2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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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.

Utah Jazz:
This one is easy as the Jazz would be foolish not to release Mehmet Okur who is entering the final year of his contract that will earn him almost $10.9 million in 2011-12. There are serious questions about his health, and the Jazz have solid depth up front with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and 2011 first-round pick Enes Kanter.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
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