Should C's offer Lopez a max to hurt Brooklyns record?

[slamtheking]

i'd worry that the nets would then just sign someone better in his place. you couldnt guarantee that wouldnt happen and then the move would backfire.

I would actually expect that to happen.  in the meantime we've unnecessarily tied up a lot of cap space on a guy that doesn't fit with Brad's system and can't stay healthy. 

IF Lopez were to hit the market this year (don't see it happening), someone else will likely make a foolish offer for him so let's have someone else make that bad decision.

[Clench123]

No way in hell

[Lucky17]

Can we offer a 1 year deal?

I think we could offer a 3 or4 yr max deal , with a player option after year 1 or 2 . That way Lopez could opt out if he has a big year next year and could up his salary , or if he gets injured has insurance with a few more years on his contract .

It would be a bit of a risk for the c's , but could also result in a top 5-10 pick next year .

This came up in another thread: player options must come after the third year in a multi-year deal (e.g., three years guaranteed, fourth year as player option).

Want to pay Brook Lopez max money for three years to force Brooklyn's hand? I sure don't.

[saltlover]

i'd worry that the nets would then just sign someone better in his place. you couldnt guarantee that wouldnt happen and then the move would backfire.

I would actually expect that to happen.  in the meantime we've unnecessarily tied up a lot of cap space on a guy that doesn't fit with Brad's system and can't stay healthy. 

IF Lopez were to hit the market this year (don't see it happening), someone else will likely make a foolish offer for him so let's have someone else make that bad decision.

This would not happen.  The Nets will still be at the cap, and limited to the MLE, if Lopez walks.  I don't think Lopez is worth the max, but he's better than anyone the Nets are getting for the MLE.

The best thing that happens for the C's pick is Lopez declines his option and sign somewhere other than Brookyln or Boston.  Which is not an impossible scenario to consider, although I think he stays in Brookyln.

[Fafnir]

Can we offer a 1 year deal?

I think we could offer a 3 or4 yr max deal , with a player option after year 1 or 2 . That way Lopez could opt out if he has a big year next year and could up his salary , or if he gets injured has insurance with a few more years on his contract .

It would be a bit of a risk for the c's , but could also result in a top 5-10 pick next year .

This came up in another thread: player options must come after the third year in a multi-year deal (e.g., three years guaranteed, fourth year as player option).

Want to pay Brook Lopez max money for three years to force Brooklyn's hand? I sure don't.

This isn't true. LeBron just signed a two year deal with a player option after the first year, at a maximum salary.

You can only have one player option in a deal and it must be before the last year of the contract. So your can only opt into one additional year on a deal.

An early termination option can only be part of a 5 year contract, but functionally a player option serves the same function an is allowed on shorter deals.

[saltlover]

Can we offer a 1 year deal?

I think we could offer a 3 or4 yr max deal , with a player option after year 1 or 2 . That way Lopez could opt out if he has a big year next year and could up his salary , or if he gets injured has insurance with a few more years on his contract .

It would be a bit of a risk for the c's , but could also result in a top 5-10 pick next year .

This came up in another thread: player options must come after the third year in a multi-year deal (e.g., three years guaranteed, fourth year as player option).

Want to pay Brook Lopez max money for three years to force Brooklyn's hand? I sure don't.

This isn't true. LeBron just signed a two year deal with a player option after the first year, at a maximum salary.

You can only have one player option in a deal and it must be before the last year of the contract. So your can only opt into one additional year on a deal.

An early termination option can only be part of a 5 year contract, but functionally a player option serves the same function an is allowed on shorter deals.

Correct.  The rule the other poster was citing applies only to restricted free agents who had qualifying offers extended. The restriction on options for other contracts is only one option allowed per deal, and that option must be in the final year (so no option after year 1 in a 4-year deal).

[Lucky17]

Thanks for clarifying that, guys.

[slamtheking]

i'd worry that the nets would then just sign someone better in his place. you couldnt guarantee that wouldnt happen and then the move would backfire.

