[Chron] For Rockets on bubble, it's hard not to wonder

I really feel sorry for these guys that are going to get cut. I think they could all help the team, which is rare for training camp fodder, but this year it really is a matter of not having enough spots to keep everyone we'd like. They really do all have enough talent to stick, and hopefully the guys that don't make it can go catch on somewhere else. They're good enough.

Except Ryan Bowen.

 

i totally agree on that haha

 

As much as i like Sura but i think he should retire!!!

 

So lets assume that ryan bowen and sura dont make it..... That leaves padgett, haryasz, azubuike, and jacobsen competing for the last 2 spots. I personally think that scott padgett is a lock because of his experience and his decent shooting this preseason. this leaves the second spot for matt, kellena, or casey. I think it all depends on jvg's tendancies but i think it might be safe to say that he will chose jacobsen or no one. Choosing no one give us the advantage of being able to deal with serious injuries to the future if we have problems with our big men. I know y'all are probally saying yeah but we have haryasz, i just dont think he has what it takes to play lots of minutes in a game, which would be required of our third string center if yao goes down. J Ho is probally our best bet for a back up 5 rather than matt, but in case he isnt, we have the flexibility to sign matt or anyone else to fill the center duties later on in the season when it matters.

 

Since we need shooters, if it comes down to Jacobsen or Azubuike for the last roster spot, I would prefer Jacobsen. CJ has a proven record shooting the three in the NBA while Azubuike was a mediocre college three shooter.

 

And he will but maybe not till December which leaves 1 open spot. 1 open spot and that's assuming Bowen is waived and his last year contract is eaten. Locks to make the team are...

1. Yao
2. Tmac
3. Battier
4. Bonzi
5. Alston
6. Deke
7. Novak
8. Snyder
9. Head
10.Vspan
11.Chucky
12.JLIII
13.Juwan
14. Sura til Dec. if they want the Medical exception
15._____________

SO that leaves 1 spot...

Locks to be cut.

1. Bowen
2. Azubuike
3. Haryasz

Which leaves Casey Jacobsen and Scott Padgett vying for 1 spot. Casey has a partially guaranteed contract but right now Padgett has the inside track. Especially considering the coach sang his praises and how letting Padgett go was a big mistake. He has certainly played the best but the problem is every minute he's on the court is directly taken from Novak. I mean realistically it is hard to see both of them on the court at the same time.

So the question becomes who do you want to have those 3 point specialist duties. Novak is the better shooter but Padgett is not shabby. As for all around better player the edge goes to Padgett but Novak is not far behind and will improve. They both are a liability on defense but not as bad as advertised and Padgett gets a slight edge there as well.

Still with all Padgetts other edges the main purpose for Padgett and Novak is to hit 3's and spread the floor. It's hard to imagine many others in the league doing it better than Novak. So Padgett will probably be used solely as an insurance policy and start the season on the IR. Which makes Casey and his partially guaranteed contract gone. His only chance is if the Rockets believe keeping him is more valuable than acquiring a medical exception. It seems the signing of Bonzi was the death of Casey.

Also something else to note, there are too many guaranteed contracts in the league. Which means there is a real possibility some perfect player for the Rockets gets cut from another team. I can assure you some good players are going to be cut and on the wire and many are going to cry because we have no room for them.

 

A player better than Padgett ?

 

Yeah maybe not better than Padgett.

 

I agree, Bob Sura and Ryan Bowen can not help us this year, so we have to release them.

It's unfortunate for Azubuike but Snyder brings us almost everything he could have, so no spot for him.

As for Padgett, I don't think other teams are really asking for his services.
I would prefer to keep Haryasz who gives us more upside and more flexibility in the front line, the shooting he may lack compared to Padgett will be compensated by more playing time for Novak, because as someone pointed it out, it's hard to see Novak and Padgett, if he stays, on the floor at the same time.
Anyway, 2 or 3 months into the season it wouldn't surprise if Padgett is still available, and we can pick him then, if necessary.

Casey Jacobsen is a guy we can keep too, as the pure big shooter at the 2.

 

And Jacobsen and Azubuike. None of these guys are good enough to contribute, except maybe during practice.

 

It's hard to choose after they have been all playing well lately. At this point so far I guess Rybo is the weakest link.

 

I know there's been a lot of Bowen ripping in this thread, but honestly, until Padgett's performance last night, no one played like they deserved his spot. Not that Bowen's especially valuable, but he has a guaranteed contract, so a player has to beat him out for a spot. None of Azuibuke, Haryasz, and Jacobsen have done that in the games (and since Bowen has always been called a practice superstar, I assume not in practice). Padgett looked significantly worse than any of these in the first preseason game, but redeemed himself last night. If Sura really retires, I'd be shocked to not see Bowen on the IR list to start the season.

 

someone pointed this out

1. Yao
2. Tmac
3. Battier
4. Bonzi
5. Alston
6. Deke
7. Novak
8. Snyder
9. Head
10.Vspan
11.Chucky
12.JLIII
13.Juwan
14. Sura til Dec. if they want the Medical exception
15._____________

SO that leaves 1 spot...

Locks to be cut.

1. Bowen
2. Azubuike
3. Haryasz


JVG did mentioned that he would like to keep 14 players on roster. that means sura will stay until we can waived him in dec and acquire a medical exception. Then, we may get another player that we waived now. so JVG will cut jacenson and sign padgette in dec time. rest are goner.

We don't need bowen, azubuike, and haryazz. we got hayes who can play center from time to time.

 

IMO, 13 Rockets are guaranteed a roster spot.

1. C Yao Ming
2. PF Shane Battier
3. SF Tracy McGrady
4. SG Bonzi Wells
5. PG Rafer Alston
6. C Dikembe Mutombo
7. PF Juwan Howard
8. SF Steve Novak
9. SG Luther Head
10. PG Vassilis Spanoulis
11. PG John Lucas III
12. SF Kirk Snyder
13. SF Chuck Hayes

That leaves 6 Playing for 2 Spots, I think Sura should retire, and give up his spot. He clearly isnt ready to play.

 

The Rockets need to keep Haryasz as Yao's primary backup for near long term.

We CFers need to have a hairyass to kick around.

Win win.

 

nah, we should cut four players to leave spot for sura. we dun need so many players anyways. 14 is enough. i say cut 4- haryass, azubuike, bowen/padgett, jacobsen

 

I agree. Deke and Jho are old. Deke probably retires after this year and JHo is likely to be gone as well. If Hary goes somewhere else, we've lost him for 2007-8 and beyond and find ourselves looking anew at backup 5s. Keep him in some capacity for the future... a year of going against Yao in practice or even playing in the NBDl would do him well.

 

You know, Haryazs isnt THAT BAD. I saw him in a couple preseason games and he's not THAT BAD. He's more mobile than he looks and he hustles a bit. I think keeping him around as the 2nd backup behind Deke would be a good idea. Deke alone as Yao's backup doesn't sit well with me. We already have a shortage of bigmen at 4, So we will not be able to run a functional team if Yao is out and Deke has to start at 5.

 

Must to say sorry and goodbye to R.Bowen~

He did contribute his part in games against Mavs (last playoffs) and Suns(04-05 20pts win) but nothing else.