I think Feigen said he'd get a shot at making the roster. So it looks like they'll keep him going into camp.
Alonzo Gee's $3 million non-guaranteed contract (with no guarantee date) assures him of a roster spot into training camp more than anything else. That is, unless he's traded beforehand.
We were following Gee closely in 2012 when he was a RFA, IIRC. Barring a major move, I would expect him to make the roster. Maybe even the rotation if he makes his threes, from what I've seen he's a plus defender. Still, tough to get terribly excited over a guy who's gotten worse every year since his age-24 season.
This is a very good underrated move by Daryl Morey when he acquire Gee for Casspi. Gee is a bench player but he brings the athleticism and strength to our back court. I'm excited we got rid of Casspi for him.
Guys, Gee was not acquired because the Rockets valued his talents. He was acquired to match salaries. Period. If he plays in Houston, then great. But don't pretend the Rockets WANTED him as a player. (Also, Casspi was thrown in to match salaries as well. He had an August 1 guarantee date, so he would have been waived anyway had he not been traded.)
Moreys' plan is an offensive starting lineup with defensive bench players. He will do just fine in the weeds.
I'm assuming this means no one else could have taken Gee's place in the trade to match salaries. It's that correct?
Yep. In fact, the Pelicans (with some nifty cap management) actually had to trade for Gee and Hopson in two separate trades the day before just to complete the Asik trade. It could not have happened without them.
It can only be one or the other? (I don't doubt that matching salaries was their primary goal; I'm sure it was. But the FO supposedly pursued him in the past)
I'm not sure how much better Morey is at his job than everyone else, but of he's as thorough as people say he is, then there's always the chance he did the Pelicans' work ahead of time and pointed them in the right direction. That just seems like the kind of thing that would separate a very good GM from the rest. Either way, I like having that option at the two. A two guard, who can go straight up and jam it with two hands, without a running start? Overall, I like the toughness and physicality some of these back ups bring. It's time to push teams around.
