big could do what Capela did for Houston’s team defense.

Your evaluation of Capela’s value is not realistic.

Dwayne Dedmon could be a decent Capela replacement.

[Caltex2]

Declining stars get paid. It happens. That’s just the way it is. That’s how teams keep or acquire stars. If you don’t pay a star, another team will. It happened with Hakeem. He was getting what at the time was essentially max money three years after he had fallen off. Stars get paid, declining stars get paid. Just because you want your team to go cheap, it doesn’t mean a star player should give you a discount. Why should Chris Paul do that when the vast majority of stars don’t? Duncan and Dirk are exceptions.

And you severly underrate Capela’s value. It’s not only rebounding or finishing around the rim. Capela is the main reason the Rockets were able to switch everything, particularly in the playoffs against better teams. He could play perimeter scorers up all the way to the three point line and still stay in front on drives. And he still provided help defense. You’re not just going to easily replace that. You need to find a Kevin Garnett in his prime type of big man defender... as if Bogut or any cheap big could do what Capela did for Houston’s team defense.

Your evaluation of Capela’s value is not realistic.

So you pay a player who won't be worth even half his salary by the end of the contract? That's stupid. As it is now, Paul makes the Rockets a contender, he doesn't make them a lock, so why not try and win cheaper?

Again, no one is talking about replacing anyone but instead staying compe ive while also staying financially responsible. I'd be all for unloading the Brinks truck and going into the luxury tax, paying ungodly amounts if it meant a le was a lock but there's no guarantee and you look bad in the future fiscally.

[Caltex2]

You're acting like Paul is 35 or 36. He just turned 33 a month ago and probably still has 3 or 4 good seasons in him before he falls off a cliff. They're not going to be a sleeper in the West without Paul. We have seen time and again that Playoff Harden isn't the same player as Regular Season Harden. I can't imagine throwing away a great shot at a le in the next three years because you're afraid of overpaying a guy in Year 4. Might as well just trade Harden and blow up the entire team if you're not going to go for a le right now because Harden ain't gonna take you to one by himself and what bigtime FA is going to go there after seeing Paul get lowballed? You get cheap with Paul and he and LeBron are going to the Lakers to form another superteam that'll take out your sleeper in the first round.

On defense, he's already showing signs of slippage. If you paid him insane money for two years, then I can see that but four? It'd be stupid of the Rockets without a team option.

If you re-sign Paul to a stupid contract, just make sure you have a team good enough to beat the Warriors because if not, you're locked into years of bad contracts and perhaps mediocrity, if not annual frustration.

[baseline bum]

On defense, he's already showing signs of slippage. If you paid him insane money for two years, then I can see that but four? It'd be stupid of the Rockets without a team option.

If you re-sign Paul to a stupid contract, just make sure you have a team good enough to beat the Warriors because if not, you're locked into years of bad contracts and perhaps mediocrity, if not annual frustration.

Mediocrity is what you're locked into if you let Paul walk and go back to being built around just Harden. Lucky for you I don't think the Rockets are dumb enough to lowball and lose someone as important to their le hopes as Paul.

[Clipper Nation]

Going to play with CP3 in LA would easily be James' best option to win now. It would be a huge upgrade over Cleveland and I don't think LeBron could play in Philly. Moot point since the Rockets will probably throw a four year max deal at CP3.

CP0 is a known choke artist and can't be trusted to stay healthy in the playoffs. None of that sounds like LeBron's best option to win. You're just overrating him.

[Caltex2]

Mediocrity is what you're locked into if you let Paul walk and go back to being built around just Harden. Lucky for you I don't think the Rockets are dumb enough to lowball and lose someone as important to their le hopes as Paul.

But do you give yourself a great shot at a le? The answer would be yes if we knew CP would be as good this year as he was last year. That's no guarantee.

The Rockets are no guarantee to win many more games with Paul than without. And just because they almost took down the Warriors this year doesn't mean they'll get closer/over the hump next year.

[baseline bum]

CP0 is a known choke artist and can't be trusted to stay healthy in the playoffs. None of that sounds like LeBron's best option to win. You're just overrating him.

I'm overrating the guy who carried the Rockets to a 3-2 lead over Golden State while Harden was playing like a in Games 2-5 because I think he'd be a much better running mate for LeBron than Kevin Love or a Ben Simmons who has no shot whatsoever?

