Restricted free agents and their value as compared to the MLE

[Roy Hobbs]

There have been a lot of threads either suggesting that we target certainly restricted free agents to sign with our MLE (around $5.6 million).  Remember also that for restricted free agents, the player's original team can match the offer, whether the player likes it or not; the player then is forced to play for his original team for the terms of the offer sheet. 

Here's how I see the breakdown of restricted free agents:

Wouldn't sign for MLE / If they did, their current team would match:

Andre Igoudala
Josh Smith
Luol Deng
Ben Gordon
Emeka Okafor
Monta Ellis
Andris Biedrins

Might sign for MLE or less / Teams might not match:

Josh Childress
Ryan Gomes
Carl Landry
Robert Swift
Delonte West
J.R. Smith
Louis Williams
Sasha Vujachic
Craig Smith
Kelena Azuibuke
Nenad Krstic
Chris Quinn
Dorell Wright
Carlos Delfino
C.J. Miles
Jeremy Richardson
Ryan Hollins
Demetris Nichols
Alex Acker
Nick Fazekas
Marcus Williams
Kasib Powell
Ersan Ilyasova
Chris Richard
James Augustine

Obviously, some players are more likely than others on this list to be matched.  Carl Landry, for instance, will almost definitely be matched should another team offer him a contract.  I get the inclination that the same is true of Childress.  The Twolves want Gomes back, and Denver wants J.R. Smith, etc., etc.

The main point, though, is to reinforce that Igoudala, Deng, Gordon, Okafor, Ellis, and Biedrins aren't coming here for the MLE.

[Bankshot]

Of the players whose teams may not match an MLE offer, only Childress and Krstic interest me.

[DannyZ]

I would love to have Gomes back on a two or three year deal for around half the MLE.  He'd be a great reserve.  He also can play the 4 for spot duty like Posey could.  He's a good rebounder and his outside shot has been improving.

Posey's value was veteran leadership, defense, and championship experience.  We've got a team full of champions right now so I'd like to get some more young hungry guys.

[indeedproceed]

Roy- you forgot Josh Smith

[Cman]

There have been a lot of threads either suggesting that we target certainly restricted free agents to sign with our MLE (around $5.6 million).  Remember also that for restricted free agents, the player's original team can match the offer, whether the player likes it or not; the player then is forced to play for his original team for the terms of the offer sheet. 

Here's how I see the breakdown of restricted free agents:

Wouldn't sign for MLE / If they did, their current team would match:

Andre Igoudala
Luol Deng
Ben Gordon
Emeka Okafor
Monta Ellis
Andris Biedrins

Might sign for MLE or less / Teams might not match:

Josh Childress
Ryan Gomes
Carl Landry
Robert Swift
Delonte West
J.R. Smith
Louis Williams
Sasha Vujachic
Craig Smith
Kelena Azuibuke
Nenad Krstic
Walter Hermann
Chris Quinn
Dorell Wright
Carlos Delfino
C.J. Miles
Jeremy Richardson
Ryan Hollins
Demetris Nichols
Alex Acker
Nick Fazekas
Marcus Williams
Kasib Powell
Ersan Ilyasova
Chris Richard
James Augustine

Obviously, some players are more likely than others on this list to be matched.  Carl Landry, for instance, will almost definitely be matched should another team offer him a contract.  I get the inclination that the same is true of Childress.  The Twolves want Gomes back, and Denver wants J.R. Smith, etc., etc.

The main point, though, is to reinforce that Igoudala, Deng, Gordon, Okafor, Ellis, and Biedrins aren't coming here for the MLE.

TP for the clever diss.

Your point is that it doesn't make much sense to go after the restricted FAs, and I tend to agree.  The exception would be if a sign and trade could be worked out (and the trade wdleehi proposed to GSW for Azuibuke was one such possibility).

On the other hand, there are plenty of unrestricted FAs still available that might help the Cs.  Based on what I know about Danny, he will not be afraid to sign a lesser name to small money in the hopes that things pan out in Boston's favor.  I am thinking unheralded FAs like B. Nachbar, M. Evans and K. Snyder.  I also think there will be a lot of waiting before anything more gets done on the Celtics FA front (with the possible exception of the two rookies....)

[Jon]

Historically I've been pretty indifferent to Delonte West.  I didn't care when they traded him and I was never all that infatuated with him when he was here.  Still, I might be willing to give him the MLE because of the skill set he brings and how it would fit in here. 

The thing that makes Posey's loss tough to swallow is that in the playoffs, he basically filled all the minutes in behind Allen and Pierce, and at times, even backing up Garnett.  Thus, we have a lot to account for.  West would help with that. 

