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2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division

One of the topics expected to be discussed during the pending NBA lockout is the possible revival of The Allan Houston Rule. When a new CBA was agreed upon in 2005, it allowed NBA teams a one-time opportunity to waive a player and not have his contract count against the luxury tax. The released player becomes a free agent but his salary still gets paid and counts against his former team's salary cap. Ironically enough, Allan Houston was not a victim of The Allan Houston Rule. The Knicks instead decided to waive Jerome Williams.

If the new CBA once again invokes this clause, most teams will probably take advantage since it would save them possibly tens of millions of dollars. To keep up with the times, we will change the name of this from "The Allan Houston Rule" to the "Rashard Arenas Rule" since Rashard Lewis and Gilbert Arenas easily have the two worst contracts in the league. Allow me to break down each team and who would end up being the casualties of this rule. I'll start with the Southeast Division.

Denver Nuggets:
The Nuggets would likely jump at the chance to erase last summer's mistake of signing Al Harrington to the full mid-level exception. He is scheduled to make about $27.6 million over the next four years. That is an awful lot to pay someone who averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season and is clearly on the downside of his career. Denver is well under the cap though and getting rid of Harrington would leave them without a power forward. They could instead cut Kosta Koufos who is guaranteed $2.2 million this season in the final guaranteed year of his rookie contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves:
The 2005 Allan Houston Rule stated that a player acquired after June 21 could not be released. If that stipulation remained this time around, then newly acquired Brad Miller would be immune to this clause. Since the Timberwolves are not near the luxury tax, they likely pass on this one-time opportunity unless they look to cut Darko Milicic (three years, about $15.7 million remaining) or Nikola Pekovic (two years, almost $9 million left).

Oklahoma City Thunder:
The Thunder have created the blueprint on how to build a NBA franchise and not overspend on players. Still, they would probably consider cutting one of two players: Nate Robinson or B.J. Mullens. Robinson is in the final year of his contract that will net him $4.5 million despite the fact that he'll likely be the fourth point guard on the depth chart behind Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor and 2011 first-round pick, Reggie Jackson.

As for Mullens, he is only slated to make about $1.3 million in 2011-12 and about $2.2 million in 2012-13. However, he has also fallen to fourth on the center depth chart behind Kendrick Perkins, Nazr Mohammed and Cole Aldrich. Plus, Mullens has not shown the development in his two seasons in the league that Oklahoma City would have hoped for.

Portland Trail Blazers:
You would have to assume Portland's front office would think long and hard about dumping Brandon Roy who is guaranteed more than $49 million over the next three seasons but is a shadow of his former self due to chronic knee issues. It would be a difficult decision to make but it would save the Blazers a ton of money. If Roy's health is deemed OK and he is not released, Portland likely passes on the rule since it does not have any terrible contracts.

SunsFan 07-06-2012 02:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.183 (total posts: 1)

Why the MOTHERF U C KING LAKERS!!!!!NASH WHY!!!!

CJ 07-05-2012 07:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4)

Again Banks is clueless, claiming Eric Gordon has already re-signed with New Orleans.

Also the 'Clippers' weren't involved in the Marvin Williams/Devin Harris trade. Does this guy even proof read anything he writes?

Atrocious.

abe 07-05-2012 08:39 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.87 (total posts: 1)

walt eric gordon is signing with the suns not the hornets

Ben Wallace 07-04-2012 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1)

To be totally honest, Henson and Zeller wouldn't be any better than Meyers Leonard. They are all going to bust.

C-3PO 07-04-2012 05:27 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 1)

Eric Gordon signed an offer sheet with the Suns dumb @ss, New Orleans has yet to match that offer, so he didn't resign like you said.

Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2)

The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen.

A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams.

Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2)

@CJ 07-03-2012 04:33 am xxx.xxx.xxx.104 (total posts: 1)

121

So basically you're asking Walt to fire one "clueless" dumbass for another? lol Whats the point?

Rise Above

CJ 06-30-2012 04:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4)

213

107

Paul Banks, yet again showing how clueless he is. Almost every other draft analyst has the Rockets' with a positive ranking. This clown does understand that the Rockets are likely to make trades, with all the assets they've compiled?

I agree that Meyers Leonard is probably going to be a bust, but you can't call Portland a 'loser' for stealing the 6th pick from the Nets.

How about a 'loser' ranking for the Cavs for reaching so much for Dion Waiters? Or trading all their other picks for another likely bust in Tyler Zeller? But Banks has a 'man crush' (not that there's anything wrong with that) on Waiters, so he'd never mark the Cavs down.

Fire this guy Walt, I'll work for free!

Ben 06-25-2012 09:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.254 (total posts: 1)

So....Henson is overrated because he has trouble keeping and putting on weight and strength. And you stated that size and strength is everything in the nba for a big. But....isn't Davis just as if not more lanky and undersized than Henson....? And Henson is only one year older and both have similar wingspans? Just a thought..

@Live 06-22-2012 10:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.15 (total posts: 1)

You are an idiot, you apparently don't know how basketball trades work, its all about salary dumping. IN the NBA you are either rebuilding, championship contender, or youar e going to stay consistently medicore. They were never going ot win a championship with Okafor and Ariza taking up that much money on their books.

Live 06-22-2012 04:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.80 (total posts: 1)

Washington - B
Hornets - Big fat F

Sure the Hornets is going to waive Lewis and relieve cap space to sign Gordon to a longer deal and draft Anthony Davis but so what! They let go a great defensive guy that can hit 3s here and there. They got NOTHING in return for Ariza and Okafor but a 2nd rounder. I didn't like what the Hornets got in return and it was a bad deal IMO.

Vince 06-19-2012 04:03 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.99 (total posts: 1)

It was a play on words, not a pun. More importantly, know who else couldn't bench press 185 pounds at the NBA Combine? This one player called Kevin Durant.

Ben 04-15-2012 09:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.65 (total posts: 1)

I like how only one of these players actually got traded

Omar 03-23-2012 04:20 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.60 (total posts: 1)

its a good thing i was wearing sartight white with built in neon when i went to the Super bowl. they almost didnt let me on the field:) and on a side note.. i feel bad for Slash:/

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2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

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2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

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2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

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