[Feigan Chron Blog]: Bonzi, $2.1 MLE, Snyder, Cato, Kandi, Van Horn

[JoeBarelyCares]

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/

September 13, 2006
Warmed over free agent leftovers
The Rockets are pretty much set on the roster the will bring to training camp.

Changes can come before the season and likely will by the February trade deadline. Check out each of the past two seasons when the Rockets made more deals than any NBA team and the odds are that the roster that shows up in Austin in a few weeks won't go untouched through the season. But as much as news about every available free agent sparks debate about continued summer shopping, the bus is pretty much full.

Still, there are free agents that are still looking for a home that merit a bit more conversation.

Bonzi Wells once seemed like the ideal fit for the Rockets' off-season needs. He was too expensive then, and turned down contracts larger than the Rockets offered. But now most of the better teams have spent their summer allowance.

The Rockets have just $2.1 million of their mid-level exception left. Wells might need to take a one-year deal and look for a better offer next summer and then next time, take it. But even if he was willing to come to Houston at such a cut rate -- and we doubt he would -- the Rockets might be ready to check out Kirk Snyder first. Just as the Kings were ready to go with Kevin Martin, the Rockets could do well to see if Snyder is ready to take advantage of the opportunity here.

Snyder is not the low-post threat Wells is, but Wells would not get touches in the post on a team with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Wells gets the edge as a rebounder. Snyder shoots with better range, is bigger and does not have the disruptive history. And Wells might not be a guy you want when unhappy with his contract.

Michael Olowokandi and Kelvin Cato are very different players. Olowokandi has the offensive touch of a former No. 1 pick of a draft. Cato did play well in his last season-and-a-half with the Rockets. But both have motivation issues. Cato's a good guy, but is not the power forward that fits the Rockets needs or future (see the blog item about fours before it somehow became about point guard Rafer Alston.) The answer is simple: never, ever, ever again go for players with motivation problems.

Keith Van Horn is interesting. He is still slow-footed and the Rockets have enough of that. When he came back from his injury last spring, he seemed to be a hack-a-Shaq specialist even before the Mavericks were playing the Heat. And he has had injury issues. But he can shoot with range and plays hard. Eventually, that job will fall to Steve Novak, but Van Horn might be worth a call later on if the Rockets need help up front.

For now, however, seem eager to see what they've got. There's a lot of that going around, which is why some unexpected players are still without a home two weeks before the first camps open.


Posted by Jonathan Feigen at 06:57 PM

[Will]

Amen on the motivation problems. It's probably the #1 explanation for trading Gay and Swift for Battier. But that philosophy does mean we'll seldlom be the team that goes into a playoff series with "more weapons."

[xiki]

Originally Posted by Will Amen on the motivation problems. It's probably the #1 explanation for trading Gay and Swift for Battier. But that philosophy does mean we'll seldlom be the team that goes into a playoff series with "more weapons."

Of course without more weapons we may not be a team that goes into the playoffs...

We need more weapons, albeit 'rotation weapons'.

[Van Gundier]

Rockets still got the 4.2 mil Traded Player Exception from the Moochie deal. If Bonzi is to come to HOU in a short term deal, it's most likely he'll demand all of that exception in a S&T (which also preserves his Bird Rights for next season).

In any case, I agree with Feigan that he's unlikely right now. He's probably looking for more $ even in a 1 year deal, and the Rockets would rather see how Span, Snyder, and co. work out before making a decision on Bonzi.

Bonzi makes a better sixth man/TMac injury insurance, though, than he does a starter next to the two stars. His lack of 3 point shooting range means teams will lay way the hell off him to double TMac and Yao.

As for the mention of Van Horn... he was a decent player once, but is he still? He looked totally useless in the later part of last season. If that's only injury, then good, take a chance on him. Otherwise, he may well disappoint his new team like Derek Anderson did.

[Ehsan]

Right now, I would love to deal Luther Head for Mike Sweetney and sign Bonzi Wells.

What I like about his game is that if we play Battier at the 4, and Wells at the 2, we will negate the reboundiong disadvantage that Battier would create.

I also like that we would have such flexibility at the PF spot with Juwan, Battier, Wells, Novak, Hayes and Sweetney.

Not to mention the swingman spots: T-Mac, Spanoulis, Battier, Snyder, Sura, Bonzi.


We could basically put anything we want around Yao and T-Mac.

But I don't know, even in today's NBA, it might be a bit too radical. Especially for JVG.

Another thing to think about is how interested would Wells be in helping a team (Rox) knowing that the most we can offer him next season is the MLE, and we may not even do that seeing as Spanoulis, Snyder and T-Mac will eat up lots of minutes, and we would be better served giving Sweetney an extension (assuming he turns his off court habits around) or signing another PF.

I would wait and see if he's still available in preseason, and re-evaluate.

[aussie rocket]

i can't see much upside in going after Van Horn.

Soft and tentative with a decent but streaky J.

Bonzi at least goes hard when motivated and can be an X factor at times. But I'm calling shenanigans on anyone believing we have a shot at this guy. I don't believe management would be interested even if he did want to come here for such a little payday.

[Guru]

Is Bonzi's offensive game limited to the post? I understand he won't get many touches in the post with Yao and T-Mac, but does he have an outside shot, the slashing mentality or decent shot...something showing that maybe he could become our third scoring option? Battier is very good player, but all about the fundementals, i can't see him as a third scorer; however, i could be wrong. Any thoughts?

