Meth - when you factor in the partially guaranteed 4th year, Martell's contract is comparable to what Chase Budinger got.
I actually mentioned the Budinger deal specifically because I think he's being overpaid - and yet his contract is shorter and for less total than Webster's. I assume the deal is structured to provide annual raises, which means we're going to be hit hardest when we'll need the cap room most. We need to avoid what happened with OKC, where they screwed themselves by failing to adequately prepare for all their star players coming off their rookie deals.
From a trade standpoint, there IS a difference between 3 years guaranteed and 4 years with only a partial guarantee in the last year. If this doesn't work out, we're stuck with it and that could really hurt us when we need frontcourt help down the road. Ariza's not gonna get it done.
A million extra here and there doesn't sound like the end of the world, but it adds up. League revenues aren't growing the way they used to and you can't just assume that the cap will rise every year. Okafor coming off the books is helpful, but starting centers require $10-15 million these days AND John Wall is going to demand a max or near max deal. Even if you do the right thing and decline Vesely's team option, that still doesn't leave you with a tremendous amount of money left over to improve.
Even if the fourth year of the deal isn't guaranteed, You still have to pay Beal in the summer of 2016. Yes, Nene finally comes off the books then, but he has to be replaced, too, and THAT won't be cheap.
Two years with a partial guarantee on a third for the same money I could live with. Four years at $4 million per year I could live with. Four years at $5+? For a guy who ISN'T your sixth man and you've just relegated to a utility role? Ouch. What happens if Rice pans out?
Remember, too, that Webster's struggled with injuries over the course of his career as well. It just feels like we based this entire deal off of a healthy, contract year with starter minutes, and that's NOT what we're going to get moving forward.
Going forward, there is no doubt that Ariza is moved for some front court help.
*edit*
Not sure if he signed it, or if it was just an offer....but Kyle Korver and the Bucks. 3 years/20 mil
Who?
An expiring contract usually nets you one thing: a bad contract from a team in need of cap relief. Okafor AND Ariza will probably get you somebody like Carlos Boozer or David Lee. No thanks.
I'd hang on to the potential cap space. Next year, you've got a number of big men who will be restricted free agents: Greg Monroe, Larry Sanders, and DMC, for example, whom you might want to sign to an offer sheet. Odds are their teams will match any offer, but you never know what might happen in the draft. Priorities can change and trading for them NOW means you won't get value and you're committing to a player who could get injured, Bynum style, etc. and/or you might not want to match offers for next summer. You could also go out and get Gortat this summer if Okafor walks.
The only big man you could likely swing for Ariza alone would be Asik - and that's a very risky move. He's only making $5.5 million this year, but Houston signed him to the contractual equivalent of a subprime mortgage. His salary explodes to $14 million next year. Houston wouldn't make that deal unless they strike out this summer and move to plan B and need to shed salary for 2014's free agent class.
If the Wizards can prove they're an up and coming team by making a little noise in the playoffs this year, like the Warriors did, then suddenly Washington becomes an attractive destination for once - and just when Okafor AND Ariza come off the books (and we can theoretically dump Vesely, Seraphin, Booker, and Singleton if necessary). I would not squander that opportunity by going for a third-rate big man today.
is there not a legit big guy we can bring in? Looks like the only thing missing is a dominate low post guy. Nene can grab some boards but the 4 and 5 is shallow
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