About an hour ago CD did an interview with Kenny Hand on 610 AM and spoke about the status of Hakeem beyond this season and when Cato might be back. Hakeem, he said, is a very proud man and only wants to win. He is having fun again playing with the younger guys and feels like he is a vital part of the team again. After the season, if Hakeem keeps up this current level of play, CD said that the Rockets would take a serious look at bringing Hakeem back next season. He said that he knows if Hakeem stays healthy he can contribute for at least another year or two. As for Cato, we might see him get some minutes tonight, if Cato feels up for playing. ------------------ "Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is." -- Barbara Bush
YES! CATO TIME! (sorry, I just like the way that phrase grates on some of your nerves ) Actually, I am looking forward to seeing how he plays now... ------------------ "I think the people who believed the world was flat were pretty stupid. You would think at least those living near mountains would know better." - P. Mesku
Man, Hakeem is playing great, and making all the difference to winning. But I just can't see not making an offer to Webber. The only way we can do that is to either renounce Hakeem, or sign him to the minimum. We have logistical problems with our exception as aelliott has pointed out. We cannot renounce Hakeem *and* use an exception on him. He would have to take the minimum in that scenario. The Catch-22 is that if we sign him to more, we can't make Webber a competitive offer. The proposition is: either pay him minimum, or forget about making a competitive offer for Webber. tough...tough call.
Man, I would hate to have to be one of the guys who makes that call... If Hakeem keeps up his current level of play, how can you not make him, a man who gave Houston 2 championships, some kind of offer? But, then how can you not make some offer to Webber, when there is the chance that you could lock up the final puzzle piece for years? This one is way too close to call. ------------------ "Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching." [This message has been edited by RunninRaven (edited February 16, 2001).]
It would be great seeing Dream take the minimum $1million like Chuck did but I'm not too sure he is willing to do that. You would think he would want to take less and get CWebb here to contend for the title, but I don't know if thats how he's looking at it. Maybe somehow the Rockets can convince him to wait until the Webber sweepstakes are over before signing with anyone. ------------------ "Steve is good. Steve is real good." -- Cleveland's rookie point guard Andre Miller on Rocket rookie point Steve Francis
The Hakeem dilema is difficult and interesting. The cweb factor could cut both ways. I mean, if we were able to a) coax Webber over here b) continue making efforts to letting Dream contribute he might be willing to stay for less. I mean, Hakeem loves to win. If we prove to him we have a shot at another title, he might be willing to make monetary sacrifices to get another ring. If this team doesnt add any great players, he may not be willing to stick around - even for a big wad of cash... ------------------ "I think the people who believed the world was flat were pretty stupid. You would think at least those living near mountains would know better." - P. Mesku
You beat me to it DieHard Rocket! Sorry folks, didnt mean to sound like an echo.. ------------------ "I think the people who believed the world was flat were pretty stupid. You would think at least those living near mountains would know better." - P. Mesku
But, that is too late. We cannot make an offer for Webber, until after we renounce Hakeem. That action then commits us to using free agent dollars on Hakeem or the minimum salary, because all our exceptions get voided, as well as Hakeem's Bird exception.
HP, I think what DieHard is referring to is that the Rockets re-sign Hakeem to a small contract like they did with 1 mil for Barkley then with the remaining cap room make the offer for Webber. Its going to take more than that to keep Dream tho. If the Rockets can move Walt Williams for a FA to be before the trade deadline, then they could re-sign Hakeem to about 4-4.5 mil FIRST then make an offer for Webber. You have to re-sign Hakeem on your cap space to make it work thus no exceptions, no bird rights etc so you have to juggle it in such a way where you can fit BOTH a re-signed Hakeem and signed Webber under the cap like the Rockets previously did with Pippen and Barkley. You do not have to renounce Hakeem to re-sign him, you can simply re-sign him to a smaller contract like the Rockets did with Barkley. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net [This message has been edited by MManal (edited February 16, 2001).]
Somebody please tell me why they would have to renounce Hakeem NEXT season in order to make an offer to CWebb? Hakeem's contract is up after THIS season. Can't they just sign CWebb first then sign Hakeem using his bird rights if it puts the rocks over the cap? Didn't they do that with Barkley in his last season? whrslshr ------------------
heyparty-I'm not sure on that Webber thing. I'm fairly sure you can renounce a free agent any time (after August 1) as long as he hasn't been signed. We can talk to Webber, and if it turns out he'd sign with us, in one swoop we can renounce Hakeem, and sign CWebb. Remember, Webber isn't a restricted free agent, there is no offer sheet. There's nothing against talking to other free agents based on how much your cap is. whr-unrenounced players count against the cap (in Hakeem's case, I think over 20 mill) If you resign him with bird rights, it cuts out pretty much all cap space. Once you renounce him, he's off the books, and would allow us to sign free agents competitively. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
Dream counts against the cap until he is renounced or resigned. There was a small blurb in the Chronicle about teams around the league wanting to move long term contracts before the trade dealine. That leads to an interesting thought. What if another team said that they would trade a player with an expiring contract for a Rocket or Rockets with existing multi-year contract(s), but the Rockets would have to send a draft pick along to compensate for the other team taking on salary for the future? How much is it worth to dump salary and create more cap space? Mango ------------------ Spring Cleaning!!!
"How much is it worth to dump salary and create more cap space?" I personally would be willing to give one of the picks (preferably Milwaukee's) in order to clear cap room. It also would not shock me in the least if the Rockets pulled an Orlando on draft day and started packaging their picks with contracted players in exchange for future picks to a young team with cap space. Thus, if there is no cap clearing trade by the deadline, I dont think that is the end of it. The key piece in this whole puzzle I feel is being able to move Walt Williams contract at some point. That extra 5 mil or so in cap room would allow the Rockets to re-sign Hakeem for around that amount and then pursue Webber with the remainder of the cap room. Teaming Olajuwon with Webber up front along with Anderson, Mobley, Francis on the perimeter along with a deep bench would make this team a formidable force in the Western Conference. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
If we were lucky enough to package walt and draft picks to another team, so we could sign c-webb and Hakeem, I'm still not conviced Hakeem would stay. Hakeem wants to be a major contributor on any team he plays for, and with the addition of c-webb, I think Hakeem might feel his role would be to small. See: last year's draft and cuttino. ------------------ I am an invisible man.
I just wish Hakeem stays and we get Webber too.. that's be great.. he he ------------------ against all odds
I know I'm really stretching here, but if we were to renounce Hakeem, could we 1) go over the cap (say, by first signing Webber/Mo T and then signing Shandon to a larger contract via Early Bird) 2) qualify for a mid-level exception, and 3) use it on Hakeem? ------------------
