Here's a thought. Since Rudy is working out a deal to send Cato to Chicago (to Cato's former college coach, Tim Floyd), we will likely get Shane Battier in the draft. That takes care of our SF problem. Shandon can go talk to the Spurs about their opening. That leaves us with one pressing need: CENTER! Dan Fegan (Dream's new agent) wants a 2-year $10 million deal for Hakeem, which would put him right out of Houston's price range. If Hakeem sticks to that number, we will be shopping for a new starting center to go along with our new back-up. Several names have come up in the conversation about who will start for us next year, and the most notable ones have included Antonio Davis (who has all but signed a contract in Orlando), Marc Jackson (free agent) and Denver's Raef LaFrentz (available via trade). While Jackson and LaFrentz are definitely intriguing, listen to (read) this: Former NJ Nets star Jayson Williams, who retired to pursue missionary work in Africa, is working hard to try to make a return to the NBA next season. He is currently under contract with an insurance company, so he has not announced this formally, but if he can get himself back to the kind of game he had before his injury and retirement, he can play on my team any day. So . . .we unload Cato, re-sign Hakeem (management is confident they can talk him down to stay home), and get Jayson Williams to back up Dream and start the games when he is out with injuries. Add Shane Battier with the Bulls' pick, and the Rockets are looking at the second round of the playoffs next year! The Rocket Guy http://www.TheRocketGuy.com "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon ------------------
If you could sign Dream for 5/mil per he's your man. No doubts about it. Williams would have to play for the Nets. He broke his foot and his leg and that greatly reduced his lateral movement, and his doctors said the leg wouldn't be able to withstand a 30 game season. He's NOT coming back. (Mark my words on that one) [This message has been edited by NYKRule (edited June 07, 2001).]
1) Jayson Williams is a FA, nykrule. 2) I think that you're confusing Williams, TRG. Bison Dele is the player doing work in Africa. If he's coming back, he's just a cog... not a Jayson Williams type player. ------------------ girl you looks good won't you mock that draft up?!
He'd be viewed as an ass if he didn't go back to Jersey. Just my opinion on that. You just don't retire because of "career ending injuries" and come back to a different team. It would look like he just got out of New Jersey's crap situation. Besides, if he's a FA I'm one too, his basketball career is over and he's not coming back. ------------------
Bison Dele - now what was his real name? - went to Africa, too. Mutombo, Hakeem, and Chris Jackso . . .Abdul Rauf also work over there when they aren't hooping. I know Williams' leg was not heathy, but I also know he's working out to see if he can come back. Where there's a will there's a way. They told Hakeem he was out for the eyar and he was back 2 weeks later, looking like the MVP. And, yes, Williams would be a free agent. I agree - if Hakeem will take $5 million, he's our man. You just can't pay a guy $10 million when you know going in that he's going to miss a lot of games with various injuries. Maybe they can write in a clause that if he plays so many games his salary increases to X amount. If he wants $10 million guaranteed, I don't see it. ------------------
Bison Dele - Brian Williams ------------------ My doctor says I am bipolar. I am going to get a second opinion. I have never had intimate desires for polar bears.
2 years for 10 million (exactly what you put) is in Houston's price range. They can afford that much and still greatly improve the team. Let's just say Williams would be about twice as slow as Patrick Ewing-is that enough to scare you? ------------------
TOO MANY WILLIAMS!! Maybe it is Brian Williams I am thinking of. Bsk said Jayson, but he might have been confused, as I am now! I'll have to double-check that. How about Ewing joining MJ and Barkley on the broken-down-and-retired club in Washington? I think Hakeem should think twice about leaving for that very reason. Another city is going to think they are getting "THE Hakeem Olajuwon." In Houston we forgive his bad days and rejoice in his good ones. That's because he has brought us so much for so long. We LOVE him here. If he goes somewhere else, the expecations are much higher, especially if they fork over $10 million a year. The Rocket Guy http://www.TheRocketGuy.com "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon ------------------
This topic has already been discussed here. ------------------ Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play.
