yamaneko

There are few teams with cap space this year. Of course, the following list could be affected depending on which free agenets the team resigns. For example, the clippers are over the cap right now, since all of their free agents still count agasint them. Just renouncing sam cassell would put them about 9 million under the cap.

But even still, there just arent that many teams with space this year. So there will be tons of movement on MLE, but barring salary dumping trades, not many people will be able to offer guys like radman and casell, more than the MLE.

In the east, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Toronto, have cap space

In the west only New Orleans, and maybe utah and seattle (depending on resigning) have the space.

Now, i doubt sam would want to go to atlanta, charlottle, toronto, nor new orleans. Chicago has kirk, gordon, and duhon, thats unlikely destination. Utah and seattle are possible, but only if they let go of some of the free agents, and sam is convinced that he can turn around those teams.

Vlad i doubt really cares where he goes (winning/loosing), he probably wants to go where he will get the most money and the most playing time. Its still not a given that he will get more than MLE. Only after the major guys like Peja, etc. are signed. If he cant get over MLE, i still dont think the clippers use their whole MLE on him and keep maggette.

Now, lets remember that there are people out there too that are due extensions, or possibly could have their contract matched (restricted), or are just upper echelon free agents. These people will most likely get contracts before sam and vlad Notably these are:

Ben Wallace
Jason Terry
Al Harrington
Nene
Chris Wilcox
Peja

Others who will get looks too
Nazr Mohamed
Joel Pryzbilla
Mike James
Drew Gooden
Bonzi Wells
Matt Harpring
Flip Murray
Speedy Claxton
Jard Jefferies
James Posey
Reggie Eveans
Van Horn
Zo
Fred Jones
Patterson
Bobby Jackson
Francisco Elson
Tim Thomas
Trevor Ariza
Melvin Ely

Anyway, a LOT Of these guys will get MLE looks. But even though this is a really weak free agency, i dont think we have to worry about sam going somewhere else...there are few teams with money, and those that have money some of them want to wait until the next two years which will be huge for free agency.

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship

universal!

What makes you so sure Peja and Al Harrington will get a contract before Sam?

And going over the list, that is a pretty dismal group of free/restricted agents- more trades and sign and trades? Most NBA teams don't sit still.

yamaneko

well, peja and al are young guys who you could give a long term contract too. (relatively young). There doesnt seem to be many places that sam would consider going who would offer sam the same money as one of those guys.

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship

universal!

Oh, sorry I misread your post. I was under the impression that you meant Peja and Al and the rest of the upper list would resign with their current teams.

ClipOre4Life

Of those I'd take a look at these FAs for their respective positions:
C:Elson, Ely,Zo
PF:Evans
SF: Ariza (should pursue him hard), Patterson,
SG: Wells, Fred Jones
PG: Claxton

Since we're probably bringing over Sofo I don't know how much we need to pursue a backup big. I think Rebraca's going to retire so we'll need another one. I think the most realistic of the above mentioned is Francisco Elson or Melvin Ely. I don't think that Radman is that important or even worth the MLE. I'd rather split it between Ariza and Fred Jones. I would then package Ewing and Maggette to New Orleans for JR Smith and a re-signed Claxton with a lottery pick thrown in.

DaFranchise

That Maggette trade is horrible. No thanks.

universal!

Can the MLE even be split between two players?

Agreed that the Clips need to find a big body to hellp out at C. Ely does sound alright since he can play the PF/C. I recall him being a fairly solid backup.