You have to consider that Mo signed a "wink-wink" deal and made $2.25 million for the Rockets last year. So basically this is a 7 year, $50.25 million contract. Also, consider that Calvin Booth and Todd MacCullough both got $34 million over 6 years. Mo Taylor is eons better than both of them- combined.
Forgive me for being a skeptic, but I just read that Calvin Booth and Todd McNugget (oops) are going to get $34 million over six, which is roughly about 5.7 per year. Knowing that, if I'm Marc Jackson, I'm asking for at least seven. Am I being too skeptical or am I wrong in assuming that? Calvin and Todd (not the comic strip) didn't average double figures in points last season and MJax almost did that in two categories (13pts, 7.5 rebs). If Jackson would come at $5 mil per season, wouldn't New Jersey and Seattle go and lock him up or at least hold out until he made up his mind? This isn't rocket science (pardon the pun) so I doubt those clubs made that serious of blunders. Either Jackson refused to sign with them, he asked for too much money, or they didn't want to wait on him to make up his mind. Either way the McC and Booth signings may have driven up the price on our man Marc... but I hope I'm wrong.
This says all you need to say about Mo Taylor: Q: What about Antonio Davis? Olajuwon: It's wonderful to play with a legitimate power forward. That frontcourt is respected around the league. I love how you selectively apply statements. Dream said nothing to imply anything negative about the Rockets, and he definitely didn't say anything about the past year alone. If you take that as a negative towards the Rockets, there's no logical connection you can make for Dream meaning that statement for solely last year, and thus that would also say "all you need to say" about Otis Thorpe and Charles Barkley. Bob, I'm on the same planet that has Todd Maccullough making 33 million over 6 years.
Just saw this NIKE. Damn cable modem stopped me from posting my correction until after 11am....and I went straight to a new thread. I see realgm is already up on the $6.4m. sigh...now it is a debate who nailed the $6.4m, first. lol!
$48 million for a power forward who can't rebound or play defense is just sickening. I don't think my heart can take much more of this offseason.
When I said $5 mill, that was for the first year of the contract. MacCulloch signed for $4.538 mill & Booth signed for $4.539 mill in the first year of their contracts. The only teams with at least $5 mill or more of cap space are the Rockets & Clippers. There are 12 teams that still have the $4.5 mid-level exception left. Here's the list with their current salary committments in parenthesis: Philadelphia ($54.3 mill)-They have Mutombo, Geiger, & Dalembert. Washington ($49.9 mill)- Probably reserved for Jordan. Atlanta ($50 mill)-They have Ratliff & Nazr. Cleveland ($40.6 mill)-They have Diop, Doleac, & Illgauskas. Indiana ($54.8 mill)-They are showing interest in him. Milwaukee ($53.9 mill)-? Toronto ($50.4 mill)-? Memphis ($49.9 mill)-? Golden State ($42 mill)-Reports have indicated that they'll not match any offer over $4 mill (could be a smoke screen though). Lakers ($54.3 mill)-They don't have a backup for Shaq. Phoenix ($55.8 mill)-Trying to reduce salary. Sacramento ($56.4 mill)-? Of those teams, only two could use the mid-level without going over the projected luxury tax threshhold of $54 mill. Crispee/HP has indicated several times that there might not be a luxury tax this next year because of increased revenues, but several teams have made comments & moves that would tend to indicate that they are not willing to chance it. Imho, the only way he's going to get more than $5 mill is through a sign & trade & as we now know, when the player is in control of the situation, the team sending him usually gets junk in return. Indiana might offer a nice sign & trade package, but would Golden State really want Croshere?
I think it's the perfect contract. His rebounding isn't THAT bad, and it can go up. And Griffin will help in that area. What makes Mo really important is, now that he is able to get a full season into a new offensive scheme he can be a legitimate low post offensive force, something the Rockets need badly.
Hottoddie, thanks for the insight man. I didn't realize that the rest of the league was as strapped as we are. When you lay it out like that, you're right... we can sign MJax for around 5 million a season and IMHO, we'd be stupid not to. Despite numerous explanations by yourself, crispee, and others, I am still unsure of the salery cap and CBA. It's by no fault on you or crispee's part, I just don't understand it! I appreciate you explaining to me that it's not only possible to get MJax for that money, but probable. Now, my other question for you is this: is Shandon going to take 4.5? I know he's barely worth that much but Fagen is his agent and we all know what he's capable of. Thanks again for your explanation...
"I think it's the perfect contract. His rebounding isn't THAT bad, and it can go up." -His rebounding IS that bad. he was outrebounded by Steve Francis last year. Maybe this year Moochie will outrebound him as well. And his defense is atrocious. The Rockets were killed by opposing PF's all year last year. Taylor just doesn't care about rebounding or defense. He just wants his fat contract. There aren't too many players in the NBA softer than him.
