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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.

Captain Obvious 06-24-2011 10:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx2.25 (total posts: 1)

You said:
"After Thursday evening, it will mark three years in a row that a point guard went first overall..."
WTF happened to Blake Griffin??? LOL.

waltair 06-21-2011 09:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

waltare you need a cheif editor this is bad

Walter 06-21-2011 01:43 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Thanks, Fitz. Fixed.

Austin 06-19-2011 01:18 am xxx.xxx.xxx8.49 (total posts: 1)

If Leonard can prove he is capable of knocking down shots, the raptors might reach for him at five, he can provide the rebounding that their bigs, not pointing fingers but a seven foot i-tie, don't. It's a reach for sure, but it might be a good fit. He will also improve their abominable defense.

Fitz 06-18-2011 01:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3)

Well the Tristan Thompson article is good.

The Hamilton Article has one mistake.In the 1st paragraph it says, "there are concerns about him about him being dialed in..." You put "about him" twice.

Walter 06-17-2011 01:52 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Haha thanks for that. I definitely won't hate you for it. It's hard to proofread at 2 am.

Fitz 06-16-2011 03:46 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3)

Yea i understand. Gotta make that paper ha.

Btw, in the last paragraph of the Singleton article it needs to say, "never will BE a star". Right now its says, "never will a star".

I decided I'm gonna keep gonna keep correcting your articles until you start hating me

Walter 06-14-2011 01:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Haha definitely not my morals. It's what the advertisers and Google want, and since this is my main source of income, I have to do as they say.

Fitz 06-13-2011 02:17 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.52 (total posts: 3)

Yea I figured it was probably just bad grammar on Liggins' part but I figured I would correct it just in case.

You cant say anything with a** in it or sh*t and a few others such as d*ck and so on and so forth. I understand if you have to do it because of advertisers and things like that, but I hope it's not because of your morals haha

Walter 06-13-2011 01:42 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Thanks, Fitz. I made some of the corrections.

Two of them were wrong though because that's how the quote was said. You should never fix the grammar in the quote if that's how the player said it.

What specific filter are you talking about?

Fitz 06-11-2011 11:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3)

*Hands instead of hand.

Haha i f'ed up while correcting your f ups. And you need to get rid of the bad language filter on here imo. It's annoying

Fitz 06-11-2011 11:52 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3)

Walt- Well the first sentence did say Every year i scratch at instead of scratch my head at, but i guess u just fixed that recently.

In the 3rd paragraph you say "the extremely talent bunch of recruits coming to Kentucky...". It should be TALENTED bunch

5th paragraph- "We had other guys who more highly recruited than me..." Should be "other guys who WERE more highly recruited than me"

7th paragraph- "but he never showed a consistency in attacking the basket." you need to take out the A.

8th paragraph- Hands instead of hands in " I didn't have the ball in my hand a lot"

I'm not trying to be a grammar nazi btw. Just trying to help out.

JimB 06-11-2011 09:13 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.14 (total posts: 1)

I believe he'll get drafted. His offense has improved year after year, he keeps improving his all around game and is reasonably athletic. I watched him play a lot at KY and his D is top notch. What team wouldn't want a wing player to come in off the bench and defend tirelessly and well, rebound, scrap for loose balls, and score if left open. He's the perfect player for that role, and a team first player as well. 2nd round to the Knicks or Celtics....

Walter 06-11-2011 01:15 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Where are the errors?

Fitz 06-10-2011 03:30 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.79 (total posts: 3)

Walt, did you really edit this? Because there are still a ton of errors. If you ever want someone to proofread your stuff I'll be more than happy to. It's part of my job so I know what I'm doing. And trust me, you need it ha.

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2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

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

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 25

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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