Chuck Hayes gone? Which player currently on the Rockets roster is going to replace him as starting center? Hasheem Thabeet? Jordan Hill? Yao Ming? Who? Before the Rockets ditch Chuck Hayes, they would be wise to determine who is going to take over his responsibilities at center first. In case anyone has forgotten, Chuck Hayes has been a key player in helping the Rockets to finish the last two years with winning records. Without the play of Chuck Hayes, there is no way that happens in either of the last two years. We keep Chuck Hayes until the team is solidly two-deep at center in front of Hayes. As things stand right this minute, Hayes is likely still the starter heading into next season.
Everyone acts like this team is the Minnesota TWolves or something. This team won 43 games last year and is quality center away from moving up about 4 wins into the playoffs. You saw last year with Memphis what can happen in the post season. Chuck Hayes is an important part of the Rockets and will be crucial in the development of all the young bigs. Like Chuck said, "if you can score on me, you can score on anyone in the NBA." He not only can shut down the best post players in the league, but he is crucial to elevating the game of every other post player on the squad. Are the Rockets bursting at the seems with young bigs? Yes. Does that mean they are better NOW and its time to let Chuck walk in free agency?.... Hell no.
I agree completely!!! However, I would add that none of our young bigs is 1/2 the low post man on man defender or rebounder that Chuck Hayes is. Jordan Hill; Marcus Cousin; Hasheem Thabeet, please, these are pure bottom feeding roster fodder. Even when we sign a better starting center as a defender and rebounder (and we definitely need one), Chuck Hayes would still be the best back up center on this team by far. We all know how often injuries happen to bigs, and Chuck Hayes is an iron man. So at a minimum, we still need a backup to spell for minutes and in the event of injuries. Chuck has said he wants to return, and imo we need him even if/when we upgrade the 5 via trade. If we upgrade the 5, there is every reason to believe the Rockets can be better than we were in the second half of last year when after the trade deadline we played tons better than in the first half of the season and finally made a playoff push and got over .500 ball. So Hayes can stay a Rocket and still make the playoffs if even half of our draft day additions pan out and we get a quality center via free agency or trade. RESIGN CHUCK HAYES!!!
Chuck preformed admirably for the Rockets when he was pressed into action, but he should be a back-up. No problem having him back for $2M to play in certain situations or as an emergency band-aid. If he can get more from some other team, good for him. He will have earned every dollar. For this team, I would rather start Thabeet over Chuck at this point. What the Rockets should definitely do is snatch him up as a coach the second he retires.
Thabeet is a stiff who couldn't even get decent backup center minutes at Memphis. He has no heart, no toughness, no basketball iq, and no lateral movement to be the type of shot blocker that his size and body type would suggest he should be. That is why Memphis was more than happy go give up on him for only Battier's expiring contract in return. Keep in mind that Memphis had only a few years earlier used the 2nd pick in the draft on Thabeet, so obviously they admitted he isn't a quality big. We would be in exceedingly poor shape if he were our starter this year. The only hope for Thabeet is if McHale is truly a miracle worker, and with all due respect to McHale, I'll take the under on Thabeet.
At 6'5, I wouldn't call Chuck a quality 'big' either. Chuck is a quality player, I'm just saying I would rather start any actual center (good or bad) rather than march Chuck out there every night. Hopefully, this isn't the roster we have when the season starts, but if it is, I would start Jordan Hill at center. And I think Hil was pretty awful in that role last year.
If they weren't going to resign him, they would of traded him at the deadline. The only scenario where I don't see him a Rocket on opening day is if they need cap space for a nene, gasol, or Jordan FA.
