How seriously are Rox looking at the House? (Denver Rockiemountain News) http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3383371,00.html Nuggets awaiting House's decision Guard is weighing options after several teams show interest Several teams, including Miami, Boston and Houston, reportedly are interested in House, who averaged 11.1 points in 13 games with the expansion Bobcats. Should we care? By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News December 8, 2004 The Denver Nuggets continued their pursuit of Eddie House on Tuesday but received no immediate answers regarding the free-agent guard. House, released Saturday by the Charlotte Bobcats, cleared waivers Tuesday and is weighing offers from several teams, his agent Mark Bartelstein said. "We're not in a major rush," Bartelstein said. "We're going to wait to get things done when we find the right situation." The Nuggets, seeking to ease the workload for point guards Andre Miller and Earl Boykins, are targeting House, a career .346 three-point shooter who can play both guard positions. Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik spoke to House by telephone Tuesday before the Nuggets left for Washington to begin a seven-game, East Coast trip. Bzdelik was an assistant in Miami during House's 2000-01 rookie season. "I had a nice conversation with Eddie," Bzdelik said. "I think he'd fit our style of play well in terms of an insurance policy to our guard situation." Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe spoke with Bartelstein on Tuesday but had little time to negotiate as he traveled to New York to watch Oklahoma State face Syracuse at Madison Square Garden. "We haven't done anything because I've been on an airplane all day," Vandeweghe said. "I would imagine (Bartelstein) understands that." Several teams, including Miami, Boston and Houston, reportedly are interested in House, who averaged 11.1 points in 13 games with the expansion Bobcats. House became expendable after Charlotte acquired guard Kareem Rush from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for two future draft picks. Though House is not likely to receive more than the prorated NBA minimum of $745,046, Bartelstein said he is confident his client will get a guaranteed contract. The only questions now are when and where that will be.
If the Rockets got House, it would officially be the end of Ward and Lue at PG. Barrett, House and Sura would handle those duties. The good thing about House is he can hit the jumper which is crucial to our offense. My gut tells me though he is going to go to Denver.
we already have 15 players: yao-deke mo-JH-spoon-padgett jj-boki-bowen mac-gaines sura-barrett-lue-ward who gets cut in favor of house? i doubt that we land him.
Is Ward fully guaranteed? Back to the question, how interested are the Rox and should we care where he lands? I cannot believe Rox season rests on an Expansion cast-off/minimum salaried Point.
I would cut either Lue or Gaines for House. Gaines hasn't been able to hit water from a rowboat in the middle of the Atlantic and Lue's defense is, at best, suspect.
I think that Gaines role is defense only (for now) - JVG seems to like him coming off the bench to stop the "hot hand"
I think is is questionable whether Ward's contract is guaranteed. I was fooling around on the infamous trade website and I remember seeing something about it when I punched in a hypothetical trade including him. I would think he would be the logical candidate to be released.
Merry early Christmas to me if this happened. I've always liked House and would love to be able to just get rid of Ward and his 3 year contract for at least a decent somewhat young player. Pugs
BEWARE OF THE BOBCATS remember - this is an expansion team - SOMEONE HAS TO SCORE (they can't lose 85-0 every night) ....House put up decent numbers on a team where he was just a good an option as anyone else on the floor... but he was not a starter before that gig, so I doubt he would be a starter after that gig. Do you think teams will line up for Fred Jones from the Pacers once Jackson returns ?
I just talked to my buddy and he said that the ROX are VERY interested in House. They have actually talked with his agent. He thinks he'll come here. More later... BTW - Clutch and I discussed some things the other night and Clutch will post it as soon as we talk again and can 'reword' it so it makes sense to everyone here but not to the 'other people' outside....you know, the BBS interlopers!! Clutch, I'll call ya later....
I agree... sometimes the fringe players you add can make a huge difference on a team. But I feel like in the case of House... if he is able to be a spark... JVG will struggle to find out how to use him. Padgett and Bowen without are sparks and Padgett is the best outside shooter we have... but they rarely see the court. My point being... even if we get House... I doubt he will play much.
A post form the Doc means there's something cookin'. Maybe, just speculation on my part, that there is some kind of deal in the works that would involve multiple players including a guard or two. So, we would be VERY interested in House to fill a spot vacated by the trade. Again, just dreaming and guessing on my part.
dcnover, What are you talking about when you say padgett and bowen rarely see time on the court. Padgett has gotten over ten minutes the past 5 games, and Bowen has gotten 20+ minutes. Not only that, but Bowen is also starting. So I think you are mistaken when you say they are not getting minutes.
I'll have to respectfully disagree with you. Everyone knows the guy's numbers are inflated because he played for Charlotte. No one expects him to score 15 points per game. However, I know I watched this guy a lot when he was with Miami, and it was made clear to me that this guy was capable of being a scoring threat off the bench. I'm thinking part of it is you may be misconstruing how the Rockets would likely use him if they did sign him. I very, very much doubt he would be our starting point guard, simply because he really isn't a point guard. He's more of a shooting guard, or like Steve Francis you could call him "simply a guard." Were we to sign him I see him coming off the bench, rotating with Sura and McGrady, who both have point guard skills so House doesn't have to. Think about it: how much are we hurt when we have to put Lue or Ward in the game? They STINK. We get House, then we at least have a guy who brings SOMETHING as our third guard.
A good backup plan may be to sign Troy Bell. Hoopshype's analysis: Was one of the best scorers in college... Very good driving to the basket... More than decent shooter... Great athlete... Plays with heart... Enough playmaking skills?... Decision-making is a concern... Turnover prone. Okay, the whole "not a pure PG" idea scares me too but as long as T-Mac is on the floor, he usually handles the primary responsibilities as playmaker. I have seen Bell play a lot, and I have always thought he would succeed on the next level. The guy has a good handle and is a good passer, he would just try to do too much sometimes. He never really had a place in Memphis, maybe all he needs is a fresh start? And with the talk of going after Eddie House and what not, they are similar players....maybe we could get a steal.
Wow, how badly did the Rox screw up the offseason FA signings? If Ward is guaranteed x 3 years, IMO that contract is Matt Maloney bad. At least Maloney played for a while. Sign House. He's a shooter/scorer. What we needed to be looking for in the offseason, not antique and "As-Is" shopping.
