Does Larry Want Out Of Charlotte?
Some may recall how Coach Larry Brown purposely and strategically avoided answering questions about returning to coach the Bobcats next season. The local press tried to ask questions that left Larry with some wiggle room, and he obliged by telling Charlotte that he’d think it over and figure it out this summer.
Well as it turns out, NBA head coaches have duties that don’t allow them to take the full summer off. Larry Brown was back in Charlotte for a few days to scout some second-tier college draft talent at the team’s practice facility. This time around, the press wanted to get the word on Brown’s decision. Rather than smile and tell the local media that he was happy to announce that he’d be back on the sidelines for the Bobcats, he snubbed the writers and camera guys and tried to focus on the basketball-oriented part of his job. After some griping and guessing by the local newspaper writers, Brown gave the reporters a few statements to chew on after the next day’s workout session.
Regarding his status for the upcoming season, Larry shared, “I’m here coaching. Obviously, I’m under contract and doing my job.” Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell pushed him for more and he gave a less-than-enthusiastic reply of “I’m here. If I wasn’t here, it’d be another thing.”
So, how long will Brown stick around?
A few more weeks? A couple of months?
For a coach that fans consider to be peerless and someone appreciated by every level of the organization, it doesn’t sound like Larry Brown is all too excited by the opportunity to return to Charlotte and make several millions of dollars to do what he does best. In order to get a better perspective on his position, let’s look at what he’s done since the end of the regular season.
1. He’s reached out to the Sixers about a front office position.
2. He coached the Bobcats through a 0-4 sweep by the Magic.
3. He refused to commit to leading the team next season.
4. He’s used the “I’m under contract” line to describe his position with the Bobcats.
Is there a limit to how far Michael Jordan will allow this to drag on?
There are only 30 head coaches on the NBA level, and unfortunately Charlotte’s got the guy that doesn’t really want this job any more. What do you do with a brilliant coach that will never be satisfied with his situation? Can the team follow a guy that conducts his job like this?
Links:
Brown Still Not Definitive On Future (The Canadian Press)
Larry Brown Mum On Future Plans With Charlotte Bobcats (Charlotte Observer)
POLL : Will Larry Brown Be Back?
- Yes
(70%, 28 Votes) - No
(30%, 12 Votes)
Total Voters: 40
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Oh, and the Hedo deal??? Are you kidding me???!!!
Go over the hoopshype.com right now (http://hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm) and check out his contract.
Almost double what Diop makes and he gets an extra year in '13-'14 for $12 million! He'll be 35 during that season, btw.
If you do that deal, you have to unload Diop and maybe even get a first rounder as well.
What position is Hedo going to play anyway? The 'Cats strongest players are both natural SFs.
Sorry guys, I just don't get it — unless the team has another deal in the works to move SJAX or Crash, the trade just doesn't make any sense from a roster or financial perspective.
Plus, Hedo has Peja Stojakovic's career arc written all over him. Go ask the Hornets how that's worked out for them.
Well Said
I'll disagree on TC's skillset, but regardless…if the FO plans on moving a C in order to get a PG which every rumor so far has then TC is going to be needed. What else do you propose we get for 4 million bucks? This year a C is pretty hard to come by in FA.
TC is a smart defender and is 7'…big guys get a premium in this league and we could always trade that contract.
I don't like Hedo for all you said (his contract is actually worse…he has a 15% trade kicker) and I agree it weakens the 4 or worse…forces Crash more into that position, but moving Gana and getting a credible PG in Jack softens the blow.
Not my choice at all, but I don't absolutely hate it. Personally I'd rather keep Boris.
BTW, Hoopshype has errors. One obvious point is they have Crash's contract getting annual raises when he's really getting 9.5 flat.
I always use draftexpress, shamsports or storytellers. Much more accurate.
RobC,
I asked you, not Julian June. :)
Tyson Chandler opting out, whether we re-sign him at a reasonable rate or not, would be the single best thing that could happen to the Bobcats this offseason. It gives the Bobcats something they sorely need: money. I'm going to assume Nazr is likely gone in a trade, which would leave us without a starting center. Unless Brendan Haywood is planning to give the Bobcats a bit of a hometown discount, it would be smart to bring Chandler back.
