All the below can be used to acquire talent, move up in the draft, etc:

1. # 8 draft pick

2. Potential sign and trades of Nate and/or Lee. This is an asset when the sign and trade window opens, after the draft. And we already saw (from Sacramento) that we could move Jefferies with Nate. (That right there frees up money for Lee).

3. 45 million in expirings http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm
Hughes - 13.7 million
Harrington - 10 million
Quention - 9.4 million
Duhon - 6 million
Mobley - 9.5 million ***

If a team wants to get rid of a near star talent to save money we have the expirings to do it. We can always include say a signed Lee and expirings for Bosh or something like that. We have lots of possibilities and a bit of time on our side. We only need to have enough money in 2010 to sign on big free agent if we get one this year.

*** Of note and mentioned elsewhere, 7 million of Mobley's contract is paid for by insurance. Next to our #8 selection I see this as our greatest asset. We can combine any of the above, but most notably, our #8 and Mobley's insured contract to move up from our draft spot. It's not out of the question to nab the #2 to #4 pick for those two assets. (As Briggs said, perhaps, Mobley, 3 mill and #8 to Memphis for Darko and #2. We are holding a wild card with the Mobley contract. Basically the Mobley "deal" can save a team 10 million - (7 from Mobley and 3 mill cash).

Which teams are in financial distress? Well, 20 of the 30 teams are not doing well. I pulled out a few names from this article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090227
Sacramento - lotto
Memphis - lotto
Phoenix - very cost conscious
New Orleans - remember the failed trade...
Washington - mentioned wanting to trade out.
and on and on.

For those of you with more knowledge and some time, you can probably come up with many scenarios to move up in the draft or nab a nice pick with just Mobley's contact (and no added cash).

We are holding the big asset guys - 10 million in instant savings (Mobley and 3 mill cash), #8, expirings, etc. and as the draft approaches or on draft day, teams will be coming to us and we will have multiple opportunities IMO.

EMS

Nice post. I wouldn't call them big assets - but I don't think we've had such attractive pieces in a very long time.

Posted by EwingsGlass:

I did a lot of the same research.

http://ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=30982

Nice addition on the teams in financial distress. I think Memphis is the most likely trading partner...
[Edited by - ewingsglass on 06-01-2009 08:55 AM]

Nice EwingGlass, taken from your link: http://ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=30982

Trade Exceptions (expire 1 year from original trade):
Malik Rose $900k
Anthony Roberson $800K
Renaldo Balkman $1.3M
Mardy Collins $1M

That is another 4 million dollars in trade exceptions!!! That is very very nice Ewingglass.

For those not familiar with trade exceptions, it is sort of analagous to the "insured contract by Mobley" in the the recipient is saving money. For example if we trade a 5 million dollar player for a 9 million dollar player we can include the 4 million in exceptions to make it work. Now, the team that receives them doesn't have to spend them, so they just cleared 4 million off the books! Couple that with Mobley's contract, we could theoretically sign a 15 million dollar player from a team looking to clear money. That team in effect has just written 11 million off their books (4 million in exceptions & the 7 million insurance pays.)
Here is a nice link describing the trade exception: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080204214046AAroAKy

Franco12, regarding big or small assets, it depends on your perspective. Those expirings (45 million) could theoretically nab us Bosh if we include some talent and or picks. Remember, Boston gave up a few picks and not much as far as players. We are in a VERY FLEXIBLE position, teams should start coming to us. How much is 7 to 11 million in savings worth?

But again, the huge assets (not big ) is Mobley's expiring and now add to that the 4 million in trade exceptions.
I still don't think many people realize what HUGE deal Mobley's expiring is, since it's insured (and now add 4 million in trade exceptions). ANY team that is in financial trouble can move an expiring contract and save 7 million. It stays on their salary cap but if they are in financial trouble the last thing they want is to go and spend more money.

EMS

I thought it was Rubio, but I am starting to wonder if Walsh would use Chandler and the 2012 to Memphis for the #2? Not sure whether that gets it done, but if we moved to #2 without giving up 8, I think it is to get Thabeet. If we give up the 8, I think we get Rubio.

My opinion this week is that there are too many guards coming out to justify trading assets to move up to pick a guard.

Posted by VDesai:

The question is how much of this we can turn into picks and young players without comprimising the salary cap.

That's a great question. My guess is very little. That's why these expiring contracts don't really excite me. I used to drool over expiring contracts but I've been there, done that.

[Edited by - bonn1997 on 06-01-2009 10:18 AM]

1. I say we go Harrinton/Mobley for Shaq that is an easy move for an expiring contract and make the team much better this season gives them a player that fits their offense and gets rid of a guy that takes minutes from Gallo/Chandler.

2. Would be opposed to offering gallo and the number 8 to take rubio and then resign lee. It gives the team cohesion at three positions and a pg for the future. No way in hell to you take Thabeet after the Gallo selection, no way.

But the first trade should really happen.

MS, I'd rather not rent Shaq for one year and it seems we could get a lot more for Mobley's insured contract. If PHoenix does it, it's cause they raped us. Also, Harrington has some value, he can score. He just has to be on a team where he is not the lead guy(s).

ustopaball12 - Gay isn't exactly a favorite there with the coaches. They might try to flip him.

I think we can use multiple trade exceptions in one trade. I know you can use only a part of a trade exception, so it makes sense. (E.g. - Denver got a 10 million trade exception for Camby. It's like money to them, to be used where they want and not all at once.)-

Posted by MS:

I just want time for chandler and gallo. Harrington isn't going to be resigned. I know he has some value, but he has played for four different teams and doesn't seem to really stick anywhere he goes.

he is like the perfect 6th man or second robin to a nice batman. and the teams he has been just flat out suck and he is the wrong fit.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

The expiring deals are all relatively useless for this club unless we're going to bring in a piece this year that is part of the long term plans.

That's why we should have used our expirings and Dave and Nate at last year's deadline... oh well.

This pick and how we deal with Lee and Nate are huge, huge stepping stones for this franchise. Will we step up, or will we fall on our faces?

It will be interesting to see.

Completely disagree. Kurt Thomas and his exiring deal were traded to Spurs for a bunch of picks I think.

If Duhon or Harrington have super solid season's, they can be dealt to a playoff contender that have similar contracts that expire for players who don't produce.

Kurt was actually moved twice from the suns to the sonics in exchange for picks and then moved to the spurs for picks.

The team is not going to make the playoffs, but the spurs could be a good trading partner because they need what harrinton could bring.

It would be hard to get the salaries to match with SA without another team involved but you could do Al Harrington for two of Kurt Thomas, Matt Bonner, and Roger Mason and two #1 draft picks (likely to be in the 25-30 range). 3 for 1 sucks though. We'd have to waive some players most likely.