I was thinking today about how we can retain Chuck Hayes and still make a run at max players next year. Since we are under the cap this year, we could sign Hayes to a wink wink one year deal for 10 million (or whatever the remainder of our cap is) and then minimum salary for the following two years. He would still get his 3 years 12 million, it would just be structured to not be a cap killer. Furthermore he could be used as a trade asset at this deadline if needed to help get a max guy here in a trade.
I don't think that this is prohibited by the NBA. It might be frowned upon, but I don't believe there is a penalty.
I honestly can't picture Hayes in a Boston uniform. But he would be lovely over there to fill the gaping void which Perkins left. PLus, he may even further improve on his game and maybe become a steal for his price (ala Lowry)
Under the old CBA, there was a limit to how much you could reduce a player's salary per year on the same contract. I think it was 12%. The Bulls did it a lot.
/thread. Too many younger posters refer to NBA 2k11 for their roster decisions. Also, why would you want Chuck to go anywhere but here if you really love him as a player? As far as I'm concerned everyone besides the Rockets can suck it.
Losing Chuck Hayes reminds me of the losing Battier argument, people were afraid to let go of a dependable consistent player. However, said player had peaked, and the team is not near competing. The only way any player develops is with playing time, Chuck Hayes did his job, he was great as a role player here, it is time for him to move on, and chase a ring with a team more ready to win. The Rockets do no need him any longer, they need younger players with potential to get the playing time that Chuck would be getting. Just like last year, once we jettisoned Battier the team got better, the same would happen with Hayes. DD
If you can get him for the right price, that, coupled with the fact that he's not Battier, means you should keep him around. If the fans love him and he can mentor other players, I don't think it's worth dumping him just to give Thabeet a roster spot. Also, as a fan, I would like to see some kind of consistency with a few key players. Maybe I'm crazy but I like to get attached to players and develop an appreciation for their improvement. I feel like the Rockets and the fans are getting into a mode of simply saying "we didn't win, he must be peaked, dump him and throw a guy with 'potential' in there." In fact, I've probably heard that said about every player on our roster, and I'm tired of everyone on our roster only being here 2.5 seasons. People will argue "that's not conducive to winning", but I disagree.
lol wut? He wasn't even playing his natural position last season... We haven't seen the best of Hayes yet. Sig that.
I wonder what part of “Les Alexander doesn’t want to tank,” the play-the-scrubs advocates don’t understand.
Ah... If I were a GM, I wouldn't do that. I think there's too much risk of a player reneging on his wink-wink agreement. Especially since it's probably against the rules, or at least against the spirit of the rules.
His best position is a situational role playing defensive PF a luxury for a team that is competing for a ring. And he would take playing time away from younger players who need it to grow. Chuck is no longer needed here. DD
Doesn't anybody associate love, pride, and loyalty with sports anymore? People are starting to blur the lines between fantasy sports and real sports. Chuck is a fan-favorite and a badass, yet some people favor casting him aside to give time to more Stromile Swifts? Do you think whatever improvement those pylons will earn from 15 extra mins per game is going to be more valuable than keeping Chuck around? He has a top-notch work ethic, a never-die attitude, directs traffic on the court, and provides leadership. He's a story of where hard work can get you. A glue guy. You want to keep guys like Hayes around more than you want to continuously cycle through a team of TWills just for the sake of 'potential'. I'm assuming the right price tag, of course, but by reading this thread you'd think some people don't even want to "waste" a roster spot on The Chuckwagon so their beloved scrub can have more minutes to suck on an NBA court.
You are assuming that everyone that gets playing time will automatically be Stromile Swift, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, Hasheem Thabeet, they all need time on an NBA floor to find out what they can do. This team is rebuilding, time to let the older vets go, and go young, if some of the youngsters can not play, they get let go, but they all need playing time to develop. Chuck Hayes would be wasted here in Houston.....it is a cut throat business, having Chuck Hayes playing on this team will r****d the growth of the PFs and C, the playing time can be better used elsewhere. Give the man a gold watch, thank him, and cheer him when he comes to town, but don't let the door knob hit ya where the good lord split ya.... He has to go. DD
I don’t think you have to do two separate contracts. You can use whatever cap space you have to frontload the deal with a separate signing bonus. The Thunder did it last season with Nick Collison so they’d have no problems retaining their younger core when it came time for their pay days. You are right, it sounds like a smart idea if they’re going for the 2012 plan. One thing is for sure, they’re not going for the tanking plan by giving Hill and Thabeet the reigns to the center spot...no matter how many times the broken record here says it needs to happen.
