Mihm question & Sonic Tidbit

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Can someone clarify Mihm's status for this summer/next year?

Did Cleveland make him a qualifying offer -- making him a restricted FA 
this summer?

This is my understand of how it works for rookies:

You have them for the first 3 seasons on the rookie scale.

you can pick up the 4th year option or let them walk after 3rd season.

If you pick up 4th year option, then either sign them to a long term 
deal or make a qualifying offer -- which makes them a restricted FA 
after their 4th year, after which they become unrestricted FA?


----------
from the Herald:

> With the trade deadline having passed, the Celtics will have to wait 
> on their next attempt to get Brent Barry from Seattle. The coveted 
> point guard will be a free agent this summer.
>
> According to sources, the C's tried to get him even-up for Chris 
> Mills, but the Sonics balked.
>
> Talks were expanded, but it apparently came down to the fact the Celts 
> didn't want to take on Calvin Booth (a little more than $19 million 
> over the next three seasons) and Seattle didn't want Michael Stewart 
> ($4.8 million next year).
>
> Ainge wouldn't confirm any of the rumored talks, but said, ``I'm sure 
> we'll probably be talking to Seattle in the summer.''
>
> Barry will be a free agent then, and if the Celts can get him in a 
> sign-and-trade, they would be free to use their mid-level exception 
> elsewhere.
>
> Barry, meanwhile, has reportedly turned down a three-year deal from 
> Seattle for $15 million. Barry wants four years, but is said to have 
> told the Sonics he would take three at $21 million, which the club 
> rejected.

So it sounds like the plan is to try and get Barry with a 
sign-and-trade then use the MLE on someone else.  If its spare 
parts/expiring contracts, that would actually be much more palitable.  
The problem is how do you make this work?  Lets say Barry wants $20m/4 
years or something in that ball park 22/4 just to make the math easier.

The C's could trade Michael Stewart ($4.8 mil, expiring contract), and 
Mihm or Mark Blount (who become slightly more expendable with LaFrentz 
coming back).  With Ray Allen a FA after this year they may want to 
clear room to add another FA -- since he doesn't sound real happy about 
them losing Barry.

Lets say you could do Stewart, Blount for Barry but the Sonics asked 
for Welsch.  Do you do it?  I'm inclined to say heck no.  If the Sonics 
wanted to throw back a #1 and cap garbage (Booth @ 5.9 mil) i might be 
more willing since Barry ostensibly takes Welsch's role.

All in all i'm even less excited about adding Barry than i am about 
Atkins -- mostly b/c we've got Welsch.

(the other) mark