Allegedly Lazar will be moving on to Houston as a part of the OKC/Houston James Harden trade
Lazar traded with others to Houston Per ESPN, Yahoo, etc
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8562868/sources-oklahoma-city-thunder-trade-james-harden-houston-rockets
and James Harden, Daequan Cook, and Cole Aldrich for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb and future draft picks. Obviously, the key to the trade was Lazar!
Lazar Hayward traded to the Houston Rockets
Written by: noreply@blogger.com (muwarrior92)
Lazar Hayward was traded to the Houston Rockets (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8562868/oklahoma-city-thunder-trade-james-harden-houston-rockets) tonight as part of a bigger deal that saw James Harden going to the Rockets for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb.
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2012/10/lazar-hayward-traded-to-houston-rockets.html
Yikes! Did you see the Rockets' roster?
I hope Zar makes it!
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/hou/houston-rockets
Their roster is pretty awful
I honestly love this move for OKC.
Oh man, Asik and Lin are entirely overpaid
I think this is a good move for OKC. They will miss Harden, but he's not a max contract player. He was the third best player on that team.
Houston's been desperate for a max contract player, any max contract player, for awhile now. It's also pretty obvious Morey doesn't value draft picks anymore, after spending two years accumulating non-lottery assets to make a run at a big name, only to learn his accumulated assets weren't worth jack. I still think Morey is a good gm, and this throw in the towel trade for any arguably max contract guy just shows that's team building in the NBA is 90 percent luck.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on October 28, 2012, 09:07:44 AM
I think this is a good move for OKC. They will miss Harden, but he's not a max contract player. He was the third best player on that team.
True, the third best player on his team, but would most likely be the best player on at least 10-12 teams in the league.
OKC tried to short change him by 5 mil, he passed, and will get his $.
If you look at the deal, it for an unknown in Lamb, and aging Martin, and some lottery protected picks.
Don't think any team screwed over another, but like what Houston did in this.
Quote from: loosifer on October 29, 2012, 07:31:22 AM
Big East Prediction Standings:
1. 4everwarriors 23
2. mileskishnish7 22
T3. McHenry Warrior 21
T3. Danny Noonan 21
Very clever spam!
http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/10/29/the-oklahoma-city-thunder-stumble-while-following-the-oklahoma-city-thunder-plan/
Nice Freakanomics breakdown here
Quote from: reinko on October 28, 2012, 08:01:13 PM
True, the third best player on his team, but would most likely be the best player on at least 10-12 teams in the league.
See I don't think he will be the same player as the top focus on another team. It is entirely a different beast when you don't have Durant and Westbrook on your team and instead you become "the man."
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on October 29, 2012, 10:22:45 AM
See I don't think he will be the same player as the top focus on another team. It is entirely a different beast when you don't have Durant and Westbrook on your team and instead you become "the man."
Harden has potential to become the next Ben Gordon.
I really like both players but neither is the type of player you can build a team around. In fact, when is the time a legit title contender was led by a player who did little more than score?
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on October 29, 2012, 10:22:45 AM
See I don't think he will be the same player as the top focus on another team. It is entirely a different beast when you don't have Durant and Westbrook on your team and instead you become "the man."
Agreed. I am looking at the Houston roster and Lazar should get some playing time here. He might be an underratted piece to this entire trade no one is talking about. I wish him well. Houston could work for him. I don't want him to get into the rut of always being a guy who is the throw in in trades...Geez this is the 3rd time already for the man. Somebody better play him...if they don't about him and his game they better come back to where he flourished ask somebody!
Quote from: MUBurrow on October 28, 2012, 10:32:26 AM
Houston's been desperate for a max contract player, any max contract player, for awhile now. It's also pretty obvious Morey doesn't value draft picks anymore, after spending two years accumulating non-lottery assets to make a run at a big name, only to learn his accumulated assets weren't worth jack. I still think Morey is a good gm, and this throw in the towel trade for any arguably max contract guy just shows that's team building in the NBA is 90 percent luck.
What are you talking about!? Morey has assembled great draft pick and used them as assets.
What do you mean he doesn't value draft picks? He just used them to get arguably the best SG in the NBA once Kobe hangs it up.
I dont get what you are saying at all! You are way off here. This was a great trade for Houston!
Harden is only 23 years old. Now personally I don't like him as a player but I am no fool, he is an Olympian and he is a game changer.
Harden is a good all around player who I dont think fit with Westbrook or Russell with him long term.
But there is no telling how good he and Jeremy Lin can be. Terrance Jones the rookie can be a monster and so can some of the others like Donatas or the Parsons kid.
IMO you need to re-think this. This was a great deal. Now in this Summer's free agency watch a Star will consider Houston...for sure.
It depends upon who they go with as head coach. Perhaps they bring in John Lucas and so someone radical like that...not sure Kevin McHale will work.
But I disagree with your assessment. This was a no-brainer for them.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on October 29, 2012, 10:37:16 AM
Harden has potential to become the next Ben Gordon.
