re: If we don't make a Shinn/Bower-type signing...

Yes. Let's not forget Anderson. That's one reason I wish we could replace Gordon with another strong player whose contract is `shifted' one year. It'd make dealing with assets near the next Davis extension easier since things would be spaced out more evenly. That extension may be far more important if he ends up where most think he will since the Hornets will have less leverage than they do at the end of the rookie series.

Davis will get the designated player deal, so that's a given. Then there's the other 3, and 2 if Gordon opts out. Anderson will likely command bigger bucks than Rivers, and if he doesn't then he's gone or we have a good problem with Rivers on our hands.

Either way, all of our fancy under the cap moves need to be done well in advance of all of that stuff.