Vote: Swing for the Fences or Play it Safe with James?

The course is set, Win Now.

Secure Mike James...we can worry about other roster spots later.

 

We needed a 3rd scorer that can create his own shots and also good shooter from long range. Mike James is the best option available. I cant think of any other player that can instantly help rox. No good free agents are available that we need. James still has good 2-3 years in him.

 

Go for 5 with the MLE.

If stro was worth it then MJ surely is.

 

You can't really make that choice since the Raps have the final say on a TE, SnT.

What we don't know at this point is what other deals the Rocks might be negotiating and whether the other options might require the MLE or the TE.
I would assume geting James for the TE would be the preferred route and in that case we would probably have to offer 5 years to get the contract total up to the value of the 4 year MLE. (or 4 year TE and 3 year MLE depending on what current market price is)

I'm guessing the market is stuck at the 3 year MLE and that's why James is so seemingly frustrated in his channel 2 interview. He is young enough to expect at least a 4 year deal and since this is probably his last contract (other than maybe a veteran minimum at age 35 or 36) I'm sure he wants 5.

The Rockets surley will say here's our offer but bring us anyone elses offer and we will match it.

 

If other teams are only offering 3 or 4 years, then offer the 5 year TE. He might go Moochie Norris on us and gets fat and lazy after a good contract year. Then we've burned the MLE without the chance to sign somebody else.

If we are in a win-now mode, use the TE to the fullest on James and use the MLE on somebody else.

 

I don't see that it matters that much. If James takes the TE, we can use the MLE to sign other people. If he takes the MLE, we can use the TE to trade for other people. Without looking at the prospects at all, I guess I'd prefer he took the MLE, because there's no one else on the market worth the full MLE, but there might be someone we can trade for worth $4.2 million. But, I'd rather not give him 5 years either way. The Rockets have tried the longterm contract plan already and got burned.

 

I voted for the TE because we can still get someone else with the MLE after, but I just really, really want him - I don't care how it happens. I think I'm gonna cry if he doesn't sign with the Rockets. The Rockets need him right now.

 

My vote is 5yr MLE. Surrond Yao n Tmac with proven players now while they are at their best and MJ is the best available free agent so far that has experience with the organization and is in good terms.

 

Whatever gives him more money is my choice.

 

Even if we sign him for 5 yrs...he is still 31 yrs old and can contribute greatly for 3-4 yrs. I dont think its a bad idea at all to sign him for 5 yrs.

 

I would put both contracts in front of him and say, "you pick. If you want to give us flexibility to get another guy sign the 4.2. If you don't want another guy on the team sign the MLE. We don't care which one you sign, we want you first and foremost. We'll do whatever it takes. Alright, we'll turn around now."

 

I would like someone to come up with a list of players that had a breakout season in a contract year towards the end of their career (last big contract they would sign) that were signed to a big contract.

I would guess that in almost every case it was a BIG mistake to overpay that type of player and the biggest mistakes are made in signing long contracts.

The only players like that I can think of recently on the Rockets, and they weren't even at the end of their careers, were MoT and Cato . Ill even go so far as to say that we really haven't had ANY FA aquisitions EVER that are worth all the discussion that we are having over Mike James. He is not going to be the savior that we are making him out to be. Players that teams are not willing to resign have issues or they would be resigned.

Over pay if you have to but don't do it for 5 years, "3 years with an option Mike James, if you don't like it don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out".

 

i like that plan

 

And bend over.

 

This attitude is a mistake. I don't even know if the trade exception is a posibility or not because the raptors have to play a part in it. The thing about getting screwed is the person doing the deed has no respect for you and has no character or they wouldn't do it. I don't want to make any deals with a guy like that.

Basically if the TE is an equal option for MJ and he makes us sign him with the MLE then he cares nothing about winning or the Rockets and his first act was to diminish our chances for success. I already don't like the sounds of it.

 

here here.

If we get James for the MLE 3 years or the TE 4 years, then I'm happy. Anything more and it will bite us. Then we'll have to listen to all the babies around here in a couple years when he is underperforming complain about how stupid Rockets management is for getting taken to the cleaners.

Think James Posey. It would be nice to have on our team but he isn't worth overpaying. He wasn't and still isn't that "missing peice." We need lots of peices.

 

Posey didn't get 20, 3 and 6. Mike James is worth the full MLE. The question is whether or not he wants another player on the team enough to work with the TE. He would lose 3 million over 5 years to do that. That's a LARGE chunk of change. I'd probably sign the full MLE if it is offered for 5 years.