I really like both players but neither is the type of player you can build a team around. In fact, when is the time a legit title contender was led by a player who did little more than score?
Harden is a far more well-rounded player than Gordon. He's a solid defender and excellent ballhandler and playmaker. Also, unlike Gordon, he can score off the drive and has legit two-guard size.
Quote from: Pakuni on October 29, 2012, 12:45:42 PM
Harden is a far more well-rounded player than Gordon. He's a solid defender and excellent ballhandler and playmaker. Also, unlike Gordon, he can score off the drive and has legit two-guard size.
Agreed. Harden is a top 2-3 SG in the entire league. Great move. No one in their right minds should criticize this for Houston...
Quote from: MUHoopsFan2 on October 29, 2012, 12:43:24 PM
What are you talking about!? Morey has assembled great draft pick and used them as assets.
What do you mean he doesn't value draft picks? He just used them to get arguably the best SG in the NBA once Kobe hangs it up.
I dont get what you are saying at all! You are way off here. This was a great trade for Houston!
Harden is only 23 years old. Now personally I don't like him as a player but I am no fool, he is an Olympian and he is a game changer.
Harden is a good all around player who I dont think fit with Westbrook or Russell with him long term.
But there is no telling how good he and Jeremy Lin can be. Terrance Jones the rookie can be a monster and so can some of the others like Donatas or the Parsons kid.
IMO you need to re-think this. This was a great deal. Now in this Summer's free agency watch a Star will consider Houston...for sure.
It depends upon who they go with as head coach. Perhaps they bring in John Lucas and so someone radical like that...not sure Kevin McHale will work.
But I disagree with your assessment. This was a no-brainer for them.
Re: draft picks, operative word was "anymore." Morey has spent a half decade accumulating assets in prep for the summer of lebron and beyond. He undoubtedly valued draft picks more than any gm in the league until recently. But over the last 3 years, he's a) accumulated cap space only to be spurned by Chris bosh et al, then b) turned that cap space into draft picks to trade for Chris Paul, Paul gasol, Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard only to find his assets weren't enough. This trade is the culmination of all those efforts. After acquiring assets Morey thought would net superstars, he's got a "superstar" that couldn't find the floor in the finals, Jeremy Lin and Omer asik. My argument was that Morey didn't do anything really wrong to get to this point, but James harden is a player he's resigned to pin his job on, he's not the type of player he set out to acquire.
I'll agree that if harden makes top free agents look at Houston this might work out, but with Lin and asik's. deals the cap space now ironically isn't there. This was a trade Morey had to make, but its only a "good" one relative his inability to do better up to this point, not compared to moves that win championships.
Looks like Lazar will be waived by Houston.
Hope he can catch on somewhere.
Quote from: MUfan12 on October 29, 2012, 03:47:49 PM
Looks like Lazar will be waived by Houston.
Hope he can catch on somewhere.
Yep.
johnhollinger John Hollinger
Rockets have now cut *six* players with guaranteed money -- Brockman, Livingston, Fisher, Forbes, Hayward, Johnson. But total only about $6M
51 minutes ago
Quote from: MUBurrow on October 29, 2012, 02:30:37 PM
I'll agree that if harden makes top free agents look at Houston this might work out, but with Lin and asik's. deals the cap space now ironically isn't there. This was a trade Morey had to make, but its only a "good" one relative his inability to do better up to this point, not compared to moves that win championships.
Actually, they still have enough cap space to sign a max player next year.
Quote from: jmayer1 on October 29, 2012, 05:06:31 PM
Actually, they still have enough cap space to sign a max player next year.
i definitely stand corrected then. I do have to say that surprises me, given the crazy poison pill in asik's deal.
Quote from: MUBurrow on October 29, 2012, 05:14:39 PM
i definitely stand corrected then. I do have to say that surprises me, given the crazy poison pill in asik's deal.
I'm happy that Omer cashed in, but that contract is baaaaaaaad.
but the Rockets have some heavy contracts in a couple years.
If they sign Harden to $15m a year that puts them over $50 million for 2014-15 with just Harden, Asik ($14.9), Lin ($14.9), and Scola ($6.5).
Are those 4 really worth almost 90% of your cap?
Just filling the roster may put them over the salary tax threshold of $70m. And the 2014 salary tax should start at about 1.50 tax for every 1.00 you're over the $70.
Quote from: oldwarrior81 on October 29, 2012, 05:24:40 PM
but the Rockets have some heavy contracts in a couple years.
If they sign Harden to $15m a year that puts them over $50 million for 2014-15 with just Harden, Asik ($14.9), Lin ($14.9), and Scola ($6.5).
Are those 4 really worth almost 90% of your cap?
Just filling the roster may put them over the salary tax threshold of $70m. And the 2014 salary tax should start at about 1.50 tax for every 1.00 you're over the $70.
Actually, the poison pill contracts for Lin and Asik only applied if their original teams (Knicks and Bulls) matched the offer sheets. Since they are both with the Rockets now, the cap hits for both of them are $8.4 million per year for the next 3 years. Also Scola was amnestied, so although they do have to pay most of his contract, he does not count against the salary cap. They have enough money to get a max contract player next offseason if they want to.
