Vassilis Spanoulis agrees to 3-year deal with Rockets

I will challenge you that we will not be disappointed and will be watching him with excitement!!!

Why? Because he plays with fire which leads me to pointing out two aspect of his game that you did not mention that seem evident from film and from all the reports from those within the Rockets organization who been incessantly tracking him for several years, and, obviously, know more about him than you do. Only time will tell whether these traits V-Span possesses are NBA Level, but I am hoping and believing for the best because we certainly need this from him if we want to return to the Playoffs:

1. Clearly has instincts for finding that penetrating, slashing thread to the basket and does so fearlessly and aggressively.

2. Has good court sense and, similarly, has instincts for playing the passing lanes for the steal, but in a more Bobby Sura bulldog manner, not neccesarily with speed and finesse.

In reference to JVG and Swift from last year`s discussions, while I was in the end disappointed in Swift, I still stand on my statement that one of JVG`s greatest weaknesses is that he is not a positive motivator and molder of players and l find it interesting how we are now hearing, not from posters, but from other NBA players citing that as one of the reasons they do not want to become a Rocket. I, also, find it extremely interesting that one of the greatest motivators and skilled GM`s ever in the game, none other than Jerry West himself, was excited to have Swift return to his fold...

 

does vspan have a good shot? Can he spread the floor like Luther? and how is his ball handling? if all this is not to bad then he can definantly help and will be a good fit for the Rockets.

 

nik name VAMPIRE

 

Van Gundy may or may not be a positive motivator, but Swift wasn't improving under Sidney Lowe, Hubie Brown, and Mike Fratello, either... when he's pretty much been the same under 3 other coaches, I tend not to blame the 4th coach if the player doesn't improve under him. I still think maybe Stromile had a chance to get better (slowly) with more time in the system, but if you are getting Battier and Swift is part of the package, then good luck to him. It's OK with me because I see more promise in Chuck Hayes than I do in Swift.

The Logo wanted Stro back not so much becaue he think Stro is a future star or anything, but mostly because they lost Lo Wright and Swift can fill Lo's minutes. Besides, the other alternatives for salary matching (Juwan Howard) was gonna be less useful for him than Swift.

I also wouldn't say that Van Gundy does not develop young players. Yao has developed just fine. Camby developed from a bad rebounder to a great one under Van Guny. Charlie Ward played 44 minutes in the NBA when Van Gundy started using him. One thing about Van Gundy is that he makes you earn your minutes rather than just hand out "developmental minutes" to young guys just so they can "learn". Whether that is a good thing or not can be debated.

 

did they have another basket to put eggs in?

 

Not really a good year for baskets this offseason, as most GMs agree. Mike was just about the only one that fits the teams needs really well. The other baskets are merely OK and don't really fit the team needs.

A few of the other teams might have baskets for trade though, and the Rockets might have some baskets of their own which which to barter.

 

I know this is just one clip of highlights which has been posted, but I wasn't blown away like some of you guys. I hope I'm wrong.

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And people keep comparing him to Ginobli, but based on that clip it seems like an unfair comparison. Maybe I'm missing something.

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I know this is just one clip of highlights which has been posted, but I wasn't blown away like some of you guys. I hope I'm wrong.

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And people keep comparing him to Ginobli, but based on that clip it seems like an unfair comparison. Maybe I'm missing something.

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same goes here!

I can't wait to see him play

most of us will love him and his fire for play!

 

I'm with you munco. The video shows Vspan against matadors, something like you would see in summer league. During regular season NBA games, teams will deny him penetration and force him to hit from outside. If he can't knock down the jumper, he will not be effective. Simple as that. And we can trash the comparisons to Manu. IF he can hit open shots from 20ft and closer, we may be on to something. He just doesn't seem that quick to me.

 

This is incorrect. First off there is no way he makes 42.4 Million.

Second, NBA allocates around 500,000 to 700,000 to each team a year for things such as buyouts so it does not come out of the MLE.

Thirdly V-Span does not get that money, his former team gets the buyout money.

And I am pretty sure his contract is not "front loaded". The only player in the league that has a contract like that is Joe Johnson, and even that is being litigated.

I can almost guarantee you V-Span is making more than 2.4 over 4 years. That is not feesible with the league minimum. I think it is like 5.2 over 2 years and only about 1.2 of it is taken out of the MLE, which leaves us with roughly 4 mil left.

If I was the Rockets I would try to lure Reggie Evans with that money. He is a rough and rugged power foward banger who is a killer rebounder. Problem is whether the Rockets will have to useso of the MLE to sign JL3.

I also think that we should sign Cato with the league veteran's minimum in which the NBA pays 40%. If does not touch the MLE. Cato did not really play last year and has no value and would need to play one year in Houston where he knows the system and excelled his last year here to raise his stock.
Hell, maybe he can earn all the money we blew on him.

