Now that the rockets are finished with rice's medical records, shouldnt they give full attention to signing Moochie? Anyone know where they are in the process? Future meetings between Rockets and Moochie's agent??? Moochie, in my opinion, is an important piece to this team;s success this year.
I hope the Rockets sign Moochie soon. I agree Moochie would be an important piece of the Rocket puzzle. However, considering Fegan's position with the Rockets, we may as well start looking at sign & trade options. One option might be with Chicago: Moochie for A. J. Guyton (point) and Dalibor Bagarac (center). That would give Mooch his $2M in return for two $1M players. Guyton is a point who can shoot and Bagarac is a big banger-type center. That would work out well for both teams. Others will say no-no -- go for Brad Miller, but Miller is a $5M guy so we would have to throw in more than Mooch, which would hurt even more. Besides, Bagarac is a better risk for the future, even though Miller is the better player now. That said, I still hope the Rockets sign and keep Mooch.
There is no need to sigh and trade Moochie unless it is part of a bigger trade. We can probably do as well signing a free agent.
What free agent would you sign? I just don't see anyone out there who would fit, i.e. young, athletic, good attitude and inexpensive capwise. In my scenario, Guyton would be a solid replacement point backup, and we would get the bonus of a young center to back up or even replace either Cato and Collier.
Is Shammond Williams a free agent? I loved watching him while he was at North Carolina. He can really light it up from downtown, but isn't he more a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body?
He's a good choice, but the Sonics will re-sign him since he is their only qualified backup for Payton. Williams is a scorer, like Guyton, but I still like the idea of receiving a bonus big man -- a true center -- like Bagarac.
I dont know. I came out of last season REALLY liking Moochie. There were a few games when the guy would come off the bench and just be impossible to stop (I think he was like that in that long game against Indiana??) . I think the Rockets not only need an explosive scorer, but someone who really fits the system. I dont know much about the other free agents and how they would fit. But I love to watch moochie play and we need to get him a fresh pair of pajamas for next season.
I am not disagreeing. I'd rather have the Mooch. However, I have my doubts the Rockets will be able to negotiate a deal with Feagan. Lots of boardsters feel the same way. Ergo, during the waiting period Rocket fans can't help but look around for options just in case.
I see your point about browsing elsewhere - especially when Fegan is involved..Is Moochie the only guy on the team (or at least currently associated with the team) who has that guy as his agent???
I think (hope) Moochie is last of the Rocket-Fegan clients, but the rest are under contract so it doesn't matter. Another possibility, although remote, is getting Chris Mihm from Cleveland for Moochie and another player, probably Collier. Now, before the Cat claws me, I must say I'd hate to lose Collier because I think he will eventually be a solid player. However, Mihm would be a bigger, better Collier for the Rockets although we still would need to replace Moochie.
Unless Chris Mihm has a good shot at becoming a 15 and 8 kind of guy and more of a presence in the middle than OP thinks he can be, he's not worth Moochie and Collier. Either we get a solid starter at center for Moochie and Collier, or no deal, even if it's a fair deal.
Okay, maybe I'm being completely unfair. Moochie and Collier for Mihm has potential. My point is that unless Mihm is significantly better than Collier and/or is worth starting and/or Fegan is set on moving Moochie, it's now worth it to me. I think Collier can become a fairly decent backup at center, which in this league, is worth more than we'd like to think given our own situation at center and the type of contracts being thrown around to decent players who can man the 5.
ESPN Insider said the Raptors are interested in Moochie and Shammond Williams. I guess it depends on who is cheaper. SW was teammates with Vince at UNC and are still friends. Well Norris' agent is Fegan and we know what happened last time Fegan dealt with the Raptors...
Screw Fegan, if mooch wants to resign, then we should resign him. The front office should stop being so stingy with Moochie. I think he is worth the 2mill a year that he wants, unless, of course, i am wrong and he wants more than that. Anyway, Moochie, not fegan, has ultimate control over where he plays next year, and i'm pretty sure he loves this team.
The Cavs are loaded in the backcourt (with mediocre talent, but still loaded). Dallas is going after TH. Fegan is a businessman. He will look at his options. The Rice trade took his best alternative option away (Mavs). Fegan will tuck his ego between his legs and get his client the best deal still possible. And get himself the biggest % $ possible in the process. Score a win for CD/Les, this time. (read: add an agent to the "Raped by Rockets" list - how does Arn juggle these guys?) This would not have happened had the Rice trade been either voided or left unmolested. Les has earned a big kiss. Moochie will resign with the Rockets.
Hakeem loved Houston, too, but guess who is no longer a Rocket. I think everyone involved on this thread wants to keep Moochie. However, no one trusts Fegan -- although I could be wrong (Moochie maybe?). That's why we are trying to put forth other options like Guyton and Bagarac in a trade with Chicago or Mihm from Cleveland coupled with a free agent point guard like Shammond Williams. The "front office" may not be being stingy; Fegan may be demanding $5M per for six years (i.e., something outrageous).
Why is it that some seem to think Moochie is important to the team, we will be fine if he stays or goes. He is a role player, if he wants to stay he will. He controls Fegan, just like Hakeem and Anderson did. If its about money and he wants to try it somewhere else then wish him luck and let him go. If a man a little over a year removed from the CBA can not make it on 1.5 milion a year then maybe he needs to be somewhere else. Look on the bright side, if he leaves we are done with Fegan and the message has been sent. You want out of Houston, Hire Fegan to be your agent.
I think most people think in the terms with which they have become accustomed. The big 'human interest story' for this team, and thus the material of headlines, was the friendship between Mooch, Steve, Cat, et. al. I think most people are overestimating the importance of their bond to the longterm success of this team.
What about the times Moochie kept the team energized? What about when he went up against the Spurs and came out with 17pts, 7asst? When he beat Indiana in triple overtime? He beat Golden State at the buzzer? It's not just the bond, he fits into the system well, and gives a lot of effort. Plus, I know people who watch the Rockets just to see his fro, lol I honestly think that if he started for someone for a year, got his body used to playing long minutes, the very next year would be a great starting PG. He could start on a lot of teams, like the Knicks, heat, Jazz (after Stockton), Golden State, and the Lakers. We're just lucky everyone else UNDERestimates him and we have all this time to negotiate. (NOTE: Toronto can not sign Moochie to any sort of contract, even a minimum exception, without going over the luxury tax. They're as close to the luxury tax as it gets, and they've said they won't go over it. The only way would be via sign n trade, and they wouldn't have anything to give us, AND they already have Childs off the bench)