“I’ve heard the Hedo/Jack for Boris/Gana (which I would do, just to get rid of Gana), however, is precisely Gana who is holding the trade. Apparently Toronto wants Nazr instead and MJ said that he’d only take Hedos contract if they take Gana’s. Toronto would still be saving a ton of money. I also heard that a trade like that might happen in Draft night.”
…and if you notice the wiretaps/headlines Toronto has been saying they have a deal for Hedo they can and possibly will do at the draft.
Let’s hope MJ sticks to his guns. If it’s Nazr instead of Gana that trade goes from near fair to taking us to the cleaners.
Am I missing something with you guys wanting re-sign Tyson? You’re talking about Tyson Chandler, right?
Dude is not worth anything over the MLE and that’s just because of his size and position. Injury prone with a below average skill set. He couldn’t even surpass Theo Ratliff on the depth chart during the postseason run.
Please.
See I'm with Jake. If he opts out and we qualify Tyrus (which it seems we will do) then we only have 4 million. That's not getting Haywood nor any other semi-decent C that could even think of playing P&R for Larry Brown.
The only positive (heh!) would be that it'd free up enough to re-sign Felton as we can go over the cap because we have his Bird Rights. Then I guess we could keep Nazr and maybe re-sign Theo to a vet min deal.
BTW RobC…that same rumor is coming out of some Raps fans, so it appears both sides are hearing it. They've even said Gana instead of Nazr.
Julian June,
The Hedo deal is just all over the media, since last week. Charlotte observer for instance (however, they mention Boris/Hedo straight out).
On where do I get the rest, I cannot tell you who, but I happen to know someone that is part of the Bobcats organization. Eventhough he has no saying in the actual decision, he is involve in trade discussions. And no, is not a joke or anything like that. At the same time it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, these are just conversations within the organization.
On Tyson Chandler, the best thing he can do is Opt-out and sign elsewhere. That would be the single best thing that can happen to the Bobcats.
No way the Warriors unload Monta on the Bobcats unless Crash is a part of the deal. They have the third highest attendance in the NBA. Oaksterdam is trying to keep the fans in the seats, folks.
My question about the hedo trade is why would we bring in 3rd SF who would start at the 3 on any other team whose contract is argubaly worse then diop. And if were doing all this jst to get jack. I’d b very disapointed. Unless we get a 1st round pick which I doubt
spectre,
I’m noy sure, but I believe that if Chandler Opts-out the Cats will have about $12M in Cap Space (under the Luxury Tax) Then we need to get a PG and a starting Center.
I think the Cats currently have about $66.7M in payroll, including Tyrus Thomas option of $6.3M. It is my understanding that the Luxury Tax is set at about $66.1M. If Chandler opts-out, that gives the Cats about $12M in Cap space.
Please correct me if I’m wrong. This is according to Hoopshype.
I’m not sure how much Heywood will be asking for, but $8-9M should be fair, given that David Lee is looking for $12-14M.
That being said, if the Cats can trade DJ/Nazr for Mo Williams, sign Brendan Heywood for $9-10M, and then add someone like Earl Watson. Then you can add Flip, Stephen Graham, Theo and it looks like Larry wants Darius Miles, and you can use some of the Salary exceptions.
That would leave a roster of:
Williams/Watson
Jackson/Henderson/Flip
Wallace/Graham/Brown
Diaw/Tyrus/Miles
Heywood/Ajinca/Theo/Gana
RobC-
The actual cap limit is much lower than the luxury tax line. Don’t have the numbers in front of me but I think the cap line is around $59 million. So if Tyson opted out (god willing) then would be sitting at around $48 million before re-signing Tyrus Thomas. Still leaves you with around $12 million though so you’re right on about that.
Brendon Haywood is big upgrade over Tyson btw and a better fit for the team. He’s only had one major injury in his entire career (wrist a couple years back), stays healthy and plays great defense.
The salary cap was 57.7 million last year and Stern said it would probably go down around 1 million…so say 57.
ASCHin is correct in that capspace is the difference between the above and you salary…not the luxury tax limit. Thing is we have to QO Tyrus before July 1st…so you have to add that in. Here's the numbers as I see them however:
Sitting at 59.1 million, subtract TC's 13.2 that puts us at 45.9 million. Tyrus' QO adds 6.3 which moves it back to 52.2 million.
