If ever Deke decides to retire or go to another team, what should our backup plan be? We really need a backup Center...sign PJ Brown? or trade for someone like Jeff Foster, Gadzuric, Pryzbilla, Doleac, Pachulia, etc.. ? This situation could be the reason why we are still not moving Alston and our excess players..watcha think?
Acoording to the chron we have offerd him a contract, but he wants more $$. morey is pretty much saying take it or leave it. i'm starting to get worried. if deke dosent resign we'll have a good offensive post player like butler backing up yao, but we'll have no defense besides yao at the C spot. I think the rockets are waiting to see if deke re-signs or not before moving rafer.if deke dosent re-sign, we'll try to trade rafer and a snyder deal for a backup center like evans or foster. if deke does stay, we'll probaly keep rafer till the trade deadline.
it is not take it or leave it, with the Rockets over the salary and luxury tax limit, the most Morey can offer is the bi-annual exception of 1.8 million. if mutombo is about the money, then he will just sign somewhere else. if he is about the team, he will sign.
Call me crazy, but I'd bet that if Mutombo isn't re-signed, our back-up center will be Jackie Butler.
Oh thats what i meant. i should have been more clear. morey is saying thats all we can afford to pay you, take it or leave it. thats what i meant.
Rockets actually have his Bird Right by now, I think, so they can go over that amount. However, the real problem is luxury tax. If they pay vet min for him, the nominal salary will be $1.2 mil or so, but only $750K or so counts for tax, so their real payment will be $1.5 mil or so. If they go over the vet min by even on single dolalr, they are on the hook for at least $2.4 million or so.
And to add to my previous post... of course if they go over the min, it's going to be over by a significant amount (like an $1.8 million offer, which would likely mean $3.6 mil, tax included). I
I really think Mutombo will play one more season and he will be a Rocket. He wants to play here and after last season he shouldn't retire right now. Yes he is 41 but his games is really really good. He can rebaound the ball 22 times in one game and he can still block the shoots well. In my opinion Mutombo will stay, but you can't be sure in 100%. That's biznes so everything can happen.
no question about it, that is why it is important for Morey to find a team that will take rafer's contract.
The Rockets won't get into lux tax for him. Just not worth it. And he is not going to play very long, probably no more than one more year. We'll have to find a more permanent solution for that position anyways. So it's not just a back up plan. However, if we get Deke for one year, we may have bought some time to take a look at Butler and see if he is capable of manning that spot. Worst case scenario: Chuck Hayes.
Eventhough adelman knows he isn't going to get anything from Deke offensively, he knows he needs a veteran to spot Yao 10-12 minutes a game.
I wouldn't mind Deke again, considering he gave us spectacular minutes last season. He can't be offended anymore by JVG not playing him, especially since you know what about JVG.
And what is so wrong with a young Jackie Butler coming off the bench? He is exactly what a potentially talented young center this team needs, an infusion of youth and potential, Jackie eventually has to get minutes somewhere and that somewhere is Houston where he might actually get some minutes. No one is asking this guy to replace Yao, only spell him a few minutes on the bench when needed. Nothing wrong with the Rockets getting some young guys a chance to play especially with so many veterans in the lineup even without Deke.
If Mutombo is not going to come back, Jackie Butler is a backup center, and he can play 10-20 min. If he is not good after pre-traning camp, the Rox can pick up someon from somewhere for a backup.