I respectively disagree...based on evidence to date, his rebounding is THAT bad....And most of his offense comes from the elbow, not the low post. Despite all this, I'm not among those who think this is a bad contract. My problems with Mo Taylor as a PF are...well, ..he doesn't really play like a PF...His scoring os ok, generally extending his man outside, but you could put Stevie at PF and he'd extend his man and put up points..still wouldn't be a PF though. However, he CAN play like a PF when he wants, which is both the good and bad side. WHen he came over form the Clips, he came with a soft/bad attitude label. While I have seen nothing to support the bad attitude thing, has anyone seen anything to dispute the soft label? The guys got talent, but..well, 250 lb. athletic pfs who don't play D and don't rebound...I'd say that that's the definition of soft. He's a good jump shooter for a big man, and he can drive...but if he doesn't bang, tell me the difference, IN PRODUCTION, between Mo and, say Dan Langhi were you to start him a PF and give him the minutes/touches Mo gets. The difference is that when we look at Mo, and see his body and ability, we think we're seeing more than has been there so far. What we're seeing is what could be, but in today's market, what could be is still worth 48/6...Worst case scenario, you trade him in a couple. He's always going to have some value.
All I have to say is yesssssssssssssss !!! The contract is perfect for Mo to me. I was really getting scared but looks like great news.Im happy to have him for 6 more seasons and watch his improvement through out those years!!!
Give me a break, this coming from Raptors fan who are STILL upset about him not signing. If the guy is so soft, why are Raptors fan so upset? The guy only played 28 minutes because of BS foul calls and the presence of Kenny Thomas. If he had been able to play up to 35 minutes a game, I'm pretty sure his rebounding jumps up to 7 rebounds a game, which is around what Rasheed Wallace usually grabs.
You know, I looked at people talk about how great a rebounder Rasheed is compared to Mo, and how they would take Rasheed because of he is a better rebounder then Mo. The ironic thing is, career wise, Rasheed is only a <b>6.3</b> rebounder per game. If Mo's rebounding sucks, what does that say about Rasheed!? Mo's rebounding has to go up, but career wise Mo averages 14.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, Rasheed averages 16.3 ppg, and 6.3 rpg. So all I can say is give Mo some time, because if Mo is soft then Rasheed isn't much tougher! And for the people who say "Francis outrebounded Mo", Francis was out of his mind grabbing 6.9 rebounds a game. That is only a few percentage points less then Rasheed AND Hakeem who grabbed 7.4 rpg. If Mo averaged over 30 minutes per game his rebounding will be around Dream's.
I just got back from seeing Rush Hour 2 and that makes this a perfect day . Now all we need is Mooch and the Mo and Fro Show is still alive.
Hey moandfro, good movie, huh? IMO, I would like to see Mo, now that he has a serious contract, get serious about his conditioning and drop about 15lbs. He would be more effective as a slimmer, quicker, skilled combo F with advanced perimeter skills. His whole game would improve substantially if he lost the baby fat and returned to his rookie weight.
Definately right Jag, but nobody on this board has yet to talk about the new zone rules next season. I think if Rudy uses the zone to his advantage, he can play more of a team defense, and maybe that will help Taylor. U right tho, he has no rebounding skills!
Eric, I can't pretend to be a salary cap or CBA expert, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can. The guys you need to talk to are Crispee (with his new handy dandy CBA manual) & Aelliott (salary cap expert). Nikestrad is pretty knowledgeable about the salary cap as well. As far as Shandon, he's pretty much in the same boat as Jackson. It seems that Dream's long contract negotiations & Shandon's willingness to wait may have cost him some of his options. However, on the other hand, it may actually help the Rockets to keep down their expenses & resign him. Here's a link you might want to bookmark, that answers some common questions in regards to the salary cap & CBA. http://www.members.home.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm
I think $48 million in six years was a mistake. The Rockets should have just given him three years max. Is Rudy Tomjanovich mortgaging the future? What if he never learns to rebound? What about Marc Jackson and Eddie Griffin? The Rockets need rebounders, like Bo Outlaw, or Theo Ratcliff. Maurice Taylor is a mediocre forward.
Well, if you are going on the notion that the Rockets don't see into the future this well this is true. They aren't mindtellers. I thought the Rockets at one time had Bo Outlaw (in summer review or something) I think we cut him. I guess we didn't see his awesome presence inside, solid player capability or shot blocking skills.
hey why are yall buggin about mo's salary..he is going to be a steal..he hasnt even reached his prime and he is only 24..he still hasnt matured yet..wait in a couple of years...look how long it took webber..dont worry he will be a steal just wait for him to mature
