[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Firnen

What about this one?

Matt Seems obligatory, but with so many pieces and a very active GM, what are the latest Rocket trade rumors? Why don’t they just go for broke and bring in Dwight (they have the trade assets), and see if he’s really willing to leave the $30+million in the offseason….or if he’d rather convince Deron Williams to come to Houston. Please give me some good news.

Steve Kyler (Hoopsworld)

Dwight needed to be traded before January 1st to be eligible for a full value contract. If he is traded now or in July, he’s losing guaranteed money. The only team that can give Dwight the most guaranteed money is Orlando… they locked that in January 1st, because you have to be with your team for 6 months to get the full value possible.

Keep in mind, Orlando can do a five year deal, everyone else can do a four year deal… do you really believe Dwight won’t get that fifth year the very minute he is eligible if he leaves Orlando?… Orlando can guarantee it, other teams would have to wait… either way unless Dwight has a career ending injury, he’ll get his money… there just is risk if he leaves Orlando.

The Rockets are active, but they have their pieces set too high on what they want… I see them making a deal, but I am not sure they have the deal they will make in their sights yet.

He's wrong. You have to be with your team for six months to sign a full value extension. But when the off season gets here he can opt out of his contract and either the Magic or whatever team traded for him will have his Bird rights and can sign him to a max value deal.

Some references:

If a trade had been completed by Dec. 30 it would have left a small window to sign a larger extension before June 30, but even this would have been too limiting. Howard could have added only two new years with 4.5 percent raises -- so he still would have been better off by becoming a free agent this summer. Despite rumors to the contrary, Howard did not lose a significant amount of money when he was not traded by Dec. 30. This deadline only mattered if Howard was going to sign an extension.

Finally, the Magic could trade Howard to a team that meets his approval on or before March 15. He would exercise his early-termination option in June, then re-sign with that team as a free agent. Since Howard's Bird rights are traded with him, he would be eligible for the largest possible contract, with five years and 7.5 percent raises ($109.2 million total).

Coon