It's what most of us expected, but it's great to hear it from the man himself. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3250166 Last stop for Mutombo By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - Globe-trotting Dikembe Mutombo wants to make Houston his final NBA stop. "Oh yes, for sure," he said Friday during a break in the Basketball Without Borders outreach program. "When I went home to Atlanta for the summer, I only took three suits out of my closet. That means that all of my clothes are in Houston, and I really want to go back there." The 39-year-old center joined the Rockets last season to be a practice partner and mentor to Yao Ming. Mutombo played more than 15 minutes a night in 80 games, averaging four points and 3.5 rebounds and was everything the Rockets had wanted, also averaging 1.26 blocked shots. Mutombo is a seven-time NBA All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. "I hope everything will work out quick and soon in Houston so I can put all of this behind me," the Rockets' free agent said. "I've been working out already to get myself ready to come back. "I told a friend yesterday that I'm tired of changing uniforms. I just want to go and play where I can be accepted in Houston, where I can play the few years I have left and finish up by backing up Yao Ming or in whatever kind of role I can have. I would like to fulfill my dream and finish up the game and be happy to walk away. "Last season was a great experience. I think Yao learned a lot from me, and I learned a lot from him and we were able to grow. If there would be a chance for us to win a championship together, it would be fabulous."
no way CD will trade Mutombo, we will need him to backup Yao, and there is no one else i would want other than Mutombo to back yao up. He is an enrgetic player who brings excitement and finger waving to the Houston Rockets.
That's not an option. Deke is a FA, and he'd have to agree to a sign and trade, which would be an insult to him ... CD has no options to trade him, at least not this summer, and I doubt he ever would.
If you never watched a single Rockets' game last season, you'd shake your head and say to yourself..."4 points and 3 and a half boards? The guy wasn't contributing jack!" Definitely one of those times when stats don't tell the whole story. Deke seemed to get his points or boards or blocks when they were critical. Remember how great it was watching him lay on the court, clutching the ball and smiling in Denver's upset playoff win? How cool would it be to see his reaction in an NBA Finals game? Bring him back CD!
A 2 year 8-10 million contract would seem to be the right type of contract we should offer...cheaper the better, but the guy has proven to be a valuable role player. That said, the West has become a tweener league where players that can easily slide between PF and C is a commodity, the likes to thwart Tim D, KG, and Amare. Would really help to get a player that is big enough to guard 5's, but agile enough to guard athletic 4's. Deke, of course, is strictly a 5.
8-10 MILLION? Ill pass on that. He no longer needs money offer him a 2 year 4 million dollar deal. I dont wanna use the MLE on this guy.
good to hear about deke...my gfs favorite player. (maybe a little old but...) im hoping she dosnt want to sex mutumbo.
also i think hes smarter than to ask for 8-10mil. if he wants to end his career here, then the vet mininmum or close to it should be fine.
We can offer a 2 year 8-10 mil deal using our Early Bird exemption, leaving our MLE intact. Personally, I hope we can get it done for less than that, maybe even half that amount. 2 year 4-6 mil with player option on the 2nd would be pretty fair.
Definitely doesn't tell the whole story, esp. since the reporter messed up the stat (3.5 defensive rebounds per game, 5.1 total). 5.1 boards and 1.3 blocks in 15 mins per game? Pretty damn impressive, Deke.
I think Deke will resign for the vet. minimum. He's still getting paid max dollars from the Nets so I doubt money will be an issue. Deke seemed to enjoy last season a lot. He's seems to enjoy backup up Yao and teaching him some things. Also, I'm sure Deke is grateful for the Rockets generosity towards his hospital in the Congo.
As I recall having heard on 610 AM, Deke was very touched when the Rockets organization made their annual Tux & Tennies Benefit geared toward Mutombo's own charity/fundraising effort, geared toward building hospitals in Mutombo's home country. <b>If</b> I recall correctly, he said he'd never been nearly so warmly welcomed nor made to feel as at home by any other franchise. Call me whacky, but I don't think Mutombo's going anywhere... and I'm pretty damn sure the Rockets aren't going to let him <b>go</b> anywhere. I may be a relative newcomer to basketball fandom, but from what I've heard, I feel pretty safe in saying Deke <b>will</b> be back. Dribble
I was skeptical when we traded for him, but he was a valuable asset. Bring him back for cheap, and build another hospital in Africa.
The Rockets are paying that worthless scrub Weatherspoon 6 million next year. I think the Rockets can afford 4 million for a great player of Deke's caliber.. Mutumbo is one of my favorite Rockets. He helped us so much, I'd really like to see him play for us for 3 more years.
