As we’ve discussed on this site in recent months, with NBA teams allowed to begin negotiations with free agents at 12:01 a.m. EST Wednesday, various national media members are erroneously presuming that the Hornets will avoid the luxury tax by all means necessary.
On this topic, it’s probably worth re-visiting some of the comments made by New Orleans president Hugh Weber -- who oversees the team’s business operations -- in mid-May regarding the luxury tax. Weber’s meeting with the local New Orleans media was interesting to watch, partly because he was able to dispel some of the assumptions that were being made at the time. I remember beat writer John Reid of the Times-Picayune asking Weber, “you realize that ESPN is reporting that the Hornets will avoid the luxury tax no matter what, right?”
Weber responded that he can’t control what ESPN or any other media outlet reports. He later tried to clarify the Hornets’ philosophy on how they will approach being over or under the luxury tax.
“We are going to exceed the luxury tax if it means we are going to be competitive to do so,” Weber said. “Is it a matter of we have to stay away from the luxury tax (no matter what)? No, it’s not. I want to make sure the message is clear: We may have to commit to going over the luxury tax, because that’s the way of life. Competing is more important to us (than avoiding the luxury tax).”
Simply put, if an NBA team can generate significantly more revenue as a byproduct of adding payroll, it’s worth the additional cost, because it results in a larger profit. To use one real-life example, Cleveland recently agreed to take on Shaquille O’Neal immense contract for 2009-10, but that cost may ultimately be offset by an increase in tickets the Cavaliers sell or some of the other revenue-generating aspects that will be boosted considerably by having Shaq on the roster.
At the same time, exceeding the luxury tax doesn’t ensure a team of anything in terms of wins and losses. One of the teams that has consistently been at or near the top of the league in player payroll is the New York Knicks, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2004.
“If you look at all of the teams in the (2009) playoffs, half of them have luxury-tax issues and half of them don’t,” Weber said. “It’s not a guarantee that once you spend more, you’re going to automatically win a championship. It just doesn’t work that way. We’re going to be smart. We’re a business just like anyone else. But it’s not mutually exclusive: You can be a good team and be fiscally responsible.
Bass is tight with CP isn't he?Of course someone is likely to make Bass the sort of offer that would knock the hornets out of it.I would expect that Dallas will keep him unless they can manage something better
How much is Bass worth? Looks like he wants the MLE and his agent said he isn't too concerned about being a starter.
Quote:
Bass will be seeking the mid-level exception. Because he has been with the Mavericks for two seasons, they can offer him any annual salary up to the exception without actually using their exception.
It is believed the Mavericks will hold their mid-level exception to try to lure a quality free-agent scorer such as Rasheed Wallace.
The mid-level is expected to be between $5 million and $5.5 million.
Bass is not necessarily looking to land with a team where he would start, Dutt said. But it could be a consideration, given that quality teams such as Orlando and San Antonio could be in the market for a starting power forward.
How did NO end up with the highest payroll in the league ???
You have those bad contracts, very difficult to unload except for more baggage. The best move may be to accept your fate and gut the next two year out until Chandler and Peja et al. are gone.
The team hasnt been concerned with shedding salary, and have been spending during the last couple offseasons in an attempt to put a legitimate championship team on the floor. Things have just taken a bad turn and now we are overpaying for non productive players, whereas a great deal of teams in the league have been restructuring their entire roster for a year or more in hopes of landing a star in 2010.
__________________
TOOEASY'S FAVE FIVE
1. Chris Paul
2. Monta Ellis
3. Rudy Gay
4. Kevin Durant
5. Lebron James
If Pargo is signed, the team NEEDS to trade A. Daniels and someone else for a big. It has been my biggest concern since last offseason, having good backup bigs.
If Pargo is signed, the team NEEDS to trade A. Daniels and someone else for a big. It has been my biggest concern since last offseason, having good backup bigs.
I think that's the plan. I'm hoping they somehow ditch Daniels, Brown and perhaps Peterson. Gotta find partners that want to dance though.
Your team should try to get the veteran Pistons that may not be in their plans... I can see LA Clippers willing to take on Peja aswell.
NO trading MoPete and Posey to Detroit and send Peja with a future draft pick (lottery protected) to Clippers;
Clippers trade Chris Kaman and Al Thornton to Detroit;
Detroit trade Hamilton and Prince to NO.
Chandler/West/Prince/Hamilton/CP3... A pretty good starting five. Will need some signings to fill the bench, though.
__________________
Thrilled to reach the 3100th post! Coming with a lot more of great trade ideas (the most beloved ones in this board), you can expect that!
Thanks to all members of this site, you guys are great.
Yes, I think they're pretty much concentrating on bench players right now. Mainly at the 4/5 spot. And hopefully a starting caliber center if they decide to get rid of Chandler. I really don't want to see Hilton Armstong as this teams starting center.
Your team should try to get the veteran Pistons that may not be in their plans... I can see LA Clippers willing to take on Peja aswell.
NO trading MoPete and Posey to Detroit and send Peja with a future draft pick (lottery protected) to Clippers;
Clippers trade Chris Kaman and Al Thornton to Detroit;
Detroit trade Hamilton and Prince to NO.
Chandler/West/Prince/Hamilton/CP3... A pretty good starting five. Will need some signings to fill the bench, though.
The Clips would never do that.
__________________
Chris Duhon and Brandon Bass will both be good NBA players and will stay in the League for a long time!
Your team should try to get the veteran Pistons that may not be in their plans... I can see LA Clippers willing to take on Peja aswell.
NO trading MoPete and Posey to Detroit and send Peja with a future draft pick (lottery protected) to Clippers;
Clippers trade Chris Kaman and Al Thornton to Detroit;
Detroit trade Hamilton and Prince to NO.
Chandler/West/Prince/Hamilton/CP3... A pretty good starting five. Will need some signings to fill the bench, though.
HAHA
So the Clippers take on a horrible contract and lose one-third of their core (Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Thornton) for a lottery protected future draft pick? That would be unlikely.
And the Pistons trade two starters for two guys who would struggle to be in their rotation? There was recently a deal on the table that would have landed them Carlos Boozer for Rip Hamilton, but they turned it down. They wouldn't take Boozer, but they'd go for MoPete and Posey? Wow.
What happens this offseason?
Linear Mode
