link NBA NOTEBOOK Rockets' trade exception offers opportunity Discussions start to pick up steam as deadline nears By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle For the next three days, the Rockets' Carroll Dawson will be the most popular general manager in the NBA. He is a pretty well-liked guy to begin with, but it's not his wit that will have his peers dialing his number. The Rockets' trade exception, worth as much as $4.2 million expires Tuesday. Any team over the luxury tax, and especially the few that could get under the tax trigger number, $65.42 million, with a deal with the Rockets will be calling to try to dump a salary on the Rockets. But the rest of the league will not be working to make the Rockets better. "There's a chance," Dawson said. "We're looking at a lot of things." The chance is not great. Just as the teams over the tax trigger are driven to dump enough salary to get under, the Rockets want no part of the tax. It's not just the tax itself that has teams obsessed with the last line of their salary reports. Teams over the tax also don't share other allocations of NBA money, an additional hit beyond how much tax a team pays that can cost millions. But this is the week trade talks always heat up. With the general managers to be together on the All-Star weekend, they begin laying the groundwork for the face-to-face trade talks sure to come. The trade deadline is Feb. 22. For the Rockets, the opportunity to use the trade exception, and pick up a big man to help with Yao Ming still to miss another month, is enticing in that it would not cost them a player in their rotation or the young prospects they believe will be valuable. They are $3.68 million under the luxury tax threshold. If you assume they won't add more than that, and if they are dealing with teams just barely over the tax number, there would not seem to be much to inspire a deal. How does Jake Tsakalidis grab you? His Memphis teammate, Chucky Atkins, is grabbing attention all over the league, but the Grizzlies, with a salary-cap figure of $65.84 million, don't have to dump as much at Atkins' $3 million to avoid the tax. Minnesota is at $67.48 million and let its trade exception expire rather than add salary and tax. Eddie Griffin could be had by anyone willing to take him. The Timberwolves would probably add picks to sweeten the deal. Cleveland's salary-cap figure is $67.75 million. Scot Pollard is tall, fits ($2.2 million) and has funny hair. But he would be of no help. Anderson Varejao makes just $945,600, but he is a big part of the Cavaliers' plans and dumping that salary would not be much help. New Jersey could move Cliff Robinson ($1.6 million this season and next) to get under the tax, but the Nets need more, not less, frontcourt help. The Rockets don't need another 40-year-old. The Spurs are over the tax threshold, but even if the Rockets took Jackie Butler ($2.2 million) it would not quite put San Antonio under the tax. Keep looking up and down the lists and that's pretty much how it goes. There will be offers, but most are uninspiring. But the phones will ring, offers will be made, and if the trade exception expires, the clock will be ticking on the trade deadline to try to use Bob Sura's contract in another deal.
I think Feigen is a bit out of line here. Pollard (and I've been saying this since the off-season) would be a nice inexpensive option at backup C and some minutes at PF when needed. He may not bring much talent, but he does bring energy and by all accounts he's a good locker room guy. I'd rather get him than nothing (and let the TE expire).
^^^ 32 years old and looks like he is slowing down. He might be just like another padgett, sitting and warming our bench.
Slowing down? As recently as last year his per minute production was on par with what it always has been. He's just not getting any minutes in Cleveland...probably because they have their energy guy already in Varejao. 32 isn't really that old either. A lot of players hit their prime in their early 30's. And he's technically 31 for another 18 hours or so.
Sounds like we'll be doing nothing... or at the very least bring in someone we won't care about. What would you guys think if we traded Luther? That would be a shocker...
I posted about Denver needing to shed dollars earlier: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=2741809&postcount=43 If Linas Kleiza is attainable, Rockets should go after him.
Not a single name mentioned draws my attention. If we not gettin Melvin Ely or Brevin Knight, let it expire.
Pollard can learn JVG's defense and can be on a good defensive stopper, besides his got the energy that will run him up and down the court. Only thing don't like on him is his punk hair!
I have mentioned many times Scot Pollard and Chucky Atkins. Both would be nice insurance policies and wouldn't upset the chemistry of the team. And both contracts are expiring.
what do you guys think about this rookie form Boston named Leon Powe? Would they be willing to give him up? Would he be a good fit with the Rockets?
If we want to make a championship run this season, I doubt JVG wants to bring a rookie on board midway through the season.
Chucky Atkins should be the target. The man plays weak defense, but he's a solid shooter/scorer and can handle the ball.
Chuck is a joke of a center because he's 6'6". Love the heart, but you can't teach height. Pollard is 6'11" and also plays with tons of energy.
brevin knight would be a great addition in my opinion. He's a pass first pg, plays good D and is a proven vet in getting assists and racking up steals. If we could get him it would be great as a backup pg!