At the 1 spot, he'd be an upgrade over both House and Cassell as he's a better ball-handler than House, a better shooter than Cassell, and arguably a better defender than either.  He'd also be able to backup Ray Allen at the 2 spot, providing the excellent range that Posey provided when he was here.  You could even go so far as to suggest that West could even backup the 3, if you counted the idea of sliding Ray to the 3 when West was at the 2 (though that'd be a bit undersized).

If West could backup the 1 and 2 spots, it makes replacing Posey a lot easier, since now all you really need is for someone to play 10-15 mpg backing up the 3 spot, playing some tough defense and hitting open shots.  Giddens might be able to do that.  A guy like Finley or Barnes could certainly could as well. 

And with the Gibson signing, the Cavs might not match a MLE offer. 

[blacklagoon]

I like Louis Williams in the Eddie House role, but I think the Sixers probably match.

I also like Krstic (think the Nets maybe match a 1 or 2 year deal) and Nick Fazekas is a young big man with some skill, and who knows what the Clippers do if we sign him to an offer sheet.

[Mr October]

Josh Childress would be cool for the MLE, if the C's have already exhausted the $2-3/year wily vets option (Ross, Evans, Dooling, Arroyo, etc.)

Delonte is worth 10/3 as a combo guard off the bench. He is worth more than that to Cleveland.

I don't think the C's are going to out bid for any of the RFA though. 

[BballTim]

  If he looked healthy I'd have thrown a smallish deal at Robert Swift. Seattle (or whatever) has like 5 centers on their roster.

[fairweatherfan06]

you don't mean the whole MLE do you?  Delonte is not worth the whole MLE.

[Jon]

you don't mean the whole MLE do you?  Delonte is not worth the whole MLE.

I wouldn't give him the whole MLE for a long term deal (I'm not sure Danny's giving it to anyone if he's really concerned with "long term luxury tax issues" like he claimed with Posey).  But I might give Delonte the full MLE for a year or two.  He'd solve quite a few problems. 

[Cman]

I agree that Delonte would fill a lot of holes.  The problem is that I don't see the Celtics offering him enough that the Cavaliers wouldn't match.  Sure, the Cavs wouldn't match the full MLE, but the Cs wouldn't offer that much anyway (I don't think).  Would the Cs offer the MLE for 2 years?  Sounds reasonable, but would Delonte take it?  He might prefer to play for a one year contract then look for a bigger payday next offseason as an unrestricted FA.... not only that, but as an unrestricted FA who will be coming from a solid contender (Cleveland). 

It would be great to see Delonte back in green, though.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Honestly I believe all of the following belong on the "Wouldn't sign for MLE / If they did, their current team would match" list, emphasis on, "if they did, their team would match":

Josh Childress, Ryan Gomes, Carl Landry, Nenad Krstic, J.R. Smith, Louis Williams, Delonte West, Dorell Wright.

Despite the hopes of many here.

All are young with upside, all started at times last season. Even where a five year deal for the full MLE could be considered "overpaying," I expect it to be the preferred option in every case above vs. losing the player for no return. Best case scenario, would be a sign and trade for the likes of Krstic (injury history, too many big men already on the roster in NJ) or West (Cleveland cap catastrophe).

Laker's eigth man, Ronny Turiaf is getting $17 million over four years.

[Roy Hobbs]

Honestly I believe all of the following belong on the "Wouldn't sign for MLE / If they did, their current team would match" list, emphasis on, "if they did, their team would match":

Josh Childress, Ryan Gomes, Carl Landry, Nenad Krstic, J.R. Smith, Louis Williams, Delonte West, Dorell Wright.

Despite the hopes of many here.

If Krstic or Wright was offered the full MLE over five years, their teams would likely waive them good bye.  The same is probably true of Delonte, Williams, and Smith, although it's not a certainty.  It's hard to say what would happen with Gomes and Landry, and Childress will probably be matched, regardless.

[The Walker Wiggle]

I don’t know; Dorell Wright is one of new coach Eric Spoelstra’s guys, and Heat liked him well enough last season to let both Posey and Kapono walk.

While Denver has already taken a big enough PR hit dealing Camby for cap-relief to hold the door for Smith. Beside, I suspect that trade was, in part, to discourage potential J.R. suitors. He's one of the only players that fits in the post-AI (or post-Melo!?!) rebuild.

And feelings are too good in Philadelphia to close the checkbook now. Brand is already stumping for Williams. He'll be the first guard off the bench and a factor in any Andre Miller extension talks.

West gets a matching offer for one reason exactly, Cleveland can't afford to take a step back now and there is no one to replace him with.