But do you give yourself a great shot at a le? The answer would be yes if we knew CP would be as good this year as he was last year. That's no guarantee.

The Rockets are no guarantee to win many more games with Paul than without. And just because they almost took down the Warriors this year doesn't mean they'll get closer/over the hump next year.

Because you don't know 100% you want to blow up a top flight le contender that nearly took down a Warriors team whose four stars were all healthy? What kind of logic is this to build a team around? Chris Paul didn't tear an achilles or blow out his knee, odds are he'll be the same player next year that he was this year.

[Clipper Nation]

I'm overrating the guy who carried the Rockets to a 3-2 lead over Golden State while Harden was playing like a in Games 2-5 because I think he'd be a much better running mate for LeBron than Kevin Love or a Ben Simmons who has no shot whatsoever?

"carried"

The guy was just barely outchoked by Durbeta in a couple games. Big whoop. Then he got injured again, like he always does in the playoffs.

[baseline bum]

"carried"

The guy was just barely outchoked by Durbeta in a couple games. Big whoop. Then he got injured again, like he always does in the playoffs.

hater until the end

[DMC]

That's the Steve Nash Equilibrium..

[Caltex2]

I'm overrating the guy who carried the Rockets to a 3-2 lead over Golden State while Harden was playing like a in Games 2-5 because I think he'd be a much better running mate for LeBron than Kevin Love or a Ben Simmons who has no shot whatsoever?



Because you don't know 100% you want to blow up a top flight le contender that nearly took down a Warriors team whose four stars were all healthy? What kind of logic is this to build a team around? Chris Paul didn't tear an achilles or blow out his knee, odds are he'll be the same player next year that he was this year.

Again, is Paul gonna be in his prime going forward? It's not about breaking up a good team so much as being ready for the future. There's no reason to think the Rockets are gonna do better next year than this year.

By that logic, go bring Michael Jordan out of retirement a fifthieth time.

[Caltex2]

The Rockets can win just fine without CP3 and instead of handcuffing the franchise for five years, they can maybe wait a year or two and bring in another star via trade or free agency. It's not like CP is the best player in the league or only player the Rockets can get that will push them over the Warriors. Who knows, maybe Russell Westbrook could become available or one of New Orleans' twin towers. Obviously Kawhi Leonard's days are numbered in San Antonio.

[LkrFan]

The most effective tactic available to NBA teams not named Golden State Warriors is to try to pilfer glue guys from the Warriors. I don't know why teams are trying to build a poor man's version of the GSW. It won't get you there. It might if it was a one game contest, but in a series a team that has a gimmick will be cornered and defeated when the gimmick is thwarted. GS doesn't have a gimmick. They just beat the living out of you with superior shooting and that leads to positive at udes which leads to better defense.

You have to go after the Warriors other players, use the Nash equilibrium strategy (not Steve Nash).

Agreed. IIRC, the Lakers offered Iggy a bigger contract then the one he signed to stay with the Dubs. For some reason, he chose to stay. Not sure why.

[baseline bum]

Again, is Paul gonna be in his prime going forward? It's not about breaking up a good team so much as being ready for the future. There's no reason to think the Rockets are gonna do better next year than this year.

By that logic, go bring Michael Jordan out of retirement a fifthieth time.

Yeah signing a 33 year is the same as a 55 year old. What a dumbass.

[baseline bum]

The Rockets can win just fine without CP3 and instead of handcuffing the franchise for five years, they can maybe wait a year or two and bring in another star via trade or free agency. It's not like CP is the best player in the league or only player the Rockets can get that will push them over the Warriors. Who knows, maybe Russell Westbrook could become available or one of New Orleans' twin towers. Obviously Kawhi Leonard's days are numbered in San Antonio.

No they can't. They got destroyed by ing LaMarcus Aldridge and Jonathan Simmons.

Harden is not a big game player. His game is so dependent on food stamps and doesn't translate in the playoffs when the refs swallow their whistles. If they let Paul walk to save money for the future they have to lose Capela too and most likely Ariza. I don't know why you'd want Westbrook, no one gets better playing with him. Leonard might be available next summer if he turns down the Spurs supermax offer and doesn't sign an extension with whoever he gets traded to in that case, so a small chance I guess if you just hoard capspace. How many free agents do you think are going to be turned off by Houston being unwilling to pay Paul after he turned down longterm money to come? Surely he had an under the table agreement there like Killa is saying.

