I think most of this is pretty much common knowledge, but I still think Falk is pursuing the pretty big dollar sign and trade. Call it a hunch but I doubt seriously he would let his client, after talking all that trash about the Clippers for so long (both Falk and Taylor), sign a one-year contract for near NBA minimum standards and in essence prove Elgin Baylor and the Clippers right. I think Taylor has long-term, big-money interest in Houston, not short term. I don't think the Clippers were buying whatever the Rockets were offering, which is probably why the Sonics have the upper hand. I think Seattle will pull off a sign and trade to get Mo, or atleast move a PF or two to make playing time for him (it makes no sense for Taylor to play with Ho Grant and Vin Baker unless he can play the three, where Rashard Lewis is now King in Sonictown). I hope I'm wrong... but waiting makes it a slow week. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
I think you can find hope in your second paragraph. There *really* isn't room for Mo on the Sonics. I mean, I seriously doubt he's going to displace Vin Baker at the 4, and Taylor seems to have too much pride to take a bench seat. I also can't imagine Baker playing the 5 effectively. This would mean that the Seattle scenario would have to be further complicated by moving a player. But who would they move? Grant? Who would want him? He's old and his talents have eroded to being marginal. Baker? He has more talent than Taylor. Houston's seems to be a much more advantageous situation for Taylor... which is why I think we still have hope . ------------------ The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
While I agree that Seattle has more to offer, I cannot believe that Mo wants to play there. His playing time would be limited. With us, he would be 2nd option(w/Cat on the bench)on offense here. He would play as much as he wanted. I thought that the Clippers did not want to take on any salary. The trade exemption would work great. DaDakota~ I agree, he needs to make up his mind. ------------------ Houston Rockets Forever!! In Rudy We Trust
If it's going to be a sign and trade, isn't the negotiating primarily between the 2 teams involved on who gets what players? If Clutch is right, it's not Taylor who necessarily needs to make up his mind. Taylor might have the choice in the end, but the Clips and Seattle/Houston could have ongoing negotiations trying to decide on players/salaries. In that case, Taylor is waiting on the negotiations to end, where all teams have come up with the best deal they can before he can make his decision. ------------------ Bad spellers of the world: UNTIE!
Clutch -- I thought the Clips weren't interested in absorbing any new contracts? Are talking three-way deal between the Sonics, Clips, and ourselves? ------------------ It doesn't matter if I have a signature!
To start talking three-way deal between the Rockets, heathens, and Clippers is to start making a big jump in speculation. However, it does bring to mind all sorts of interesting possibilities.......... ------------------ "Have we not here the best cards in the game to win this easy match played for a crown?....." Bill Shakespeare
Clutch, is that your real take, or are you just spinning a web of disinformation? I think Rudy wouldn't tip his hand unless the deal was somehow done, or getting done. Maybe we're also getting Maggette, who can't be traded until the 26th or 28th or whenever. (This would involve moving draft picks.) Or maybe a third team is involved, making matters complicated. Seattle doesn't have the upper hand because LAC doesn't want to further fatten its roster, and Sterling likes what he has---young, talented, and cheap (for the moment). Seattle has no place for Mo. (Sorry, I seem to be reiterating the obvious, but man, there's nothing being posted nowadays: either no rumors, or the wind was taken out of us by Dr.-Eckels-and-Mr.-"Run-and-go-Hyde".) We had to wait around last year for deals to get done. I guess it's the same thing this year. ------------------
I think Falk is trying to cushion his downfall by saying that Mo Taylor has had the intention to sign for the exception as so to explore bigger and better things in the future. This way if he is absolutely forced to sign for $2.5 million it won't look all that bad. It actually makes sense for him to sign for such a deal anyway, IMO. Seattle will have to deal at least one of their power forwards to make this work. If the trade does happen, I see Horace Grant moving. No way they'll trade Vin Baker, especially not in light of the recent developments (losing the weight, etc.). However, I still don't see why he would want to go there. Playing behind both Baker and Rashard wouldn't get him too many minutes or touches. This would happen in Houston. To me, Houston is the better choice because he'll get his minutes, his touches, numbers, and perhaps even a large contract when the season's over. ------------------ Nederland 2002 Qualifying Campaign (Damn those penalties!!!) Houston Rockets Space Center- Not just another ClutchCity.NET clone. We're that and more!
hey clutch, how hard is it for "pops" to keep his mouth shut on this one so far? ------------------ miles ahead of the rest
The silence is deafening. Something BIG must be in the works. A HUGE sign-and-trade involving Mo and moving lots of players back and forth. Have faith true believers, we are not out of this one yet. If Mo was going to sign for the 2.25 exception in Seattle he would have done so by now. Something is in the works. BET on it. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
I, too, hope you're right, Thanos. No matter what we do, I hope we streamline our rotation somewhat. That's the difficult part for me. I don't necessarily want to trade away Walt, but would we try, considering we won't keep him after next season (probably)? Dan Langhi might step forward for us next season, or the season after. I mention this because of the possibility of a multi-player deal. Can Mo be traded with another player? If we land Maggette (pure speculation), what about Walt, Langhi, Bullard, etcetera? Dog days of summer. Too much heat, not enough Rox. ------------------
I think that a three way trade is going down. We send the exception to LA, the sonics get mo taylor, and we get Rashard. YEAH!!! ------------------ Starting at shortstop, for the Houston Astros, Nomar Garciaparra.
