Ok. Now that we all agree that this is a beautiful team that is beautifully coached .... I have some questions. Being a realist, I know that despite all the good feelings around here lately, we more than likely are not going to the Finals. Maybe WCF. But a more likely scenario will be 2nd round after a grueling tough series. The HUGE, BIG, UNDENIABLE hole we have is at the PF position. ASSUMING that Mike James, Sura and McGrady sharing PG duties will suffice, is there a way to keep the current team together and maybe adding a PF of some kind that will provide the toughness, 10pt, 10reb output that will allow us to contend for it all next year? Is there a way to keep the guys who obviously making a difference under the cap? Cuz I like this team! Duh.
Barry and Mutombo are FAs after this season. I am sure Barry would want to come back considering how much he is enjoying himself. I bet we could get him with the Vet minimum. Mutombo is another story. If he doesnt ask for too much we could sign him as well since we have his bird rights. But it really will depend on how much he is asking for and how realistic it is. We still have the MLE to use to acquire a PF. And of course there is the draft. So I think we wont have a problem taking this team into next year. Mike James DOES have a "player option" on his contract at the end of the '06 season so we have to keep an eye on that, especially if he starts to blow up.
We have the draft. We have the MLE. We could still make a trade as Moochie and Spoon will be in their final seasons. But also don't forget we have Badiene who has the perfect body for what we need. The question is can he translate that into the NBA. I'm hoping we'll add him to our bench next season so he'll get experience. I feel pretty good about things, however. Juwan is playing excellent. Even if we stood pat next season, my ONLY concern is that we're another year older. Barring injuries, this team is solid and you'd almost be greedy if you are asking for any significant upgrades.
I believe the best bet would be that we have 3-4 expiring contacts in Spoon, Baker, Norris, and I believe Ward (TO). we can possible pull of a trade with a team who has a servicible PF and are looking to open up cap room, I.E. the Webber to Philly for trash.
I've been wondering the same thing, for the MLE, is it realistic that we can get a significant upgrade at the PF spot over Howard? Or will we have to trade Howard to get someone better?
It is going to have to be via the MLE or the draft. Stromile Swift is the dream PF but we have about a 1% chance of getting him. He has probably played his way above the current MLE, and considering the likelihood of that $ amount getting smaller, I see no way the Rockets can get Swift with the MLE. I see a summer of shrewd player movement in relation to the Rockets. Resign the necessary role players (Barry / Mutombo) if possible. Draft the best frontcourt talent at your position (SF, PF, or C). Work with the MLE, potentially by splitting it again, and hoping at least one of the signees turns into a good, key role player, ala Sura. Don't expect any top of the line PF replacement for next year. The best would seem to be a Donyell Marshall at the full MLE, even though he isn't the perfect PF compliment to Yao, he does have game. Maybe an Othella Harrington type at a portion of the MLE. Or Lee Nailon who has had an up and down career at backup SF/PF. Maybe Tony Massenburg would like to come back to Houston at a minimum contract (though he is really just a taller version of Weatherspoon). Though his numbers aren't great, givent he impact he's had in Seattle this year I think Jerome James will be overpriced.
I'm not a capologist, but I also don't see free agency being the most likely way we get the PF we want. I see us getting a PF through trade first, draft a distant second, and then MLE a distant third. But who knows what will happen with the new CBA. Reggie Evans seems like the most realistic shot at a 10-10 PF this offseason. He should be available for the MLE or less. I bet we could get Kenny Thomas back from the Kings for an expiring contract as well if we wanted him (which I don't really).
Don't forget Bowen's a URFA also. Personally, I think we should sign him for the vet's minimum just because of the defensive effort, hustle, etc. he occasionally provides, but it is another one to put on the total salary number.
