If we hold on to Rice he could teach Griffin how to play the three. Griffin does see himself to be a 4. With Rice teaching griff shooting skils and the three positioning. On second thought, I really would rather get Griffin in the game ASAP for his defense. Rice on the Rox dosent make since.
Clutch, Many of us agree that we are $10.1m under the cap if you take Shandon and Bullard off the books. However, I don't believe that necessarily means Bullard is gone. Bullard can sign anywhere in the league for a veteran's minimum exception. For a 10-yr vet, that is $1.3m. Further, we can renounce him down to $0 cap hit, and still sign him back to that later in September or whenever. Don't you think he has a future with the coaches or TV. I can't see him leaving for a little more change, because then we'd forget him in a second. Of course, there is no way I could ever get his stupid song out of my head.
I'm in favor of the deal. What Nikestrad said is true, Griffin will be coming into his own by the time Rice's contract expires. He can then takeover at Small Forward. It is also true that Rice gives us a good post up game, which is something we would lack in the tight games if we stay pat. We shouldn't be relying on a rookie to to make post up moves in the 4th quarter. We should be relying on someone like Rice who can knock it down. Add something to all of that. Terrance Morris and Griffin could learn a lot from Rice. In three years the team will be ready to add one final piece to the four we already have. Rice's cap room will clear the way for that final piece to the puzzle. If you ask me the whole things fits together in a nice and neat way. It's a no brainer to me.
Crispee (or others): How would the salary situation work. No way that NY would want Anderson to be signed for Rice's numbers, so what happens? We do not have many players under contact, that could be added? Let alone we would want to give up. Wouldn't you think that we are doing NY a favor, and we should be getting something extra?
Or, Eddie Griffin will need two or three years to beef up to play the center position...? He is still growing, and that frame, while lean, could probably add 30 pounds. But we will need to deal Walt and KT for, perhaps, White.
The missing pieces.. Knicks send Rice ($8.8M) to Houston, Ward($6.4M) to the Warriors, and get SA (resigned to a $6.6M per deal?) from the Rockets and Eisley ($4.8M) from the Mavs and Adonal Foyle ($4.4M) from the Warriors. Works under the trade cap rules for the Knicks. Eisley is healthier than Ward, and hasn't made any anti-Semitic remarks that I'm aware of. Foyle is a big body with some rebounding and shotblocking ability. Anderson takes Rice's spot as third SG/SF. Mavs send Eisley ($4.8) to the Knicks. I'm guessing they get Mookie Blaylock($5.4M) from the Warriors. Blaylock is in the final year of his deal, so it's open up some cap room next year for re-signing Nowitzki, ditches Eisley's long term deal, and leaves the Mavs with a competent PG to back up Nash. Warriors send Foyle to the Knicks, and Blaylock to the Mavs, and get Ward, and maybe a body or 2 from the Rockets. They get rid of a lockerroom problem in Mookie, and can sign Marc Jackson as a PF/C to a deal he'll be satisfied with using the midlevel exception. Rockets send Anderson($6.6M) to the Knicks, and get Glen Rice. Rockets have the cap space to make it work if Bullard is renounced (or leaves for the Hornets). Or maybe the send Kenny Thomas as part of the deal. Does KT figure to be seeing any time with Taylor, Griffin, Rice on the roster- same logic applies to Wiliams and Langhi.
You don't think it's possible that Houston could send Glen Rice to Denver for LaFrentz? Denver DOES need another scorer!
Man I could live with Glen Rice if he didn't make so much money! The only way I could accept taking Rice was if a quality big man was involved. If one isn't, the Rockets might as well have thrown their money at Dream. At least his effect against the cap would have been minimized!
Glen Rice would be a good fit for the Rockets if his contract was shorter. As a zone busting SF with post up moves he would be better than any one player the Rockets could put out there right now. But the Rocks have made moves to position themselves as a team for the future. Dumping Oldlajuwon, shipping off team favs for Franchise, giving up a lot of draft depth to add a 19 year old potential phenom, building a team of young, fun loving, high energy, hungry, cooperative, coachable, motivated players. What one of those adjectives would describe Glen Rice? I am less concerned about how to get 50 wins next year than I am about how to contend for a championship from 2004-2010. Also, on the rumor that Charlotte may be offering Bull mid-cap exception money...take it Bull, and buy a 40' Bass Boat and a huge mansion on Lake Fork. I have really enjoyed having him in Houston but in truth he would take a roster spot that could be used on another position. Given enough playing time I think Lanky could do everything Bull does and more.
I am pro rice...and with cat ..phislamma on this.. rice is better than shandon..the zone defense.. this guy can freaking shoot man... with the salary situation..his contract would be up in fitting time for us...it makes sense as cat says if you at the strategy the next years with the salaries and timings and what our salary situation will be when rice is done..I dont think he is washed up either i personally like this deal.. how old is rice btw?
Rice is 34. If he is healthy, Rice has another 3 or 4 years left in him. He is alot like Dale Ellis in the effect that he is just a pure shooter and scorer. And Ellis played until he was like 500 years old!
If this Rice thing is happening, then BRING OTHELLA back with him!!!!!! He's cheap, he gets boards, and he's big. Combined with a Williams to DC for JW, not so bad. How's Griffin going to like not getting the ball as a starter for 3 years? He's going to beat up someone.
I will be satisfied with this deal & I think Mo, Steve & Cat will love it, you will have a 4th scoring threat that can flat shoot the ball! If we stand pat & sign Shandon at 5/6.5 for several years, I think we might as well give Cato an extension.
Sportsradio 610 is reporting this deal already went down. Listening to the talk here, it doesn't seem so certain. My understanding, from the radio, is that this already happened. It may not make much sense from a dollars and cents approach...but it is possible the Rocks have thought through this new zone defense a bit and think that Rice will be a much more valuable player. Keep in mind, Rice can put the ball on the floor and go to the hole...something I don't want to see Bullard do too much of. Is he taking minutes away from Langhi??? Perhaps....but seriously, who really cares? Is he taking minutes away from Griffen??...perhaps....but many of you were relying on this rookie to be a savior...that he would be the difference in the offseason that gets them to the playoffs this year. This takes that pressure off of him. I don't know that I'm particularly pro-Rice. But if you asked me, absent contract concerns, if I'd rather have Shandon Anderson or Glen Rice, I'd tell you Rice every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