[vlaurelio]

cato did seem to play motivated his last year with Houston as a PF.. more motivated and consistent than Swift at least.. just not sure if he's still as athletic though..

[smoothie]

bonzi would be a huge addition. the problem is will he play selfishly to earn a contract next summer? will he just be a rental for a year? will he play his role but complain about it?

i have news for bonzi. next summer's fa list is 10x better than this ones. he better settle for MLE.

here's my idea. sign him for this year with the understanding that next summer we will offer him the full MLE which will definitely be his best offer. that way we get a huge talent upgrade and he plays hard for us without causing any problems.

[A_3PO]

Originally Posted by Guru Is Bonzi's offensive game limited to the post? I understand he won't get many touches in the post with Yao and T-Mac, but does he have an outside shot, the slashing mentality or decent shot...something showing that maybe he could become our third scoring option? Battier is very good player, but all about the fundementals, i can't see him as a third scorer; however, i could be wrong. Any thoughts?

Bonzi is a zero from 3pt range and is not a good shooter from mid-range. But the fact is most of his baskets come down low. He is not a good offensive fit with Yao.

I agree with you about Battier but he may end up being our 3rd scorer because the other players are so bad.

[KDavis]

I say sign Bonzi up. There is no one better that is available. If we had him at the two guard he would negate any rebounding problems we would have at the 4 spot. Good slasher, Good defender, Cant pass on cheap talent and he has plenty. This would solve our third scorer problem and make us a tougher team to boot. Who said we need milk drinkers?

[KALIKULI]

We really need to beef up on the Power Forward position and not on the guards.

[krosfyah]

Originally Posted by KALIKULI We really need to beef up on the Power Forward position and not on the guards.

100% disagree.

We need shooters to space the floor. The '95 Rockets won a championship with Pete Chilcutt, Chucky Brown and Carl Hererra as their PF's. But they had legit outside threats.

I say forget about Bonzi too if he can't hit open J's.

All of our current guards are unprooven guys. I have faith that a couple will step up but they are definately unprooven.

I'm all for signing up Cato or Kandi if we can get them for the vet min or even the remainder of the 2.1 MLE for 1-2 years but that's it.

[fv court]

Cato played OK for the Rockets two years ago, but his performance in Orlando and Detroit indicate that he is DONE. It's easy to look back fondly at guys who performed well for the Rockets in the past and wish them onto the roster. Heck, Otis Thorpe and Tree Rollins would be great fits...I'd even take Billy Paultz--in their prime. Focus on the future. Just say no to Cato, Van Horn, etc.

[xiki]

Originally Posted by krosfyah 100% disagree. We need shooters to space the floor. The '95 Rockets won a championship with Pete Chilcutt, Chucky Brown and Carl Hererra as their PF's. But they had legit outside threats.

There was also a frontcourt guy named Oh!-Lah-jjjjuu-wan!!!

[krosfyah]

Originally Posted by fv court Cato played OK for the Rockets two years ago, but his performance in Orlando and Detroit indicate that he is DONE. ...

I disagree. We don't need anything serious to backup Yao. Yao will play more and more minutes at center each season. We simply need a player that is agile enough to stay in front of the "New NBA center" (aka PF's). Deke simply can't do that.

Ideally, it would be NICE to have a legit backup but we have 2.1 mil to offer. At that price, Cato or Kandi would be suitable.

Think of it this way, if we don't sign Cato or Kandi what are our options?

1. Don't sign anybody at all at backup PF/C.
2. Pick up an NBDL player. Maybe you think that is better than Cato or Kandi?
Maybe but probably not.
3. Hold out for another legit FA. Who will that be?

What is your suggestion that would be better than Cato or Kandi? I'm curious.

[krosfyah]

Originally Posted by xiki There was also a frontcourt guy named Oh!-Lah-jjjjuu-wan!!!

EXACTLY!

We already have Yao. He is our big hope. The way he played last season, I'm optimistic.

After we added Charles Barkley, the Rockets never smelled a championship again. Why? Because Barkley clogged up the middle.

We need shooters around Yao ...not PF's that close up Yao's working area.

If we can't matchup against Garnet and TD. Who cares!!!! They can't matchup against Yao or TMac. Chucky Brown matched up against Charles Barkley in '94 and we won that series!

[fv court]

Originally Posted by krosfyah What is your suggestion that would be better than Cato or Kandi? I'm curious.

Sign and trade for Melvin Ely using trade exception.

[daywalker02]

Originally Posted by krosfyah EXACTLY! We already have Yao. He is our big hope. The way he played last season, I'm optimistic. After we added Charles Barkley, the Rockets never smelled a championship again. Why? Because Barkley clogged up the middle. We need shooters around Yao ...not PF's that close up Yao's working area. If we can't matchup against Garnet and TD. Who cares!!!! They can't matchup against Yao or TMac. Chucky Brown matched up against Charles Barkley in '94 and we won that series!

absolutely agree

[krosfyah]

Originally Posted by fv court Sign and trade for Melvin Ely using trade exception.

That would be great. Unfortunately, S/T in general are difficult to pull off never mind the fact that we would simply be sending a TE in return and not an actual player.

So the reality of that is not nearly as likly.

If you can get Ely. Do it. If you can't, I'm fine with Kandi or Cato.