And also remember we still have the 4.2 million trade exception. I would like to use that to get Stephen Jackson from Indy who they dont want so much and it is kind of obvious buy them adding Marquis Daniels and Shawne Williams in the draft. And I believe they will also get Harrington from Atlanta in a sign and trade with the 7.5 mil trade exception they got from New Orleans in the Peja deal.

After doing that CUT Bowen's sorry ass. Then I would trade Juwan Howard to L.A. for Mihm, Aaron McKie and Von Wafer. I dont think they will give us Smush or Cook. I also don't believe Sura will play. That leaves you with this roster.

C- Yao Ming
PF- Shane Battier
SG- Tracy McGrady
SF- Stephen Jackson
PG- Rafer Alston
Bench- Chris Mihm
Bench- John Lucas III
Bench- Vassilas Spanoulis
Bench- Chuch Hayes
Bench- KelvinCato
Bench- Kirk Snyder
Bench- Steve Novak
Bench- Mutumbo
Bench- Luther Head

Of coarse that is too many Bench playes but 2 will be on the NA list.

 

I agree, Ginobli seems like a bad comparison as Manu relies on speed and athleticm.

I think a good comparison would be our own Bobby Sura. Sura doesn't kill you with his blinding speed but he just keeps pushing and pushing and uses is head to find weaknesses. KB seems to rely on grittiness and willpower which is something we definately need.

Some of you say KB won't be able to get to the basket much but team will double team and give KB some breathing room. That will open up all sorts of lanes for him to get to the rim.

He seems like he brings attitude, confidence and hustle. If he can learn JVG's defensive schemes, I predict KB will become JVG's pet player. He has all the tools to become a consomate JVG type of player.

 

Yeah, hopefully. I'm taking a wait and see approach on this guy. Playing in Europe is one thing. Playing in the NBA is another. If he can make the adjustment and (this is the important part) JVG gives him playing time then this move might just end up working in their favor.

 

This is just business as usual for the Rockets. After they lost out on James, they concentrated on getting Spanoulis because he fit their profile: young player with some size who won't be expensive to acquire. For several years now they have stocked the roster with the cheapest players they can find and hoped for the best. This year will be no different except for the fact that JVG's rump will be on the line so it remains to be seen if guys like Snyder & Spanoulis will actually get a real chance to play or if JVG goes down swinging with his "solid veteran" players.

 

JWalker I agree with much of what you said, except...

-What we have left might be enough for Evans, but my #1 choice would be Fred Jones.

-Our TE is not enough to take on Daniels or S Jac, it would have to a player trade for S Jac. But Jasikevicius or Jones in a sign and trade using the TE does work and is worth considering.

-John Lucas III will not get more than the min, no undrafted players who blow up in summer leagues that I know of get more. I am 90% sure a 2 year guaranteed contract with a player option is the best contract he could possible get, though I am fine with that.

-I don't like the Laker trade. I see JaHo as a valuable alternative to Battier at the 4, with Battier getting more minutes generally with JaHo picking more the few times you need more girth there--e.g., when we encounter Brand or Duncan playing the 4 spot. JaHo and change for S Jac if we could sign Evans I would be for however.

 

yes, but this would've been much better.

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Hey Einstein, are you going to post this in every single thread?!

If you love Gay so much the Grizzly's forum is second door to the right!

 

Thanks for the reply

Yeah i know SJack makes like 5.8 or something like that so we would have to throw in something. Perhaps a player we get from the Laker trade (if that trade has any truth to it) like VOn Wafer or McKie. Most likely McKie because his salary.

I feel like Juwan is better that nothing, but 20 mil over the next 3 years is so not worth it. Juwan will only get worst with each year so if you have a chance to unload him do so. He doesn't bang anyhow and can't hold Brand or KG. He has no more lift in his legs (3 dunks last year).

I actually know Fred Jones (through a chick) and like him as a player but i think we need a PF more ungently. With JL3, V-Span, Alston, Snyder, and Head (with TMac and Battier playing the occasional 2) we don't need anymore guards who are small and don't have a chance to play the 3.

Granted if we could net him in a sign and trade with thr TE, then go for it. I would take Jasikevicius too in a pakage if we had a player or 2 to make the contracts work (although I don't think Bird is just going to give them away like that)

There is also the possibility of throwing in Head (although I REALLY like him and would hate to see him go) which would be valuable for them in the Atlanta trade to get Al Harrington since they want him. In return we could rework a trade to SJack instead and Jones or Jake.

 

Dude, I like Rudy but lets stop bringing this up. It hurts. Let it go.

 

How is only $1.2M of the MLE used for V-Span's deal? Can teams subtract the league minimum salary from how much of the MLE they use when signing their own draft picks? Please explain.

Also, what IS V-Span's contract? 3 yrs/$5M? 3 yrs/$6M? 4 yrs/$2.4M?