Houston Rockets 2012 Salary Outlook: Key word is "Flexibility"

With Morey at the helm, not many think that the Rockets cannot get it done--it's just a matter of if the players want to come here.

 

Well thought out. But, I don't want to see us put all of our eggs in the "chase after free agent pipe-dreams" basket. We've had our fill of that with Bosh and Melo. We've been very fortunate in the past to land guys like Mcgrady and Drexler, but we need to look at the draft to find a star. I've said it many times, but nobody seems to talk about it.

I think this may be what Morey is leaning toward, too. Loading up on draft picks and liquid assets is a good way to move up in the draft, by packaging them with our own lottery picks. It takes some luck, but I think it's much more likely that we trade up into the top 6 or 7 in the draft and find a franchise guy than finding one via trade or FA.

It doesn't hurt to go after the Melo's, Howard's, and Chris Paul's of the league when they are available, but I think forming your roster around the hopes of getting them is futile.

 

Im guessing nearly everyone will disagree with me here, but it wouldnt surprise me if we used our option on Thabeet next year.

Reasoning?

So basically we got rid of Battier & Ish for a protected 1st we cant use till 2013?

Ive heard it said again and again that you shouldnt evaluate a big man too quickly. Everyone knows what Thabeets record is to this point. Did Morey really think 2 more months was going to tell us much more about the guy? Doesnt it seem more likely he would give him another full year to learn and grow?

If we are really shooting for a coup in 2012, doesnt it matter too much what our cap situation is in 2011?

 

What about next year?

I was looking over Free agent targets...i guess it is possible we can get a decent player.

Centers

Nene (as of now)
Oden
Marc Gasol
Deadre Jordan

I am not sure how those teams pay roll flexibility is but I do know that grizzlies cant afford to over pay another player.

I am not sure how clippers salary cap looks but id imagine theyd match anything we offered

Then there are two restricted wing free agents
Wilson Chandler
Jeff Green

They would be back up plus to the centers above...

Dalembert is there as a last option and also fesenko...

anyone know how high those teams can afford to go and if we can get under the cap enough to make a run at any of them? (sucks perkins is off the market)

 

I think they won't exercise it and will re-sign him on a much cheaper, short-term deal.

 

Point taken, but just because we decide not to extend him at $6 mil doesn't mean we couldn't sign him as a free agent if he showed promise. At least we'd get a look at him next year without being committed to him. Seems to me that's the best way to go given the uncertainty around his NBA viability. Nothing is preventing us from signing him in 2012 if he proves worth having on the roster.

 

I suppose that could work. Even at 2m for 1 year, who else would take a chance on him?

 

I think Morey is looking to draft the guy in the draft also...but I'll say this.

If you can get CP3 or Dwight...the other one will follow. If Morey can convince one of these guys to come it's going to be easier to get the other.

 

Good Thread and well thought out points.

-If Morey learned one thing from this trading deadline its that Teams will not deal their star players to other teams in their conference if they can help it. That is reason #1 why Houston was never seriously discussed in the Melo/DWilliams trade discussions.

-Out of the 2012 free agent class, The main target here has to be Dwight Howard although most indications say he will look at the Lakers as the #1 option. Not sure what the Lakers outlook looks like for 2012 but I know that if their trade package is centered around Bynum alone then Houston has the edge in early dealings with Orlando.

I wouldn't even be surprised (if Orlando has a dissapointing postseason this year) for Orlando to learn from what the Jazz did last month and take the upperhand and trade Howard this summer if they are confident he will not sign an extension so they can take advantage of the best deal and not be put in a corner to sign with one team and one team only like Melo did to the Nuggets.

If the Magic go deep in the playoffs then Im almost positive that they ride Howard to the end and try and to get another productive championship run out of him.

-CP3 will most likely be go East because AGAIN, New Orleans will not want to deal him to a conference rival. Dont be surprised if Orlando pops up as a potential suitor for CP3 as early as this summer to team up with Howard. Orlando knows this might be the only way to get Howard to stay.

-Deron Williams is in a wierd situation in New Jersey but I have a hard time believing the Nets wont put talent around Williams this summer and convince him to stay. Seeing as the Nets just traded the farm for him, I sincerely doubt they will trade him next season unless its a sign and trade. Really difficult to see that happening.

-As far as the Rockets are concerned they need do everything they can to stay as flexible as possible and develop guys like Budinger, Williams, Hill, and Thabeet as hope that 2 or more of the young guys can develop into All-Star caliber players. Doing that while drafting smart with some players with major upside.

*The important thing to remember is that the more superstars their are in the East, the better chance the Rockets have at aquiring them in a deal. Alot of the superstars are already in the East now, but aren't getting any younger. Those players like Wade, Bosh, Amare wont be targets for the Rockets in the future most likely. Howard might be the only All-Star in the East with longevity for the future. Even Lebron might decline severly in 3 seasons.

Most of the future All-Stars (Durant, Griffin, Love) are in the West, which is scary for the Rockets if they want to aquire one in a trade. Their most likely option for the Rockets would be to start developing your own and being optomistic about Howard in 2012. I just wouldnt put all their eggs in one basket.

 

Bima did it better and quicker. Too many assumptions here and many seem more unrealistic than normal projections.

 

^How about you take a crack at contributing in your own thread, buddy?

 

There are a lot of assumptions here.

And i still think there's no way DH comes to Houston. He's staying in Orlando or going to LA. Id even say he'd go to the clips for Jordan + others before he comes here.

 

I agree.........nothing more to say!

 

I think to assume that there are no significant trades between now and then requires some suspension of disbelief.

When was the last time DM went six months without shaking things up? Even if it is just minor deals they can have a major effect on cap position. Prognosticating that far down the road is probably a mistake.

 

I think there's a very high likelihood that Scola is moved, either this offseason, next season, or in the 2012 offseason. He's 31 years old right now, and while his offensive game is very well rounded, his overall game is not; specifically he's a liability on defense. Given his reasonable contract and value to other teams, and given our new direction as a team and strong need for a defensive presense in the paint, I don't see Scola staying a Rocket. Likewise, the emergence of Patterson makes committing to Scola less appropriate, and if we lock Chuck up for another 4 years (which i sincerely hope we do), we have to assume that it will be with the intent that he'd get some minutes at his natural position (as opposed to the desperation play he's been used to at center).

I also do not think there's any way Hill is on this team by the time the 2012 offseason rolls around. Having doubled down on Thabeet, i do not see how we can continue to commit $3.5 mil to this guy; who might i add, has been nothing but disappointing.

Hill and scola must be moved as part of our new recipe for future success.

 

Can't help but think Morey will offer Scola and Whomever + picks for Bosh and Whatever. I know the Super Friends - Miami looks good on paper, but keeping those contracts together under the new CBA is probably gonna be difficult, and Miami has no depth to speak of.

I mean, let's face it, Morey is reeeeeeeeeaally ****-up for an All Star. Certainly we have learned that one All Star will lure others.

And Scola wouldn't have too much trouble with such a trade, having a chance for a ring, easier flights home, and, well, Miami itself.

 

Are you some sort of degenerate offspring of Swoly?