Bobby Simmons a FA?

Simmons would be great to pair with T-Mac at the wings. However, I see PG and PF being the priority for the Rockets this season. My hunch right now is that we spend most if not all of the MLE on Antonio Daniels to take over most of the PG duties from Sura and pick up a big man PF in the draft. A true SF to back up T-Mac would be nice, but isn't priority.

I bet Simmons will probably stay with the Clips. It seems like he's got a good position with the team now (starter, lots of minutes), is probably grateful to the team for the opportunity, and the Clips will probably make it a point to retain him.

 

I would love to see Antonio daniels in a rockets uniform but I don't think he's going to want to leave the sonics. I wonder if he wants to be part of the Rockets.

 

ty, you may be right that Daniels may prefer to stay in Seattle, but almost half of the players on the Sonics roster are going to become free agents this summer, and retaining Daniels is a far lower priority than resigning Allen and Radmanovic. The Rockets will likely be able to offer Daniels more money plus a starting job, and I don't think Daniels will ignore those things since this may be his last major contract of his career.

You could argue that Simmons gives us much better bang for the buck than Daniels, but I think team needs will end up dictating who we pursue.

 

I suppose it's always possible that Daniels decides not to opt out, but I'd be surprised for him to actually do that.

 

I think he does want out- as it stands right now, he is the 4th guard and only plays when the others are hurt.

If he ever wants to get a payday in the NBA, he will sign a one year deal where he can start and then cash in on a 4-5 year contract

 

He's the 3rd guard, and a regular part of the rotation, logging over 27 minutes a game.

There will be plenty of demand for a guard with a better than 4.5 AST/TO ratio- certainly more than his 2.2 mill option. He's done more than Kevin Ollie did and is younger- he can pretty easily get a 4-5 year deal this offseason.

 

If you have to choose which one to go after, AD or Stromile Swift, which one would you go after? I'd prefer Stromile, but unfortunately he's probably out of our reach.

 

Simmons will definately be someone I am sure we and other teams will look at. He is young and is improving. He probably isnt a specific "need" for this team, but if added would be a nice young piece to add to our core which really is what we need overall.

AD and Stromile of course will be guys we look at.

Hopefully the Rockets will lock onto one quality player and throw the entire MLE at them.

 

we need a real PG. Take whatever money we would throw at Simmons and get a real PG.

 

and then trade for a PF

 

Well, like the other posters said, AD is playing backup PG and is making very little money.

The Rockets would be able to offer him more money plus a starting role. He knows we are interested in him so I guess it will come down to whether he likes our offer or not.

Simmons is a breakout player who is playing well. However, I don't think the Rockets will pursue since our most dire need is a true PG and PF.

 

I would take Swift over AD also. A shot blocking PF who can protect Yao would be great. Not only would it increase our production at that position but we would also be able to get more out of YAo since he would not always be jn foul trouble. Besides I think Sura has done a pretty good job at PG. If we could draft a PG to be our backup or bring over the guy from Europe (always forget his name) then we could be fine at that position for another year.

 

oh, no wonder they're so good this year. it's a team-wide contract drive.


edit: and swift over AD easily. young pf's who can block shots and hit the occasional jumper and are developing an offensive game are way more important and harder to find than role-playing point guards.

 

I would think Swift would get an offer greater than the MLE, which is all the Rockets can offer unless a trade is done. Daniels can be had for problably less than the MLE (but Toronto did offer the full MLE for Rafer Alston last year so anything can happen).

Another Seattle guy with an expiring contract that could be had on the cheap is Reggie Evans - averaging 9.3 rebounds in only 23.6 minutes. That is 18.9 on a 48 minute basis which leads the league. He'll be cheap because he has little offense but the guy is pure hustle when he plays. A great energy guy. Dennis Rodman without the tattoos & dress.

Maybe we could land both by splitting the MLE. Daniels 4 years ~ 16M starting ~ 3.5M & Evans 4 year ~ 10M starting ~ 2M. Assuming the new CBA limits deals to 4 years. Maybe I'm just dreamcasting.

 

I'd love to get Simmons the guy has been incredible this year for the clips. He was put into the starting role with all the injuries to the team and has performed amazingly. Has a pretty stroke and can hit from anywhere, but tends to stay midrange 15-18ft for most of his jumpshots.I believe his fg perecentage is like 54% this year for a guy who primarily shoots jumpers. The guy can be a good defender, he is I think above average defender. A good hustler and rebounder. He works within the offense he rarely tries to force anything which I find admirable. He would be the perfect 3 off the bench to rest T-mac. He would bring instant offense off the bench. I would pursue Bobby Simmons heavily if the our pressing need at 4 has been taken care of

 

I would think we will give Daniels the MLE, then go after a better power forward by offering one or both of our expiring contracts (Wesley, although we would hate to give him up, and Weatherspoon) + our first rounder (sign and trade, since we can't trade the pick outright).

 

If we wanted Antonio Daniels I think we could have him this summer if we gave him the FULL MLE. Remember that the NEW CBA rules will be in effect and chances are they are going to REDUCE the number of years a team can offer FAs, probably from 6 to 4. So you could offer AD a 4yr deal at FULL MLE money. That wouldnt be too bad.

The question is, would Seattle offer more? I am not so sure since they have to contend with Ray Allen and eventually Radmanovich. They also have to look at Flip Murray and save room for Ridnour soon as well. Ridnour is their future at PG. AD is their backup but also is their "closer" in games which is interesting.

AD and Sura as the Rockets PGs would be awesome!

As far as Swift goes, I would go after him FIRST in FA. Locking up that PF spot next to Yao is paramount in my mind and getting a quality PF is much more difficult than getting a PG.
We could try to get him with the FULL MLE but chances are that wont be enough to get him. We would have to hope to luck into Swift, with him willing to take less money to start for the Rockets at PF next to Yao with a chance at a championship. Players that are "young" almost NEVER take less money to do those things. Ususally that is reserved for veterans. Clearly the "market" will dictate that he is worth more than the the 5M a year MLE offer we could give him. Look what Okur, Foyle, Camby, Boozer got last year. They got deals starting around 8M+ a year and that is what Swift is going to want. On the other hand, many of the teams that have cap room probably will be looking in other directions. I think NJ with their 10M Trade Exception is the one team that might really have the advantage at getting Swift in the offseason.

Either way, getting someone QUALITY like Swift or Daniels with our MLE this offseason would be huge for this team, especially if we draft well this summer and are able to add Spanoulis and Badiane to this team. That is a lot of new players and youth brought into this team next year.

 

Simmons is a good player but making him an offseason target really shouldn't be in our plans. Simmons can really only be effective playing the 3, which is where T-Mac is playing. I don't think this would be one of those cases where you have an interchangeable SG/SF guy that you can just plug in wherever.