It Is A Sellers' Market
By: Steve Kyler Last Updated: 1/31/11 10:20 AM ET
It's A Sellers' Market: After talking this weekend with several NBA executives around the league, it is really starting to look like the February 24th trade deadline may be a lot of hype and very little substance.
Team after team has said they have searched the marketplace and are finding most teams don't want to take on contract dollars and teams sitting on expiring contracts are hoping to let them expire in the face of what looks to be a shrinking salary cap in the NBA next season.
There are several teams trying to make deals, but there are very few teams willing to sell off their major assets.
The Houston Rockets have been very vocal about their desire to make a deal; however, according to Rockets' GM Daryl Morey, they have not been able to find a partner to help them improve their roster.
"There are a lot of active exceptions in the league," Morey said to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "Our exception was nothing unique and was actually smaller and expires sooner (than others). There was never a specific goal. We just looked to see if there was an opportunity to upgrade. Nothing materialized."
"There's always been something at the deadline," Morey said. "We don't do things just to do things, but we are pretty aggressive. Obviously, we are not a title contender. If there is something to get us closer, we'll do it.
"We're only looking to move guys to upgrade the team, not because we're (just) looking to move anyone."
The Rockets remain the primary suitor for the Denver Nuggets, mainly because the Rockets would be willing to send expiring contracts, draft picks and young players for the chance at Carmelo Anthony, with or without a contract extension, but even Houston with a roster full of attractive pieces is not getting much traction.
For the players, they are just trying to tune out the increasingly loud chatter over the next 24 days.
"Is it weighing on our minds? No. Is it lingering somewhere? Probably," Shane Battier said. "It can be a problem for younger guys who have not been through the trade winds. It can be a distraction. For the old lions who have been in this league, not so much.
"We've been joking that the only story people have written about us nationally is the plethora of expiring deals and draft picks. It's not about our actual play. It's more the fantasy basketball aspect, the business aspect of our team."
One thing is becoming increasingly clear: there are a whole lot more teams looking for assets than selling them.
Ending contracts are almost worthless according to several NBA executives who are holding them, as the league is flooded with Traded Player Exceptions that clear space without taking on dead salary. A TPE related deal often means the team getting player would then have to create a roster spot, so it's a double-dip scenario not only do you take on a salary without sending one out, you also in most situation have to waive a guaranteed deal making marginal TPE related deals even tougher to sell to ownership.
The Rockets want to make a splashy deal, and they are not alone, the problem is anyone with a player that would get Houston excited is also talking with Toronto, New Orleans and Cleveland… all of which hold bigger Exceptions.
Get in line if you want a deal, it looks to be a sellers' market, which typically means very few deals.
Link: Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp...=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz1CdJe347I
By: Steve Kyler Last Updated: 1/31/11 10:20 AM ET
It's A Sellers' Market: After talking this weekend with several NBA executives around the league, it is really starting to look like the February 24th trade deadline may be a lot of hype and very little substance.
Team after team has said they have searched the marketplace and are finding most teams don't want to take on contract dollars and teams sitting on expiring contracts are hoping to let them expire in the face of what looks to be a shrinking salary cap in the NBA next season.
There are several teams trying to make deals, but there are very few teams willing to sell off their major assets.
The Houston Rockets have been very vocal about their desire to make a deal; however, according to Rockets' GM Daryl Morey, they have not been able to find a partner to help them improve their roster.
"There are a lot of active exceptions in the league," Morey said to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "Our exception was nothing unique and was actually smaller and expires sooner (than others). There was never a specific goal. We just looked to see if there was an opportunity to upgrade. Nothing materialized."
"There's always been something at the deadline," Morey said. "We don't do things just to do things, but we are pretty aggressive. Obviously, we are not a title contender. If there is something to get us closer, we'll do it.
"We're only looking to move guys to upgrade the team, not because we're (just) looking to move anyone."
The Rockets remain the primary suitor for the Denver Nuggets, mainly because the Rockets would be willing to send expiring contracts, draft picks and young players for the chance at Carmelo Anthony, with or without a contract extension, but even Houston with a roster full of attractive pieces is not getting much traction.
For the players, they are just trying to tune out the increasingly loud chatter over the next 24 days.
"Is it weighing on our minds? No. Is it lingering somewhere? Probably," Shane Battier said. "It can be a problem for younger guys who have not been through the trade winds. It can be a distraction. For the old lions who have been in this league, not so much.
"We've been joking that the only story people have written about us nationally is the plethora of expiring deals and draft picks. It's not about our actual play. It's more the fantasy basketball aspect, the business aspect of our team."
One thing is becoming increasingly clear: there are a whole lot more teams looking for assets than selling them.
Ending contracts are almost worthless according to several NBA executives who are holding them, as the league is flooded with Traded Player Exceptions that clear space without taking on dead salary. A TPE related deal often means the team getting player would then have to create a roster spot, so it's a double-dip scenario not only do you take on a salary without sending one out, you also in most situation have to waive a guaranteed deal making marginal TPE related deals even tougher to sell to ownership.
The Rockets want to make a splashy deal, and they are not alone, the problem is anyone with a player that would get Houston excited is also talking with Toronto, New Orleans and Cleveland… all of which hold bigger Exceptions.
Get in line if you want a deal, it looks to be a sellers' market, which typically means very few deals.
Link: Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp...=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz1CdJe347I
