I would agree with your assessment of Brewer / Ariza defense. Ariza is just outstanding on Defense. Brewer is more of a gambler and he can be feast or famine on defense. Ariza brings it every night.
Very solid contract, glad to have KJ back. If only Smoove would've came back then I would've really loved our off season considering our options.
this deal is great value for KJ... especially by year 3, he will look like a bargain. DM has done a great job with beverley, brewer, and KJ... all will look very underpaid by next summer and especially the year after that. however, i think this puts the team slightly over the LT. waiving prigs should be enough. now on to trading for a PG!
I agree that the Rockets have too many wings and a deal needs to happen, but to those suggesting Ariza could be on the block, I really don't buy that. Not only is he probably worth more or as much as any PG the Rockets could feasibly trade for right now, but his deal is insanely friendly right now and he's easily the Rockets best wing defender and one of their best shooters and playoff performers. I'd look to see Nick Johnson, Papanikolaou or Dekker get dealt way before Ariza. I'd be a little shocked if all three of those guys are still on the roster at the start of the season.
I would absolutely prefer to trade Brewer, but you hit BYC issues. Same with Bev. I would like to trade Jones, but the small salary limits your ability to take back a big money player. Maybe you find a salary dump for Papa and junk, but barring that Ariza is the only player with a sizable salary, positive value as a player, and no BYC. You don't get a player that other teams value for Dorsey, Johnson, and Papa's cap relief.
SHOOTING - Ariza , Dekker , Thorton DEFENSE - Ariza , KJ PLAYMAKING - Brewer , Thorton , Papa Too many wings. I wouldn't mind trading Brewer and Papa.
McDaniels will make a total of $10,507,336 for his first 4 seasons. 2014 #10 pick Elfrid Payton will make a total of $10,849,500 for his first 4 seasons provided his options get picked up (probable). 2014 #11 pick Doug McDermott will make a total of $10,436,434 for his first 4 seasons provided his optiosn get picked up (probable). So McDaniels will make more over his first 4 seasons than any player drafted below #10 in his draft class, unless one of the other second rounders breaks out in the last year of a 2 or 3 year deal.
Has Morey ever NOT gone into training camp with a lopsided roster and a few players that shouldn't be cut that will be at risk? This is a typical Morey training camp roster that probably won't get resolved until the start of the season. I doubt a trade is lined up because it never is lined up this early. Dorsey, Pap, Prig, Terry(if resigned), Thornton, and even Nick Johnson are going to have to earn a spot on the final roster. If your convinced there is a trade waiting to happen then you either just started following the Rockets or have a short memory of morey's typical training camp rosters.
The price of the hedge was baffling given the postive-sounding reports/rumors about Llull signing. Another cost to this is Josh Smith-- who has his faults but is pretty useful. Lets see how things work out with KJ.
Rockets didn't lose Josh Smith for KJ. Josh did not leave due to money. He left for a more defined role, guarantees of playing time. Rockets offered him the most money.
Doubt a trade is lined up, but expect Morey at least has a few fires lit that may or may not happen before season.
I wonder if Josh got offered time at the 3 position. I also wonder if he is delusional enough to think he is a 3.
Prigs retires and his contract has to be traded along with Papa by the start of the season or else they will lose all trade value. So the only ones fighting for a spot are Dorsey Thornton and Johnson. Terry is he resigns here won't have to fight for a roster spot most likely.
Partially correct. He expected a more defined role, and should have gotten it IMO. He took less money from the Clippers, but he expected slightly more than the 2.49 M from the Rockets .
No. He can be traded like Wiggins last year. Don't have to wait until the next trade deadline only 30 days after the contract is signed.
Is this overpaying for a scrub? I am yet to see him do anything worthwhile as a Rocket besides towel waving and clapping. At least he is a rich man's Papa scrub
The Rockets have cut some veterans before, but I assume that risk might be what's holding up the signing. His agent is smart enough to see the roster and inform him of the risk. So we will see if he even signs. Pap, and Prig might very well get waived if there isn't a deal to be made that makes sense. Their contracts are similar to the Gee deals though so I do expect them to be shopped of course.