Im not sure what to make of Cato's comments regarding Mobley's affinity for hoops. Am I to understand that Cato DOESN'T love basketball? Anyway...here's the article... Houston is there still a problem? We're not sure who the Rockets' worst enemy is: the injury bug, the salary cap rules or Dan Fegan. On Monday afternoon a good case was made for each one. First, the Rockets have been unable to secure an agreement with the Warriors to allow restricted free agent Marc Jackson to join the Rockets. The Warriors have 15 days to match Houston's, six-year, $24 million offer sheet to Jackson. Although the Rockets are confident they'll know something by the end of the week, they're not sure what the Warriors' answer will be. "Gary (St. Jean, the Warriors' general manager) said they weren't trying to hurt the guy, they were just trying to do what's right for their franchise," Rockets GM Carroll Dawson told the Houston Chronicle. "He's talking like they would let me know this week. It won't take 15 days." Said Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, "They don't want to talk to us. They don't want to let us know. They have internal struggles about what they want to do." The Rockets may need Jackson more than ever. Glen Rice described his foot at "70 percent" and indications were he wasn't ready to begin practicing full speed. Last year's first-round pick Jason Collier, who has been rehabilitating from a knee injury all summer, won't be allowed to open training camp. Though the knee is better, Collier now has a cyst on his waist. And center Kelvin Cato, who is supposed to replace the Dream, showed up out of shape Monday. When asked about his off-season workout regimen, Cato scowled. "Cuttino Mobley's in midseason shape," Cato said. "He's crazy. He loves basketball, plays every day in the summer. Why do I need to do that? I'm in preseason shape. Don't worry, I'll get there." If salary cap and injury woes aren't enough, agent Dan Fegan is at it again. He led the exodus out of Houston for clients Hakeem Olajuwon and Shandon Anderson this summer and now it seems he may be doing the same for Moochie Norris. Norris remains unsigned and Monday the Rockets added point guard Damon Jones to the roster, giving him a one-year deal. That move will put the pressure on Norris, who has said repeatedly that he wants to remain in Houston. "We haven't changed a whole lot the last couple months," Dawson told the Chronicle. "It's pretty much the same. We've still got two people wanting the same thing. We just haven't arrived at a solution."
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I see Fegan as an angel not a devil. ** We get Glen Rice (historically not an injury-prone player) for Shandon Anderson (who was not fitting in). ** We got a #1 pick for Hakeem who may play part-time for two more years. Fegan IS being a pain over the Moochie Norris signing, but if Norris is so dumb as to give up his comfortable and valuable niche with the Rockets, so be it.
RichRocket, I agree. For one, I've never viewed Fegan as the devil. Either it's his employees telling him to do this, or it's his employees that don't have a backbone in telling him what they want. Either way it's the players fault. I'm also glad that either way landed us Rice and a first round pick. Hell, we might get another first round pick out of Moochie. I'm pretty sure I don't want to spend $3.5 million a year for 4 years on a backup PG that has the same stats as the one we just signed.
RichRocket, I disagree. We got a 70% Glen Rice to increase the logjam at SF; we get a very poor #1 pick (high 20s and guaranteed contract); and the prospect of nothing at all for Moochie. Fegan is the devil, and we should warn potential Rockets we will avoid them (like Utah did with K. Satterfield) if Fegan is their agent.
I was willing to give Cato the benefit of the doubt until I read that article. Now it is painfully clear Cato will always be a b****. I say we take whatever we can get for that 7 foot piece of $hit and cut our losses. Maybe he'll break his leg and be out for the season. Can we get two exceptions??
