FanPost

Has Riley Gone to the Dark Side?

The Heat can actually offer some money for Fisher because of the complex rules of the salary cap combined with the fact that Fish is embarking upon the twilight of his career.

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via blogs.tampabay.com

 

 

Like Miami did with Odom, they can spread it out over years (the sick thing is that even if Odom had gone to Miami, they still could have signed the three princes, can you imagine?). Since Fish really has two years left in the tank (one at most as a starter), three would be very optimistic, and since Miami is very unlikely to hit the luxury tax this year, and can almost be certain of never being under the cap again the next four years, they can offer Fish a five year contract without causing too many problems to the bottom line (not to mention all of those Lebron jerseys). Basically whatever meager salary they offer him is basically doubled if they go the full five years.

 

E.g. Lakers 2 years 3 million= $6 Million

Miami could offer 5 years 1.5 million = $7.5 Million

Now Miami could go as high as 3 million x 5 years = $15 Million

Not that I think they would offer so much, but basically Miami could really drive up the price for Fish to 2-3 years for 5 million for the Lakers (probably won't give him a five year deal, because they will probably be over the cap in 2-4 years). That's a lot of change.

I think this is why Fish fits in for Miami, he fits the exact need of the Heat right now,

1. a guy who can start at point next year and 
2. who isn't that expensive who could fit in that <2-3 million they have left in cap room and 
3. a guy they can pay less money in the 1st year of his contract, by extending it out past his useful service level which just happen to fits their needs right now
4. He has a pulse and can shoot
5. He can teach Lebron intangibles
6. It hurts the Lakers, so its an addition and a subtraction

This puts the Lakers at a big disadvantage because basically, every dollar they offer Fish, they unlike Miami, have to pay two dollars (so heat can spend 2x as much by offering 5 years and still pay the same amount). BUT if we do not sign Fish, Lakers almost certainly have to sign Farmar to compete or at least do a sign and trade, so either way Lakers will have to pay. Thus between this fact and the fact that Kobe wants to get him back, Fish gets re-signed, but it probably means Farmar and Brown are gone. The other option is a sign and trade with Farmar and Brown for another point guard, but since Kobe wants Fish back, I don't see that happening.

Now ALL OF THE ABOVE is probably EXACTLY known by Pat Riley and he probably KNOWS Fish is going to be a Laker, BUT he is just depleting the LAKER war chest. I guess the cold war has begun already, but I can't believe Riley has gone so far to the dark side.

Say it ain't so Pat, let's see what he offers before we blow up his posters.

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