[baseline bum]

Agreed. IIRC, the Lakers offered Iggy a bigger contract then the one he signed to stay with the Dubs. For some reason, he chose to stay. Not sure why.

Golden State caved and gave Iguodala the exact contract he asked for from the beginning: 3 years, $48 million. He was about to sign in Houston until the Warriors caved at the last minute and raised their offer from $15 million a year over three years to the $16 million a year over three years he wanted.

[LkrFan]

Golden State caved and gave Iguodala the exact contract he asked for from the beginning: 3 years, $48 million. He was about to sign in Houston until the Warriors caved at the last minute and raised their offer from $15 million a year over three years to the $16 million a year over three years he wanted.

Damn. Didn't know Rox were in the mix. Glad they kept him. No way the Rox beat the Kang.

[Caltex2]

@ BB, post 90


Might as well be. If they signed Jordan to a vet min. contract and give Paul the max it might have the same value.

Besides, my point is Paul likely won't be the same player going forward so it's not fair to think it'll be breaking up a contender.

[Caltex2]

No they can't. They got destroyed by ing LaMarcus Aldridge and Jonathan Simmons.

Harden is not a big game player. His game is so dependent on food stamps and doesn't translate in the playoffs when the refs swallow their whistles. If they let Paul walk to save money for the future they have to lose Capela too and most likely Ariza. I don't know why you'd want Westbrook, no one gets better playing with him. Leonard might be available next summer if he turns down the Spurs supermax offer and doesn't sign an extension with whoever he gets traded to in that case, so a small chance I guess if you just hoard capspace. How many free agents do you think are going to be turned off by Houston being unwilling to pay Paul after he turned down longterm money to come? Surely he had an under the table agreement there like Killa is saying.

Chances are the Rockets don't win any upcoming les with or without CP3. I repeat HE IS NOT THE ONLY STAR THEY COULD ADD TO COMPETE WITH THE WARRIORS. If they wait instead of being overcommited to a past his prime superstar who has accomplished next to nothing team wise in his career, they maybe could win it without mortgaging their future.

[baseline bum]

Chances are the Rockets don't win any upcoming les with or without CP3. I repeat HE IS NOT THE ONLY STAR THEY COULD ADD TO COMPETE WITH THE WARRIORS. If they wait instead of being overcommited to a past his prime superstar who has accomplished next to nothing team wise in his career, they maybe could win it without mortgaging their future.

All you have come up with is throwing away next season by letting everyone walk for a chance at Leonard. What if he takes the supermax or forces a trade to LA/Philly and signs an extension there? Davis can't opt out until 2020.

[Caltex2]

At least Kawhi has a future. Paul's best days are behind him. I mean, who knows what the future holds, the Rockets got both Paul and Harden via trades, not the draft or free agent signings. If you re-sign Paul, he may become an unmovable salary cap anchor like Ryan Anderson. Let him walk or maybe sign-and-trade him away and it leaves room for another star to be added, perhaps directly. Paul is not worth the max unless the team had an option after the second year. If the contract had that kind of stipulation, I'd be fine with it.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Everybody's acting like it was a foregone conclusion the Rockets would've closed the deal if Paul never got injured...have ya'll not watched basketball the last 10 years?

[Caltex2]

Everybody's acting like it was a foregone conclusion the Rockets would've closed the deal if Paul never got injured...have ya'll not watched basketball the last 10 years?

It was more likely but far from a lock. Paul makes the Rockets a contender but not a lock, which is why it's not ignorant to think about not bringing him back.

[baseline bum]

Everybody's acting like it was a foregone conclusion the Rockets would've closed the deal if Paul never got injured...have ya'll not watched basketball the last 10 years?

I don't think it was a foregone conclusion, but Houston sure looked like the better team until the Warriors got that gift. Even without Paul it took a massive fluke of the greatest shooting team in league history missing 27 straight threes for State to advance. The Warriors were very beatable this year. This year's Spurs would have never taken a game from the 2016 or 2017 Warriors.