Rocket Players 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 Tracy McGrady 14,487,000 15,694,250 16,901,500 Clarence Weatherspoon 5,899,400 6,353,200 0 Juwan Howard 5,408,700 5,900,400 6,292,100 Dikembe Mutombo 4,496,600 0 0 David Wesley 4,455,000 4,950,000 0 Yao Ming 4,436,880 5,594,905 7,272,377q Moochie Norris 3,850,000 4,200,000 t Vin Baker 4,450,000 3,881,250 0 Bob Sura 3,200,000 3,500,000 3,800,000 Mike James 3,000,000 0 0 Charlie Ward 1,700,000 t 0 Jon Barry 1,500,000 0 0 Ryan Bowen 807,546 0 0 Scott Padgett _ 0 0 Zendon Hamilton 720,046 0 0 Andre Barrett _ 0 0 Rod Strickland 195,555 0 0 Brandon Knight 21,404 0 0 Yearly Totals 57,627,531 50,074,005 27,093,600 Here's some numbers to play with. We have to be real careful what we do this summer, since it'll impact future years. I had hopes we could have some cap space in 2005/6, but it looks like we won't, since Yao's contract will suck most of that up. So, I guess it means re-signing our players, bringing in our Euro's, using our TE, MLE and the draft to nab good deals. We still have to assemble the missing pieces shrewdly. I doubt we'll have any way to get Swift, especially since they are a rival.
Most plausible starters (moving Howard to the bench). -Donyell Marshall (full MLE, he will get a slew of offers from over the cap teams like us--I would think we should be on his short list though). -SAR (offer full-MLE, but more realistically negotiate a S&T with Portland for like a #1 pick, the NY #2 pick or another future #1, and expiring contracts). We also could look at a S&T with Chandler or trade for Wilcox with similar offers as described above for SAR, perhaps. Or less for an older player like Kurt Thomas or PJ Brown (would not suprise me based on JVG's seemingly preference for older role players). Most plausible back-ups to displace Spoon/Padget using most of the MLE. -Reggie Evans -Songailia Both are RFA so we have to make offer contracts their current teams decide not to match. Outside of this is is via draft or flyers on further unproven young players based on my reading of current FA 4s. As for Barry, if his vet min (1.1mil?) is not an option we can always use the 1.7 mil exception to keep our MLE intact to fully pursue a 4. Mutumbo we can repeat his current deal, say 8 mil/2 years, using Bird Rights. Because of the additions of James and Wesley and their contract through next year we are in good shape to spend all our efforts (including a full MLE or threat of one to SAR to convince Port or Tor to do a S&T with us) to seek a PF while bring all the key bench players back. We will have as focused and simple mission this offseason as we have had since pre-96, it is a nice feeling.
I would be satisfied to obtain a Defensive PF who can rebound off the bench. JH has earned his starting time.
We only have T-Mac under contract 3 more years after this one??!?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
naw...that cant be right. We signed him to a extension recently...I was under the impression it was for the longest time we could sign him. EDIT: To answer my own question...here is the info from PAtricia's site. in order from left to right.... Player name, Date signed, #of years, total salary, misc, and year of FAgency Houston Rockets Player Vin Baker ............. 8/18/04 2 $7.35 million p-opt '05 Jon Barry ............. 9/16/04 1 $1.8 million '05 Ryan Bowen ......... 9/29/04 1 minimum '05 Dikembe Mutombo .10/9/03 2 $8.6 million '05 Scott Padgett ........ 9/1/04 2 $1.76 million p-opt '05 Andre Barrett .........10/28/04 2 minimum t-opt '06 Mike James ............ 8/5/04 3 $10.23 million p-opt '06 Clarence Weatherspoon . 7/20/01 5 $27,228,000 '06 David Wesley ......... 7/1/97,7/27/01 7+2 $22 mill + $9,405,000 '06 Yao Ming .................10/20/02 4 $18,037,586 rc '06 Moochie Norris ........10/9/01 6 $22.7 million '07 Charlie Ward .......... 8/9/04 3 $5.61 million '07 Juwan Howard ....... 7/16/03 6 $36.9 million p-opt '08 Bob Sura .................8/9/04 4 $14.4 million '08 Tracy McGrady ......... 8/3/00,11/1/04 7+3 $92.88 mill + $63 mill '10