57 million – 52.2 is 4.8 million bucks of capspace.
Due to capholds on both Felton & TC we won't be under the cap unless we officially renounce them…so we'd still have the MLE available.
Why are we worried about what the cap limit is? Won't the Bobcats be spending up to the luxury tax limit?
Please excuse my ignorance on this, I'm not quite as educated on the ins-and-outs of NBA financials as I should be.
I highly doubt the Hedo thing would work. Hedo is more of a Point-Forward and we really already have that with Captain Jack. The only way I buy the Hedo thing is if it's that we have another trade in the works that'll send Hedo to the Kings or back to his beloved Magic. I say we try to pry draft picks from whichever team wants him along with a guy that will balance out the salaries. I feel this years draft will pan out to be one of the best in recent years. For us to not dabble around and try to get a pick here or there would be crazy. I know LB won't play a rookie anyways but atleast it's some insurance for whatever position we would draft. If we could jump in the mid teens to mid 20's we would have a shot at some talent drifting around in there. If Alabi were still left or if Whiteside slides then maybe we could get lucky and pick em up for insurance with TC being such a huge liability. I still think Terrico White can play PG and having an explosive athlete like him on the floor for 10-15 minutes would put some people in their seats. For some reason I still think LB should just go ahead and retire before he screws with the team too much more. There are plenty of candidates out there who would do well with the talent we have. Byron Scott comes to mind.
So that would mean that any free agent move the Bobcats make is going to have to come at the veteran minimum or (one at) the MLE?
If that's the case, the Bobcats should go into this offseason focused on re-signing Felton and Tyrus, and hoping they can get Chandler to sign a pretty reasonable deal that would pay him around $4MM a year.
Jake, the reason is that once you hit the cap limit of 57 million you can only spend the midlevel exception on FAs (about 5.5 million). There’s also the Bi-annual but we don’t have that. Only thing left is the veteran’s minimum.
Remember the LT is the threshold where the NBA taxes you for being over; you’re really “over” at 57 million and thus are restricted in how much money you’re allowed to spend except for your own free agents.
We can re-sign Tyrus, Chandler if he opts out and/or Felton and we wouldn’t be held to that. Those are the only ones though.
The cap also restricts trades. Being under the cap you can take back a much bigger salary then you’re shipping out (see Richardson/Suns trade). If you’re at or above the cap all trades must be within 125% + 100k of each other.
You got it.
This FO loves to trade though. I just hate losing assets for nothing. If it cleared enough where we could maybe go after the bigger names it'd be one thing…but not even space?
Hey guys,
Some Bobcats love from France !
Been reading your blog daily since i've been aware of its existence, the posts and comment are very good.
I've been on the espn trade machine all afternoon and i've finally worked out a trade that could be great since it allows the wolves to move a big man they don't want anymore, which would improve us dramatically at the center position and it also lands us a really good young PG in Collison. Let me know yout thoughts :
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId…
Chuck388
i think it looks really good for the bobcats and the hornets but I absolutely think wolves will not take this deal. This deal is not giving them any expiring deals, or any kind of talents and they also have to give up AL JEFFERSON, one of the best young center in the league. They have the 4th pick this year so their line up may look like.
Jonny Flynn
Wayne Ellington
Wesley Johnson
Kevin Love
Al Jefferson
and don't forget they can also sign ricky rubio in the early future. by doing this, they have to give up one shooting prospect and one still develop-able center.
Good effort though.
Personally would love to see this deal happen.
hahahahaha
Thanks for your analysis,
I was basing this trade according the rumors about the fact that minnesota didn't see Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, 2 similar players, as an effective combination in the middle. To fix the issue at the center position, they can draft a talented and physical defensive big man with their 16th or 23rd pick. Don't count out Corey Brewer, which opened some eyes this season, I don't see Ellington, who didn't have a strong season starting in front of Brewer. Plus, with Al Jefferson, we could afford letting Tyson opt out and sign elsewhere, leaving us with some more cap space to strenghten some positions such as the backup PF, left empty with the departure of Diaw and the likely starts of TT, after we QOd him.
I personally love the trade and I think minn. Might accept since they are shopping al. Maybe if we add a future pick to sealthe deal?
just sign felton, and trade diaw or tyrus , to a post treat forward/center. and atleast trade gana and nazi.