The Houston Rockets have reached an agreement on a three-year contract with Eric Piatkowski, taking the best available long-distance shooter off the open market, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Financial terms weren't available immediately, but the move also confirms that the Rockets won't be matching Memphis' four-year, $24 million offer to restricted free agent James Posey. Houston deemed Piatkowski a more cost-efficient option, given its $55 million payroll and need for a perimeter specialist. The formal signing of Piatkowski, 32, is scheduled for Saturday. The 6-6 swingman, a career 40.2-percent shooter from three-point range, has spent his entire nine-season career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Piatkowski just completed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Clippers -- the longest deal ever bankrolled by owner Donald T. Sterling before Sterling broke from his thrifty tradition to match Miami's six-year, $82 million offer to Elton Brand.
AN ABSOLUTE GREAT MOVE!! THIS SIGNALS THE TYPE OF OFFENSE THE ROCKETS INTEND TO PLAY NEXT SEASON. It will be an inside-out type of offense, so when teams double and triple team Yao, Pike will make teams pay!! Sweat!! It also is a very important move since Boki's shot seems to be missing for good!! Or in case it don't come back!
So is he going to start or come off the bench? Man, I wish they had got some more firepower along w/ Piatowski. Some help at PF or a quality PG would be nice....
I havent seen Patiwoski play, is he more of a Matt Bullard type?? Who can come in, drill some 3's and play no defense??
I think he's slightly more mobile the Air Bull. Not great on defense by any means ( more of a matador defense really), but can shoot the ball. That's just my impression of him though. I'm sure someone around here has scouted him since grade school and can give a complete report on him.
Good, our inside-out game will be that much better like mentioned by tigermission. Also, it makes me worry less bout the only small forward position since it was just Rice and Nachbar before.
Pike has a better handle than Bull. He can drive to the basket for layups and off-glass moves. He can run the floor decently too. But his specially is outside, of course. Pike is an very good FT shooter too (84% career). Remember Matt Bullard was a 6'10" SF. Pike is a 6'6" SG/F. Like a Jon Barry.
If no other moves are made, which I doubt is the case, I would think Rice gets to start at sf while Pike relieves both Cat and Glen.
The SPLASH people hear is Rockets not signing another big contract to another player who played well for just a certain span. Granted it was near the end of the season, but still it doesn't mean Posey will keep it going after this big contract.
