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Gordon Hayward gets a Max-Level Contract
Yahoo Sources: Utah's Gordon Hayward reaches agreement on a four-year, $63M max offer sheet with Charlotte. http://t.co/YitfvLOEhQ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
Jazz prepared for possibility of max sheet for Hayward and remain unwavering about revelation it's coming: They plan to match and keep him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
Surprising that Charlotte is going this route. No speculation thus far about a potential sign-and-trade, so the Hornets are tying up a great deal of cap space at 12:01 AM Eastern tonight potentially for nothing. Or they are just playing a game of chicken. Who knows?
Cleveland Making Room for LeBron
Yahoo Sources: Cavaliers unload three contracts, clear the way to make max offer to free agent LeBron James. http://t.co/lruC0994Fb
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
Here's concern for Cavs - and everyone else pursuing James. Everything's been filtered thru his agent, Rich Paul. No one's getting to James.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
LeBron James reached out to two vet free agents last week about joining him, IF he left Miami, sources tell Yahoo. Mike Miller was one.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
If you have a chance to sign the greatest basketball player on the planet you do it, regardless of the consequences. I really do not see the draw of Cleveland beyond it being home for LeBron. Let's take a peek at their hypothetical cap sheet. Rumors have tied Cleveland to Mike Miller (let's use the rest of the cap space) and Ray Allen (let's use the room exception). What do we get?
| Pos | Age | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | SF/PF | 30 | $20,700,000 | $21,631,500 | $22,563,000 |
| Anderson Varejao | PF/C | 32 | $9,704,545 | ||
| Kyrie Irving | PG | 22 | $7,070,730 | $17,000,000 | $18,350,000 |
| Anthony Bennett | SF/PF | 21 | $5,563,920 | $5,803,560 | $7,318,289 |
| Andrew Wiggins | SG/SF | 19 | $5,510,640 | $5,758,680 | $6,006,600 |
| Tristan Thompson | PF/C | 23 | $5,138,430 | ||
| Dion Waiters | SG | 23 | $4,062,000 | $5,138,430 | |
| Ray Allen | SG | 39 | $2,732,000 | $2,854,940 | |
| Mike Miller | SG/SF | 34 | $1,858,557 | $1,942,192 | |
| Scotty Hopson | SG/SF | 25 | $1,450,878 | ||
| Carrick Felix | SG/SF | 24 | $816,482 | ||
| Matthew Dellavedova | PG/SG | 24 | $816,482 | ||
| Joe Harris | SG/SF | 23 | $507,336 | ||
| CAP HOLDS | $2,625,465 | ||||
| Total | 26.08 | $65,932,000 | $62,754,767 | $54,237,889 |
Forgive me for being underwhelmed. The only player listed 6'10" or taller is Anderson Varejao. Kyrie Irving's contract is an estimate.
Luke Babbitt on the Move?
Although Luke Babbitt is on #Pelicans SL roster, the team doesn't expect to have him with squad in Vegas.
— nakia hogan (@nakiahogan) July 9, 2014
Not at all surprising that Babbitt may be included in a trade to make room for Omer Asik. We have discussed why here at The Bird Rights here and here. We will miss the hair. And the pump fakes.
Withey is a Weight Room Warrior
Like Anthony Davis, #Pelicans C Jeff Withey has been working on his body. He's up 17 lbs. from last season and now weighs 240.
— nakia hogan (@nakiahogan) July 9, 2014
Those extra pounds should help. No wonder the team is attempting to keep Withey around while likely including Babbitt in the next move. If they also find a way to hang onto Ryan Anderson I fully expect Alexis Ainjca could be included as well.
End of Moratorium in Sight
Tonight at 11:01 PM local time the proverbial flood gates can open. Actual deals can be consummated and offer sheets can be signed. A number of restricted free agents, Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe in particular, have yet to agree on anything. Might some team drop a huge deal on the table the moment the market is open to push either the Suns' or Pistons' hand? It is possible.