Sorry for the self-promotion, but here's some freshly killed transaction meat: with Mike Harris now gone, the Rockets signed the similar Marqus Blakely from the Iowa Energy to a deal through 2013. http://blog.shamsports.com/2011/04/rockets-sign-marqus-blakely-to-multi.html It's pretty much the Cousin deal, or the Alexander Johnson deal, or the James White deal, etc. Except it's the Marqus Blakely deal.
Does he make Chuck Hayes expendable? And yes, Mike Harris has to leave now. Otherwise, he won't be able to continue running up his record-setting number of separate Rockets stints.
wow,loading up our preseason roster and RGV...hope we can sign talented FAs for our Rockets..i'm not sure if we can rely on the draft talent wise especially with our pick.
Nice post, Sham -- you broke that news. Thanks for passing it along and welcome to the board. Secondly, <a href="http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=188040">Carl Herrera's prediction post back in June</a> is scary accurate. Here are some Blakely video clips from that thread.
Watched his game before when he still played at Vermont. Very explosive player, always play above the rim. Not sure if he can convert his ability at NBA level. Nice sign up by DM:grin:
According to Mark Berman of MyFoxHouston, Mike Harris opted not to re-sign with the Rockets, so it looks like Blakely was the second option. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/110412-rockets-to-add-marqus-blakely
Who does mike Harris think he is refusing a contract with a team that kept giving him job offers?!? Whatta diva!!!
Haha... nice find. I forgot about my own prophecy. I'm guessing that Harris decided he doesn't another non-guaranteed NBA training camp deal becaue, in the evnet of a lockout, it might complicate his ability to sign a more lucrative deal in China.
It probably has more to do with Harris playing in Puerto Rico this summer. Were he under an NBA contract, he couldn't, and a couple of months in Puerto Rico will get him more dollar than the next few days as a Rocket would.
Yeah, pretty much. I remember Blakely coming in for multiple pre-draft workouts with the Rockets last year and thinking that he could be another Jermaine Taylor-like second round selection by Morey or at least a training camp invite. I even think that the Rockets tried to get him into their training camp but either lost out to the Clippers or decided to just stick with Mike Harris (who was under a prior contract at the time). Nice to see the team thinking of their long-term flexibility (beyond the lockout, even if it lasts an entire season) by locking up Cousin and Blakely. Also, welcome to the BBS, Sham. I use your salary information all the time for my salary cap analysis.