I would actually expect that to happen.  in the meantime we've unnecessarily tied up a lot of cap space on a guy that doesn't fit with Brad's system and can't stay healthy. 

IF Lopez were to hit the market this year (don't see it happening), someone else will likely make a foolish offer for him so let's have someone else make that bad decision.

This would not happen.  The Nets will still be at the cap, and limited to the MLE, if Lopez walks.  I don't think Lopez is worth the max, but he's better than anyone the Nets are getting for the MLE.

The best thing that happens for the C's pick is Lopez declines his option and sign somewhere other than Brookyln or Boston.  Which is not an impossible scenario to consider, although I think he stays in Brookyln.

I don't quite agree that they can't find someone serviceable as Brook for MLE.  the key would be a player that can contribute AND stay healthy to contribute every game.  I agree they're unlikely to get someone who can score like Lopez at center but perhaps get someone who can play better defense and rebound better.

[saltlover]

i'd worry that the nets would then just sign someone better in his place. you couldnt guarantee that wouldnt happen and then the move would backfire.

I would actually expect that to happen.  in the meantime we've unnecessarily tied up a lot of cap space on a guy that doesn't fit with Brad's system and can't stay healthy. 

IF Lopez were to hit the market this year (don't see it happening), someone else will likely make a foolish offer for him so let's have someone else make that bad decision.

This would not happen.  The Nets will still be at the cap, and limited to the MLE, if Lopez walks.  I don't think Lopez is worth the max, but he's better than anyone the Nets are getting for the MLE.

The best thing that happens for the C's pick is Lopez declines his option and sign somewhere other than Brookyln or Boston.  Which is not an impossible scenario to consider, although I think he stays in Brookyln.

I don't quite agree that they can't find someone serviceable as Brook for MLE.  the key would be a player that can contribute AND stay healthy to contribute every game.  I agree they're unlikely to get someone who can score like Lopez at center but perhaps get someone who can play better defense and rebound better.

I mean sure, they can get lucky.  But honestly, that's what it would take: luck.  Because if there's a big who can adequately replace Brook Lopez at the MLE level, he's going to have offers from 30 teams, and some team with cap room will ofer him $6 million instead of $5.5 million.  So that means they get someone who takes jump in production with his new contract -- again possible, but requires luck.

[hpantazo]

If there is a big man out there that will be better than Lopez for the MLE, then we should be after that guy instead of Lopez , and let the Nets pick fall where it may.

[moiso]

I'm not sure subtracting Lopez from the Nets prior to the season hurts the Nets as much as letting them keep him.  Let the team think it's built around him until he gets hurt and the Nets are once again in disarray.

[kozlodoev]

A thousand times no.

Also, I would be surprised if Lopez exercised his ETO this offseason.  I expect he'll wait until 2016 free agency for cap increase and better health.

I'll be shocked if he opts out. It makes no sense to sign a long-term deal the year before the cap increase kicks in. One good, healthy season and he might be looking at numbers that exceed the current max offer he can get.

[Roy H.]

A thousand times no.

Also, I would be surprised if Lopez exercised his ETO this offseason.  I expect he'll wait until 2016 free agency for cap increase and better health.

I'll be shocked if he opts out. It makes no sense to sign a long-term deal the year before the cap increase kicks in. One good, healthy season and he might be looking at numbers that exceed the current max offer he can get.

It comes down to whether he's willing to bet on himself and his health.  If a team would give him a full max deal this off-season, maybe that's enough security, especially when the risk is that he loses a great portion of that if he gets injured.

[D.o.s.]

I think it's important to keep into account the fact that a full-max deal this offseason is, more or less, the next offseason's reasonable deal.

[JSD]

I actually don't mind this strategy
for something like 3 years $45 Million.
I view it as taking an asset away from
the Nets and being, potentially, a huge
gain for the Celtics. I view Lopez as a
possible poor man's Pau Gasol. Folks
used to knock Pau in similar fashion,
"He's soft and always injured" etc.

I would be pretty pumped if the Celtics
Signed Brook Lopez.