James close to Sign With Rockets for 30million 5 years?

For one year, yes.

 

I'd be skeptical of these figures, it looks like a rumor being repeated as fact.
I'm not sure why we would offer 5 years if the next best offer was 3.

That's like marrying your cheap prostitute.

(just kiddin Mike)

 

i would pay sam cassell $6 mil. a year, but we aren't talking about sam cassell who has been a winning starting PG everywhere he's been.

i like james but betting that he's going to hold up like cassell has and still be able to contribute like to a playoff caliber team is essentially playing with fire. A LOT of PG's don't play until they are 36 and A LOT aren't being paid $6 mil. a year to do it.

i just think the contract is too long. hopefully the fifth can be a team option, but who knows.

 

5 years is too much... 3 with a TEAM option for the 4th is more like it.

 

I don't know too many real insiders that are still in high school. My guess is that it is just a name and not a description.

 

i'm kinda smiling now after the **** faced scowl i've had since draft night.

 

James will be a great compliment, but let's not get crazy. No way is he a top 10 defender in the NBA. He's not even in the top 10 in point guards. That doesn't mean he's a bad player, just that he isn't the second coming.

To me, he is along the lines of Bobby Jackson and, if he does come off the bench, he could be our version of Vinny Johnson - instant offense. That makes him an excellent fit for this team. No need for additional hyperbole.

But, then again, look who I'm talking to.

 

James averaged 20 points and 6 assists last season. I think he's at least worth the MLE for 4 years. I don't think that the 5th year should be a sticking point when you consider the contracts that have been handed out over the last week or so. Go ahead and pay the man. He's earned it, and will work hard here in Houston.

 

Come on, what would this forum be without Hyerbole?!?

 

I think Mike James is easily a top 10 defensive point guard. In fact, I can't think of even 5 point guards that are better than Mike James defensively. And he was the fifth best 3 point shooter in the whole league, all guards and forwards included. Name me another player that can bring the ball up against pressure, that defends with the quickness and tenaciousness that Mike defends with, and that can hit the 3 point ball at the same clip he can. He is a unique player.

 

Granted Mike James isn't a top-10 defender, but he's pesky and great at getting steals. I remember him ripping the Dallas guards repeatedly during the 2005 playoffs. He's not like Francis or Nash, who can't keep anyone in front of them.

I don't think James is signing here to come off the bench. He'll play 2-guard alongside Alston most likely, and share some ball-handling duties as well.

 

And Mike will bring cockiness and leadership that will always make the team competitive. No more laxadaisical 1st quarters.

 

This is good news. Welcome back, Mike

 

Good News: We signed MJ.

Bad News: Jerry West really likes MJ and called CD. CD agreed to trade him to Memphis and gave them Yao for Stromile Swift. The Logo strikes again.

 

If Mike James is going to agree to the MLE for 5 years, why would he not agree to a deal starting at $4.3 million with max raises and a player option after 3 years so he can opt out for more money. Worst case scenario for him would be if he flamed out, he would only be giving up around $2.4 million on a deal like that. That is a logical equal to the 5 year MLE deal. If we are going to agree to give him 5 years at the MLE, then why not offer him the $4.3 million with max raises and a 3 year player option? If we did this, then it's a matter of convincing Toronto to S&T him for a future draft pick. Because Toronto can either take nothing or take a future pick if he has already agreed to a 5 year MLE deal. Not to mention, if the salary cap goes down this year, doesn't the MLE go down with it?

 

Why do I get a feeling CD or whoever got had again, this time by MJ's agent? Isn't this what MJ wanted exactly? At least 4 years more than just the MLE? I thought they would at least compromise for a chance to play in Houston...

 

Agreed. I've never questioned MJ's skillset, especially now. Drilling the 3pt shot when Yao or Tracy is double-teamed, creating for himself when our offense is sluggish or when he plays with the "2nd unit", harassing the opposing PG when they bring the ball up the floor, offering SOME resistance to penetrating PGs who eat Rafer and Luther for breakfast. The Rockets wanting him back proves he's the right guy for us.

 

Which current Free Agents do u guys think we should sign which were in Rox past season? The only legit player that i think we should keep is Frahm. In the final season games he was knockin some serious three pointers. Others seems useless, maybe Wesley could also help for minimum for the bench.

I highly doubt Rox sign another PF since we already have JHO n Hayes and also Battier n Novak that can also play PF position. Most likely Rox will sign another SG that can defend and shoot and come off the bench. Fred Jones is most likely candidate i would like to see. Not a great outside shooter but would make a great backup for Tmac.

 

I'm thinking CD and the front office knows that Mike James is our ONLY free agent option that would improve our team and that we can afford. Also it's obvious the Rockets feel that the window for a championship is rapidly closing so they're probably feeling they can't afford to not improve this offseason.

So they are forced to outbid other teams interested in him. James has never had a big contract and this is his last shot, so no matter what he says he is looking for the money.

Dallas probably offered him 3 years and a team option for a 4th. So to outbid them CD had to give him 4 years and a team option for a 5th year. If that was the case then the contract is reasonable given the market. It might be an albatross later but right now looks like the Rockets in a go for broke mode. They're thinking one or two years, not four or five, into the future.

 

That's true, but should he be our starting PG? Will he make the entry pass down to Yao or will Yao be neglected once again? James is a good scorer, but essentially, he's an undersized two-guard.