after all tmac trade, we still have trade exception AND mid class exception

[swong126]

after the tmac trade, we still have trade exception AND mid class exception

[steddinotayto]

yes...yes we sure do.

[reptilexcq]

Rox should use those $$ to concentrate on getting a PF that complement's Yao game. Rasheed Wallace would be nice.

NEXT YEAR LINEUP:

PG Fisher
SG McGrady
SF Jim Jackson
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Yao

This lineup is VERYY VERYY POSSIBLE!!! Keep dreaming!!!!!

[RocketFan007]

I would expect to see the MLE, or at least most of it, used to bring in a back up center. As much as I would love to have Sheed, I just can't see him leaving Detriot.

[RocksMillenium]

I know it could be a concern, but I would love to see the Rockets try and get McDyess. The injury bug could be an issue, but he wants to be here and he could come cheap. Before he was shut down he was tearing it up in preseason for the Knicks and didn't have time to strengthen his knee during the season. If the Rockets could get him and he is back in shape he could be a steal!

[RNuss02]

No thanks to McDyess. One potential injury is enough for the Rockets to gamble on (see McGrady). With that way of thinking, why don't we just give the trade exception for Grant Hill, sign Jay Williams, and hope Vin Baker can stick with AA.

If/when the trade goes through, the Rockets will have two considerable weaknesses in the line-up.

The point guard position is my primary concern. Tyronne Lue is a decent player, but will never deserve starting minutes. He belongs strictly as a back-up. Therefore, we'd have to use the cap space to sign a free agent. Options - sign Brent Barry, Rafer Alston (starter?), Derek Fisher, Lindsay Hunter, Chris Whitney, Troy Hudson, Penny Hardaway, or Steve Nash in free agency - OR - trade Weatherspoon and/or Pike plus the trade exception for a good, distributing point.

The second glaring hole would be the back-up center position. Yao still gets winded and is often in foul trouble. With Cato, we didn't have to worry TOO much when Yao had to sit the bench. Now, with no reliable back-up and more to the point, no depth aparent depth at center, the Rockets would be in severe trouble if Mr. Ming were ever out for any considerable amount of time (kenahara). I think the best action the Rox could take to fill this void would be to pick up a free agent point, and then use the trade exception and a few players to acquire a good reserve center. The free agent big men just aren't too impressive to note. The best of the bunch would be Marcus Camby, Vitaly Potapenko, Erick Dampier, and Adonal Foyle.

I would hate to term this transition as "rebuilding" but after a trade that sends 3 starters away for one, that might be exactly what we have to do for a few seaons. Granted, Yao and McGrady would be two mantle-piece superstars to build around. Depth, however, is very important and unfortunately, after the/a T-Mac trade, the Rox will be left with very little.

[UTKaluman597]

is there any way we could actually get S.Nash?? would he be down with the idea of playin with yao and tmac??

[outlaw]

Originally posted by RNuss02 The second glaring hole would be the back-up center position..

Okur would be our ideal back up 4/5
or we could bring back Jason Collier
he played well at the end of the season.

[B-ball freak]

Originally posted by UTKaluman597 is there any way we could actually get S.Nash?? would he be down with the idea of playin with yao and tmac??

Don't think so. He would command more than the MLE, I would think, and no way does Cuban S-n-T him to us.

[JoeBarelyCares]

As a matter of fact, if the deal goes down the way the Chronicle is reporting, we will have an additional $3+ million trade exception.

[dharocks]

The perfect replacement for Cato, in my mind, is Erik Dampier. But because we'll never get Dampier, I think CD should make a serious run at Adonal Foyle.

[xiki]

Originally posted by dharocks The perfect replacement for Cato, in my mind, is Erik Dampier. But because we'll never get Dampier, I think CD should make a serious run at Adonal Foyle.

If I'm LA and trade Shaq; If I'm GS and want my local feller home to finish up -- I'd look at GP for Foyle (SnT). I don't see AF coming here for the full MLE as a 15 minutes a night back up.

[Tonaaayyyy]

penny hardaway and mac on the same team!!!

[crash5179]

Originally posted by RNuss02 No thanks to McDyess. One potential injury is enough for the Rockets to gamble on (see McGrady). With that way of thinking, why don't we just give the trade exception for Grant Hill, sign Jay Williams, and hope Vin Baker can stick with AA.

I think we are talking a veterans minimum at only a couple of years. Low risk and High rewards. I'd do it in a heart beat.

[pasox2]

I'd be happy to have end of the bench backups in Tmo and Collie.
Those guys are vet benchwarmers now and can do some useful things.

With the money slots, I'd try and buy Brent Barry and Kurt Thomas. Those guys fit pretty darn well as MCE and TE. They play their roles - they provide some vet help, they work with JVG, they help Yao and Tmac.


Detroit might want the TE to re-sign Rasheed Wallace - we could stock up there with say, Elden Campbell and Darko. That would be something. I'd still like to take a shot on Darko. I know he's a joke right now with the glass hand and all, but maybe this is the time to strike. A big guy like that, next to Yao - could be amazing.
Could be merely useful. Worth a shot. I'm not sold on Okur. I'd rather blow my wad going for the gold with Darko than settle for a proven softie like Okur.




I've said before I'd love to get D. Marshall, but I'm not sure how to do that with the TE. Same with Matt Harpring.

[Willis25]

I love the ideas, but (if and when this deal goes down) you guys need to get used to the idea of Howard playing the PF position for the Rockets for a while, and the Rox signing another PG

remember, Howard was a "bust" b/c of his expectations and his big contract in the 90's - he is a solid 15 and 7 guy (and as Jonathan Feagan put it... you never got the 15 from Cato and will never get the 7 from Mo-Taylor)

[bejezuz]

Elden Campbell for the TE is the best idea I've heard on here.

I think Fisher is much more likely to sign with us than Brent Barry. Though I'd sure as heck love to have them both. Talk about a powerful three man rotation with Barry, Fisher, and T-Mac? Unstoppable.

[Deuce]

Originally posted by bejezuz Elden Campbell for the TE is the best idea I've heard on here. I think Fisher is much more likely to sign with us than Brent Barry. Though I'd sure as heck love to have them both. Talk about a powerful three man rotation with Barry, Fisher, and T-Mac? Unstoppable.

I think you can have Elden for the TE very easily! I mean Detroit is looking to bribe Charlotte to take him anyway to get him off the cap. Clearly a backup for Yao to give him minutes of rest is important. I would keep Elden in the back of my mind but I think we can get more for the TE.

The Rockets should be looking at teams willing to do salary dumps. The Rockets can send a 2nd round pick and the 6.9M contract to someteam to get someone. As an example, the Rockets could send that to Chicago for Jerome Williams. I know he is a PF...but this is just an example. Chicago is trying to rid themselves of his salary. I would love to have Williams on our team if we could dump Howard or Taylor somewhere else.