alrite! we already have our team Williams/Williams/Collier Mo/KT Williams/Langhi/Battier/Bull Mobes Francis/mooch IR: draft pick draaft pick!! now lets go trade for Ray Allen. ------------------ .,.·^*'´'|'\..........,.·^*'´¯¯¯'`*^·,...,/|'`*^·-, '|.......'|::\......,·'.....,.·:*:·,......'`i:'|.......| '|.......'|:::|.....;.......':,:::,:·.......';:|.......| '|.......|::;i - ·;i'`:,......¯¯.......,·´|::|.......| '|.......'´.......'|'i:::`*:~·.–·~^*'´: :'|::|.......'`*·-, '|........,.-:^:':'\:'`:;:: :: : : : :: ::;·'i::/`':^·.,......`'i '|..,.:'´:::::::::::'\| '`*^~·:–:·~^*'´..'|/:::::::::'`:^:., | '´:;:::::::::;:-·^*'´.....................`'*^·:;-.....:;·' ....`·;:·'´........................................'`^·:;·´
TRG, welcome to the premier website on the net for Houston Rockets information www.clutchcity.net ------------------
Yeah, I think we could get Ray Allen if we offered Francis and Mobley. I like Ray Allen, though. Not only is he an incredible player, he is a great role mode off the court - like Dream and Clyde. Francis, too, for that matter. And thanks for the welcome, crash! The Rocket Guy http://www.TheRocketGuy.com "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon ------------------
Nope - it is Jayson Williams, not Brian (Bison Dele) Williams. Bsk said the reason he has not announced is related to the insurance company that holds his contract. If he makes it official and then can't come back, he stands to lose a lot of money . . .or at least to pay an attorney a lot of money to sift through the paperwork blizzard the insurance company will throw at him. Again, too many Williams! No wonder Brain changed his name. The Rocket Guy http://www.TheRocketGuy.com "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon ------------------
Note of interest: "Brian Williams is Bison Dele.... he is in Lebanon, where he owns a water treatment plant.... He's not coming back, and I don't think anyone would cry. Its Jayson Williams...former NJ Net, led the league in rebounding, thinks he's very funny. Broke his leg and suffered horrible atrophy in his leg...." - From BskBALL ------------------
we all want to get a good draft pick in order to improve, but lets not trade away too much. In my opinion, the base of the team is in place, add a couple role player though the draft and we'll be set. The worst thing we could do now is to trade away one of the future star piece of the franchise to take a chance on some high school kid or some battier. ------------------
Bill: Jayson Williams is going no where. He has said many times he would not leave the NY / NJ area. In fact he had depression problems when he played in Philly. I would love to have him though. Character guy, and a good rebounder, but doubt he would come south! ------------------ A Chuck paraphrase: It was surreal! And I don't even know what that means! Charles after Eddie hit THE SHOT
Hey Bill What's up But, the more and more that I hear from the Webber situation, I think Houston was the safety net in case nobody could trade for him. Webber in my opinion never wanted to come to Houston. So, let's see how else we can improve our team. A Chicago swap is fine with me as long as it doesn't include Francis or Mobley. Pick any of the remaining pieces you want Chicago. And I've always thought that Jay Williams was a stud. His rebounding would be a definite surge to this team. Even with his bad leg and all, Williams could outrebound the Rockets Cato. And then after all is said and done, the Rockets have enough money to resign Mo. TAylor, Norris, and even Hakeem. Francis/mobley Mobley/Francis Battier/Langhi Taylor/Thomas Hakeem/J.Williams Maybe not a dynasty! But could scare the crap out of anybody in a 7 game series. Just look at what Iverson is doing. A six foot guy!!! Now that is amazing. Mobley and Francis have that type of talent too. ------------------
Hey Vince! I was just responding to your post on our other board and now here you are, too! Certainly Steve and Cat have the talent potential to be on the same level as Iverson. Steve will prove it this year. When you have that much talent and that much desire to improve, you go far. Steve said his goal for this offseason is to develop into the best defensive player in the NBA. I believe that man can do anything! Look what he did for his jump shot last summer. LOOK OUT! I would definitely question Cato being a star part of the franchise. No one questions his ability or his talent. Thing is, when you have no heart and no desire, you may as well be dead. If the Bulls want to take a chance on him, we have to let them - before Cato loses the rest of his market value. One more year in Houston like he had last year and he's our forever. Yeah, Bsk told me he didn't think JW would leave NJ, but I didn't know about the depression thing. The other part of that is that NJ said they don't plan to bring him back. If he wants to play, NJ won't take him, does that mean he appeals to the Knicks? Yeah, they need another PF like they need a hole in the head. Even with them likely sending Camby to SAC for CWebb, I don't see Williams making it in NY. Curiouser and curiouser. The Rocket Guy http://www.TheRocketGuy.com "You try to improve and do better. It's a journey, not just the destination." - Hakeem Olajuwon ------------------
