http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3306916 Rockets re-sign Barry, meet Mutombo's terms By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The Rockets went a long way toward bringing back the remaining unsigned parts of last season's nucleus, signing guard Jon Barry and agreeing to terms with center Dikembe Mutombo today. Barry signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with plans to finish his career with the Rockets as his father, Hall of Famer Rick Barry, did. Mutombo said he agreed to a two-year deal, also to complete his career. "Houston was where I will be happy and be comfortable," Mutombo said. "Houston was one place I feel I was home. I have great teammates and great coaches. Money was not that important to me. I feel I made good money in my career. So I'm going to sign a deal and be happy here." Mutombo said he would likely not sign until late next week. He will serve as "Honorary Commissioner on Monday for the United Nation's and New York City International Youth Day events. But Mutombo, who had received offers from several teams including the Mavericks, said he had decided he wanted to be in Houston to complete his career and his work on building a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Houston is wonderful with great people," Mutombo, 39, said. "I have a chance to be in an organization that accepts what I'm doing in the community and embraced it. People came to the games and understand my devotion, my passion, which is helping people. I have a chance to help the team and to be with teammates who have been so good in my life and Jeff (Van Gundy), who I respect so much as such a great coach. "I will play my two years and say bye to everybody. That's what I want to do. I'm going to start preparing myself mentally for that. I don't want to play my last year and make the decision (to retire) and think, 'why am I home?' I'm going to work for two years and be blessed with another project, another adventure." Mutombo, who averaged four points and 5.3 rebounds, was often a huge contributor off the bench for the Rockets, along with Barry. Barry, 36, was acquired from the Hawks on Dec. 23. Intending to retire after one season in Atlanta, Barry averaged seven points and 2.6 points last season and said he planned to retire with the Rockets, though not necessarily with one more season. But Barry's immediate plans were to go farther than the Rockets could go last season when they were beaten in a seven-game, first-round series. "I think there's no reason why we can't make a run at this thing," Barry said. "Last, if Juwan (Howard) was healthy, I think our season would have ended up different. I think we would have gotten by that first-round series and advanced. With the addition of Stromile (Swift) and hopefully with Juwan healthy, I see no reason we can't do something special. All the pieces are here."
I don't there are finished. I believe they will try to trade for a true pg or sign one. They also need a atheltic wing maybe like a Sprewell, Glover, or Dermaar Johnson.
I dont think the Rockets are finished just yet. I have a feeling that the Rockets will try to address the glut the have at the guard positions
This offseason I was thinking a 2 year deal at the low end of 4 mil total to a high end of 8 mil total was where Deke should fall. If we got him for like 2.5 mil a year (5 mil total) it would be great, I guessing the number won't be far from that, anyting less is gravy. The Deke and Barry signings are great to get behind us and make the team extremely strong with other offseason moves. Now we can really be selective and patient with the 1.7 exemption or a very advantagous S&T if the right guard or swingman comes along. We can afford to be very choosy in terms of skills and chemistry this player might bring, and if no sure thing comes along it is just another slot for Baxter and Glover--not bad back-up choices at all.
No we didnt have his bird rights.. He signed for the Non-Bird exception, which is 120% of last year's salary. 120% of $1.5 million is $1.8 million. I just figured it out..
We cant get Deke for anything but the LLE, Minimum, or 120% of his last years salary which is 8.5 million (using the NON-Bird exception). I am pretty sure he signed for the minimum..
Close but not quite. Barry was a 1 year non-qualifying free agent. We could do one year deal up to about 2.2 mil (or multiyear if we wanted). You are allowed but not required to do a 20% raise from his 1.8 mil contract last year, 1.8 mil this year (no raise, but same salary and above an LLE) is fair to both sides. Deke is a 2 year qualifying free agent, meaning we have what they call Early Bird Rights. These contracts must be a minimum of 2 years, and we were allowed to go well over the MLE (set at the average player salary) if needed in Deke's case (1.75 X last salary or average player salary, whichever is greater). Deke's theoretically could have been well over the MLE (starting at 5 mil), but like I said I would guess 2.5 per year with no raise +/- 1 mil. So these signings used other exemptions available to re-sign your own free agents and we still have our LLE, which allows us a 1 year 1.67mil contract or max of two years for about 3.5 mil.
I'm pretty sure he's not playing for the minimum. The non-bird doesn't have to be 120% of a previous salary. That is just the max raise. It can be UP to a 120% and anywhere below it. Besides, since Deke is coming off a two year deal, we technically have his early bird rights. Two years 5-7 million is my guess.
Here are rules on EBR, full bird and non-quals. http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm Here was Deke's contract, he was coming off a 2 year deal: http://www.nationwide.net/~patricia/contracts Dikembe Mutombo ....... 10/9/03 2 $8.6 million '05 Assuming Beder's numbers are correct, they usually are but not always, we had his Early Bird Rights, see details in the previous post (could have offered starting at around 8-9 mil per year for a minimum of 2 years and out to 6--anything less in amount but not years is also allowed). If your hunch was correct, I am sure Deke would have only signed a 1 year deal with a bigger raise the following year.
Lets sign Nick or GP, solidify the PG spot, and get ready to rock and roll! My guess is that the Rockets are looking to sign Van Exel or Payton and Derek Anderson.
I'm glad they were able to bring back Barry and Mutombo. The team wouldn't be the same without them. They both bring a lot of passion and character to the team. If we could get a PG with some speed that can knock down an open shot, penetrate and create that would be great. My vote is for Jay Williams.
