I doubt we pursue anyone really hard this year. The players with smart agents had contracts that expired the last couple of years. Teams are going to have to hold off until we get the new CBA clarified and all indicators point to a lower cap meaning there will likely be poor talent available and not a lot of money around to sign that talent. No one will be significantly upgrading their team with the money and talent available this offseason.
I know The Rockets picked up Thabeet's contract, but still they should have money with Yao, Jeffries, Battier, and Brooks contracts are off the books. If they want a big man then according to that free agent list, then this is the summer to go after one. Hopefully this CBA talks does not stall long enough and we don't go in to a strike.
I think we should go after any of the following, especially those in BOLD : Wilson Chandler - THIS SHOULD BE MOREY'S NUMBER 1 TARGET !!! It will be hard to see DEN not giving him the $$$ that he asks for with him being a key part of the Melo trade. He seems to be the type of player that your give money to now before he becomes a legit star (which i think he will become). We will have the $ to give and the need at the SF position. The question is do we give hime a Granger, Iggy type contract now and kinda build around him. I say YES. He's young talented, 3pt shooter, decent rebounder, defender, competitive, aggressive, decent shot selection, can create his own shot, and an humble team player. SHOW HIM THE $$$ !!! This kid will be a cornerstone or possible franchise player and future allstar. He can already be a #1 or 2 option on most teams, especially ours. JR Smith - I know what everyone's thinking...but on the court, this guy has all the skills, plays hard, stretches the floor, drives to the lane, has a killer instinct, no conscience, swagger, and a ginuwine competitive nature occasional focus to play D. Every successful team has to have an X factor and he def fits the bill. If we are gonna rebuild, do it with youngs guys that can flat out ball. Hell, Cousins is 10 time worst and everyone on here seems to ack like they would give a nut for him. Tyson Chandler - I think DAL throws him whatever money he wants. He's become too important to them and seems to enjoy playing there. Would be great for us and should be our 1st or 2nd target Joel Przybella - not sure if I really want him here as a rocket Josh McRoberts -Doesnt play D and cant make FT's. Wouldnt be a target, but he is young and shouldnt demand much Marc Gasol (RFA) - NOT happening. Giving them Shane, us taking Thabeet and Carroll just put them in the perfect position to give Gasol the $ he will ask for Kendrick Perkins - Will love winning in OKC or will run back to his BOS brothers Samuel Dalembert - Should be a primary TARGET for the rockets. No way he demands as much as he's getting now. Still effective, defensive minded 7ft C that can hit a mid range J and in the age range of Scola and Martin. Would help be an example with Yao for thabeet. Zach Randolph - plays the 4 and will break our cap with what he will demand Caron butler - He would be a go to guy for us, but I doubt he leaves the DAL environment for us. Jason Smith - The younger version of Brad Miller. 7ft center with 3pt range but he can run the floor, unlike miller. His ability to shoot the 3 and mid range J's will allow him to play either the 4 or 5 spots and create driving lanes via floor spacing. I can see him as a rox, especially since Morey previously targeted him. Thaddeus Young - Hard to see 76'ers not giving him what he asks. He plays hard like our team culture promotes, plays D and rebounds his position ok. Not really a shooter that will create floor spacing, but he is a growing young talent.
Really, why? Do people on here really think that we will get CP3, D-Will or Dwight to come here? GET REAL !!!
All our team needs from the upcoming free agents are: Wilson Chandler, Sam Dalembert, or Jason Smith, Thaddeus Young Chandler is or will be a goto player. The key to rebuilding is to identify young talented players and keep them around. There is no question that he plays hard, defends, has range, rebounds well, and seems to be a team player that has his head on straight. He has earned his $$by his play this year, so why not we be the first to give him what he's worth. I think he is a two way player that we can build around with our current mix of talent and youth. I think he's going to demand a contract 3-5 years at 7-9 mil per. Den is going to have to shell out a lot of $ for Affallo so they are going to have to make a decision regarding $ Dalembert at 28 years old can help our team now and in the future. I think heis worth about 7mil per for about 3-4 years. It's obvious what he brings and how much we need it. He will likely start if we don't resign Yao for vets min. I'm not a fan of Brad Miller and think he should be traded ASAP, especially with us officially rebuilding. Plus by getting him plus developing thabeet, we should always have a legit center on the floor to prevent or discourage other teams from having a layup drill on us like they do now.
I think will go after Fesenko since we showed interest in him this past off-season. He'll come at a cheap price, and will have a good impact on our interior defense!
^^ I agree with some of what you're saying, but this team needs alot in terms of being a top shelf contender. I agree about offering young or chandler 7m per, but I also think the team should have the money to get to the table to lure williams and howard to the team. So if i sign either chandler or young, I'm trading scola and playing patterson or hill at the 4. At the end of 2012, the rockets payroll should be about 30m. If williams and howard see martin,young/chandler,patterson/hill as the 2-3-4, thats a very productive and young enough nucleus to make runs at the ring. If and when they get willams, they can trade lowry. Thats the best case scenerio for the rockets.Having legit talent and money are keys to it.
when you rebuild you want draft picks (which morey just traded for) and cap space. signing free agents in a poor free agent class is not a good idea. i mean honestly the roster for next year will probably be the same as this year (barring morey blowing it up this summer) with: hayes-miller-thabeet-yao scola-pat bud-twill martin-lee lowry-dragon add in a rookie or two and the roster is full. i just don't see room or need for free agents. we have plenty of young talent that needs playing time to develop.
The only big names I would consider are Tyson and Wilson Chandler, and only at the right price. Really, nothing is going to happen until the new CBA is in place. If there is a harder cap, teams in the luxury tax will have to shed salary, which may require them to trade away quality players/picks. Yao, Jeffries, Hayes and Carroll fall off the books this summer, and it's very possible none will be resigned. That would get us down to 48MM, which puts us in a great position to sign FAs, or take on additional salary from other teams in exchange for quality young prospects or draft picks.
I don't see any of these guys as being real difference makers on this team. Signing them would only damage Morey's precious flexibility, particularly when the new CBA is just a guess.
We won't have enough cap room to go after any FAs...will the MLE still be an option by then? When does the new CBA take effect?
