I just want to know why anyone would think Gilbert is okay paying a player like JR Smith 56 million given the luxury tax, and would scoff at paying Rudy Gay a player much better than him.
There's no proof as of yet that Dan won't spend money if needed. He's not going to spend money on players he feels are expendable given the luxury tax. There's a clear difference.
Dan Gilbert isn't living in a shack. He's not going broke man.
If he can win another title. He's all in.
It would not be smart letting JR walk for nothing. He is important to our team, and we got him at a decently fair price in this market. And Rudy Gay at 20 mil might be a fair price too, but that isn't the point. It's adding on another salary of that caliber, making our roster more top heavy and limiting flexibility and possibly depth. There is stuff to consider. Which I'd be willing to take the risk, I'm just not sure our FO will see it worth the risk because there are many factors that go into it. For one, like would he even mesh with the team for sure.
Again, I don't think adding Gay plus D-Leaguers (not James' vet buddies) is excessively more expensive than having Shumpert/RJ/JJ/Birdman on the roster; given that we'd be consolidating talent, the cap will be going up, and our ability to compete with the Warriors would be much improved.
I'd do it, but I'm not sure we are so ready to throw JJ or RJ to the side. Both are big parts to our locker room and have strong friendships on the team. We might have to convince them to retire. There could be complications. Sure, I'd say get rid of them in a heart beat but it may not be easy.
I also believe we have the intent of keeping Korver here longer term. Maybe I heard Griff say that somewhere, I don't know. It might only cost us 5-6 mil at his age too, but that adds in. And I know it's been discussed if you choose between Korver or Gay who do you choose, obviously Gay. But that isn't the full comparison.
This is really what it comes down to. Do you choose between Korver, an MLE addition, vet min additions, and a TPE addition or Rudy Gay (while stripping the rest of the roster) and likely not adding anyone else via the other methods. Two options, the price is probably about the same. Or since I keep being told Dan's pocketbook doesn't matter or whatever, can we get Rudy, keep Korver, and possibly still add someone with the MLE and TPE's too? I know we could theoretically do it right, but if you understand why that isn't likely, then you understand my point. Not you specifically, but anyone else wondering.
And I guess theoretically we could keep both if we structured Rudy Gay's contract in a way that he is making 15-16 mil the first year and Korver makes 4-6 mil that year. That is around 20 right there together.
Isn't the favorite out West about to do just this?
They'll be running a squad that basically consists of four really good NBA players and then a bunch of nobodies (Iggy won't be kept, unless he wants to stay for cheap). And guess what? They'll be the favorites to come out of the West for the next however many years all of those guys are under contract doing it.
Rudy Gay isn't Kevin Durant, but I get your point. And I'm not sure what GS is doing is sustainable. The lack of depth might come back to haunt them. I guess we will see.
I'd be willing to try it. Like I said, I'd even be willing to do a rental if all it cost is Shump and parts for that matter. And if Rudy Gay doesn't pan out, worst case scenario is that I guess we could trade him. I'd do it. Do we have enough to get him and would our FO go for it. I think they would and just sort the rest out later. Hopefully we are aggressive this deadline like we lost the Finals instead of won.
