First of all, I would love for Dream to stay, but everyday it looks like he is getting closer to leaving. I thought I read somewhere that Sabonis was really unhappy playing in Portland, which he may consider playing for us. He can pass, and he has a fairly good perimeter shot. Personally, I think he would fit nicely with the Rockets because he would not be looking for the ball to score a lot, and he could put a body on someone so our gaurds could cut to the basket. Does anyone know his salary situation? ------------------
I'd like to have Sabonis though I don't know of his salary situation. Hopefully he won't still be mad about that dunk where Stevie sat on his head a few seasons back! ------------------ its not the hours you put in your work that counts, it's the work you put in the hours - alaskansnowman
Ha, ha! I forgot about that dunk on Sabonis. I am sure Sabonis would forget all about that once he got on a team that doesn't constantly underacheive. ------------------
Sabonis is a free agent this summer, and according to Pops, he would consider playing for very cheap, maybe about 2 million a year. He would be a great fit on this team. He would only play about 20 minutes per game, so we could have a lot of flexibility with going small, playing Collier or Cato, and in addition to having those options we'd have a huge presence to put in the game in the 4th quarter. Sabonis would be a great acquisition, but I'm not sure if management would go after someone of his age, if Hakeem were to leave. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
I think that if Dream goes, and Sabonis is willing to come to Houston, for 2 mil a year, the Rockets would be stupid not to give him a 2 yr 4 mil deal considering what big guys are making now. The problem is the freaking time it is taking for Dream to decide. I would not be a bit surprised to see Sabonis resign before Dream makes a decision, and the more talk by other teams that I heard, the quicker I would resign him if I were the Blazers front office.
Sabonis would be a great transitional figure in the rockets' climb to a championship. He would give us the kind of presence we need in the middle for a season or two (and help us actually make the playoffs) until we come up with a younger option. That's sort of the role I imagined for dream as well...And once we get into the playoffs - who knows what the rockets can do. Might surprise some people... ------------------ "George W. is like a hybrid of his father and Dan Quayle" - P. Mesku
I'd get a kick out of seeing Sabonis in a Rox uni. I've asked this question in other threads, but I really want an intelligent answer: Does New York's recent moronic signing of Allen Houston make Marcus Camby a possibility for the Rox through sign and trade? btw, 600 ------------------ Gascon
hmmm.. isn't he at least as old or older than dream? isn't he prone to being hurt? the man's like 40 years old?? ------------------ Updated: The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! join the club! Rockets Psychedelic Groove House Club on Yahoo! Stop annoying X10 ads! This link will set a cookie on your system that will disable X10 ads for one year!
I know that Sabonis is very old for the NBA, but he still shows skills that the Rockets need. Additionally, he may be the best option on there if Hakeem bolts. On the Marcus Camby idea, that sounds good but I am not sure what the specifics are on Camby's situation. Is he a FA this year, or would we have to trade for him. I like Sabonis because he could pull Shaq out of the post with his perimeter shot. ------------------
If we lose Hakeem, I would LOVE to have Sabonis on the team. He is one of my favorite players in the league, and he is a hell of a lot of fun to watch when his passing game is on. If we keep Hakeem, I would LOVE to have Sabonis on the team. He is one of my favorite players in the league, and he is a hell of a lot of fun to watch when his passing game is on. ------------------ Protrolls.com! Keep the ???? alive! The ZRBucks!
I heard somewhere (Inside Stuff ?) that Sabonis had major ups before his knees quit on him. He could have been one of the greatest players in NBA history if the Soviets had let him play in the US. Hopefully, we won't miss out on Ming. I guess it wouldn't hurt to give the guy a chance. ------------------ 13-0
Sabonis is a poor man's Dream. I know about his knees, but his stats and games played for last year aren't all that different from Hakeem, and he's almost two years younger than Hakeem. It's not my money, but if the Rox can get him for anywhere near $2 million a season, like some posters are saying they can, they should let Hakeem walk unless he'll play for $4-5 million a year. ------------------
Sabonis would be good for 2 mill, but I would prefer the rockets get a long-term solution. But if its Sabonis or no Sbonis...I go Sabonis. I don't have a problem with the way Cato played two years ago and hope he plays this year. I think a three headed dragon with Cato, Collier, and one of the following would work well enough against the elite of the west in the playoffs. I assume Collier recovers. Jackson (has he signed anywhere yet?) Some post moves and rebounding. Don't recall him challenging shots effectively...maybe a bay area guy could say how well he challenges shots...Not too big on him, but I'd rather he was in pajamas than not. Booth Cato-like, but hopefully less injury prone. Statistically, he did okay in the playoffs, but I'd didn't see him play against the Spurs. Could be what I wanted cato to be. Foul proned, but not a problem if the rockets have three centers (Not including Kenny...Shaq killed Kenny.) Mihm Would have to trade for him, but he can hit shots (and free throws), rebound, and block shots. Would need zone to help against quicker post players. Good fifth option on offense. Diop may make him expendable. Woods Could help out at the four and five. Could break down into tears....I wouldn't mind having him as a third center and third PF. ------------------
Sabonis would be a great addition, if only temporary. Hotoddie did a great analysis of this, go look for it Smokey: Yao Ming plays for the Chicoms. They will let him come here and play, but they will not let him stay. Sure, he's an awesome C - maybe the best prospect in 20 years (maybe the best prospect ever at C), but he comes with an attachment to Communist China - one that they will not break. He's Beijing's Hakeem. I know this sounds ridiculous on a basketball BBS, but war might tear this guy away. ------------------
Sabonis was drafted by the Blazers in 1986, but he didn't play his first game in the states until 1995. I feel bad for Sabonis. If he could have teamed up with Clyde as a healthy 7 ft 20 year old with guard like reflexes and skills, maybe the Blazers could have come away with a title. He also has to put up with Rasheed. A younger Sabonis would have kicked his @$$. [This message has been edited by Smokey (edited July 23, 2001).]
I am not going to even compare Pro ball to H.S, but being a h.S. coach I see alot of zone. If you have a dominating big man you are lucky, but Sabonis is far from that. I have found that against a zone a great passing post man is the next best thing. In the zone there will be gaps, if you have a post guy that can hit the cutters shooting through the gaps and relocate to shooters when the d sags you can score well against most zones. Sabonis can do this extremely well. And he has the players here that would feed off of him so well! Dont call be stupid for comparing H.S. and pros, but Sabonis could do this, and at 2 mil a year I say he would be great!
Assuming Hakeem bolts, Sabonis would be a great interim fit for this team at the right price. He is savvy, tough, and would be a great mentor and role model esp. for our interior players. As mentioned, he is a GREAT passer and stand still shooter. As a young player, before his knee problems, he was considered maybe the best player in the world; he had outside shooting, passing and driving skills, but a strong interior game. Shoot me if you want to, but I am NOT CONVINCED that Collier won't turn out to be what they projected: a good-shooting big man who can set hard screens and get some boards. When he WAS healthy last year, he was very productive for the few minutes he played, both points and rebounds. He also had a good nose for the ball. And he was improving until his knee problem sabotaged his progress. Sabonis would be a great plus in grooming Collier for this role.