Wait, so you can poison pill NBA contracts so they only impact the team that holds the original rights? That's ridiculous. So Houston isn't even paying what Chicago and New York would have had to pay? That completely undermines the premise of NBA extensions and the Larry Bird rule. That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard, and I've read most of KenoshaWarrior's posts.
Quote from: brewcity77 on October 29, 2012, 09:14:30 PM
Wait, so you can poison pill NBA contracts so they only impact the team that holds the original rights? That's ridiculous. So Houston isn't even paying what Chicago and New York would have had to pay? That completely undermines the premise of NBA extensions and the Larry Bird rule. That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard, and I've read most of KenoshaWarrior's posts.
I agree, but just to be clear the Rockets are paying the same total amount that the Bulls or Knicks would have paid. The structure is just different. Whereas the Bulls would be paying Asik $5 million in year 1 and 2, and then $14 million in year 3, the Rockets are paying him $8 million each year for 3 years. Every time a new CBA is agreed to, teams instantly try to find the loopholes. The Rockets are one of the smartest teams in the league and they were the first to discover the poison pill contract. The league is already talking about eliminating this type of contract in the next CBA.
Its better than it used to be. Gilbert Arenas was offered a contract his current team wasn't even ALLOWED to match, with the weird birds right language for 2nd round/undrafted picks. They changed the rule so they can match, but only with the weird structure. Thats why you only see this wonky stuff on 2nd rounders (Asik) and undrafteds (Lin).
Quote from: boyonthedock on October 30, 2012, 07:58:23 AM
Its better than it used to be. Gilbert Arenas was offered a contract his current team wasn't even ALLOWED to match, with the weird birds right language for 2nd round/undrafted picks. They changed the rule so they can match, but only with the weird structure. Thats why you only see this wonky stuff on 2nd rounders (Asik) and undrafteds (Lin).
The Warriors were allowed to match the contract Gilbert Arenas was given, they just would have had to clear salary cap (around $20 million) before doing so. Regardless, it made it really hard on them to keep a 2nd rounder who they developed.
Quote from: damuts222 on October 28, 2012, 09:04:45 AM
Oh man, Asik and Lin are entirely overpaid
Believe me they are shaking heads in Chicago, probably in New York, as well.
Lazar officially waived on the 29th.
Any news about his next destination?
Quote from: MarquetteBamaFan on October 29, 2012, 09:23:40 PM
I agree, but just to be clear the Rockets are paying the same total amount that the Bulls or Knicks would have paid. The structure is just different. Whereas the Bulls would be paying Asik $5 million in year 1 and 2, and then $14 million in year 3, the Rockets are paying him $8 million each year for 3 years. Every time a new CBA is agreed to, teams instantly try to find the loopholes. The Rockets are one of the smartest teams in the league and they were the first to discover the poison pill contract. The league is already talking about eliminating this type of contract in the next CBA.
Pretty sure the $5-$5-$14 is what Houston is paying Asik. Poison pill 3rd year:
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/houston-rockets/omer-asik/
Quote from: MUCrew on November 01, 2012, 08:14:41 AM
Pretty sure the $5-$5-$14 is what Houston is paying Asik. Poison pill 3rd year:
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/houston-rockets/omer-asik/
That's correct.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm (http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm)
Quote from: jmayer1 on November 01, 2012, 08:58:56 AM
That's correct.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm (http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm)
The Rockets are paying 21 players this season?!?
Maybe that's what they're actually paying him, but the $8 mil/year is what his cap hit is for them?
Quote from: MUCrew on November 01, 2012, 08:14:41 AM
Pretty sure the $5-$5-$14 is what Houston is paying Asik. Poison pill 3rd year:
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/houston-rockets/omer-asik/
No, the cap hit is $8,374,646 for each of the next 3 years for Asik and Lin. When they actually pay either of them doesn't matter, it's when the Rockets must recognize the money on their salary cap. And yes, they are paying around 20 guys this year because they had to cut a few guaranteed salary guys to get to 15 (Lazar being one of them).
http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/HOU.html
Quote from: MarquetteBamaFan on November 01, 2012, 10:37:54 AM
No, the cap hit is $8,374,646 for each of the next 3 years for Asik and Lin. When they actually pay either of them doesn't matter, it's when the Rockets must recognize the money on their salary cap. And yes, they are paying around 20 guys this year because they had to cut a few guaranteed salary guys to get to 15 (Lazar being one of them).
http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/HOU.html
I stand corrected.
Any word on Lazar getting another shot with an NBA team? At this point the D-League or Europe seems most likely. I wish Lazar well, good kid and great college player.
I'll bump this. He was not selected in the D-League Draft. Anybody know what he's doing?
Is he eligible for the D League draft?
Quote from: Avenue Commons on November 05, 2012, 09:03:29 AM
Is he eligible for the D League draft?
I would HIGHLY doubt that, considering he has had a few stints down there already