I keep hearing talk about Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billups, and Mo Williams would be great addition to the team. As they would but Billups and Bibby would demand far more money than we can offer and frankly we have nobody the Pistons and Kings would be interested in for trading arguably there best players. Mo Williams is more realistic, but once again, I think he might have priced himself out of our price range coming off a very nice season. A realistic and arguably even better scenario in my honest opinion is Sam Cassell. Yes I know he's old and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, but I truly believe that was the fact of him being injured rather than declining. An example was the Lakers and Clippers game towards the end of the season where Cassell had rushed back not even 80% healthy but yet dominated the 4th quarter and led them to a victory. That was his first game back and not even being close to being fully healthy. He's a great passer, for his career has averaged over 6 assists per game including 5 seasons where he has averaged over 6.5 assists per game. He's a leader and that's something this team really lacks. A guy that will come down hard on you and make other teammates better and give a better effort when you are not giving 100% (which at times some of our players have known to done). His leadership alone would be a huge asset to the team. Not only is he a great passer and leader, but he's a great scorer as well. His ability to create his own shot consistently with a money mid-range jumper would improve this team so much that words would not be able to describe. He' easily be our best mid-range shooter on the team. He has also has range out to the 3 point line even shooting over 40% from 3 just two seasons ago. He'll consistently get you 15 plus points on 45 % Field Goal shooting and over 85% from the line every night. I understand his age is a concern but look at how well he played just two years ago when he was fully healthy. He had one of his best seasons and frankly led that Clippers team to the playoffs in what had seemed like in decades of not making it. Another thing to look at is, almost every single big man that he has payed with has had there best season playing with him. Hakeem was definitely one of them (though he was different because he was just so damn good by himself and Cassell was very young at that time) but guys like Garnett, and Elton Brand have had there best season of their career playing with him. Brand two years ago was an MVP candidate and Garnett that year won the championship. He'd thrive imo with Yao. All in all, he's a great all around player and leader. He'd be a great addition to this team and a guy we should really go after. Maggette is also another guy on that team that we could be interested in too. Thoughts???
HELLZ YEAH! I would love for him to come off the bench, AGAIN! He could bring some great leadership, as well as high % shooting. But who do we give up, and is he worth the price?
He lives in Houston and wants to return to the game. If he's up for it, I say give him a chance - I doubt he'd ask for more than the veteran's minimum having been gone so long.
Just don't know how much skill he still possess... If he is 60% what he was... he is better than any point guard on the team.
a 37 year old half healthy Cassell can still destroy Rafer. Rafer is nothing but a different version of Smush Parker. Cassell schooled Smush in the last game the Lakers played the Clips, even crossed him over. Cassell > better than all of our guards. Oh yeah. Heart and leadership IS VERY IMPORTANT. look at Baron Davis, Derek Fisher, Nash. They have heart.
i'd love to have cassell back on the Rockets. he can beat some opponents D, but he can't beat father time. I would love to have him come off the bench and play like 20-25 minutes a game, and late in the fourth quarter. That way, Rafer doesn't have to play 44 minutes a game. You could limit his stupidity to 35 minutes per game. Is he even a Free agent?
I agree...I brought up his name last summer too. And given how our PG depth worked out He would have been great!
While Sam Cassel and Robert Horry are big part of their team's success, Neither players would not get off the bench if Van Gundy is the coach.
Cassell will be cut at some point next season and then we can pick him up as backup PG. At this stage in his career, he'd be an excellent backup PG IMO. Clippers are not going to pay him 7-8M from this point on.
they aren't cutting cassell. their pg situation is thin, and cassell was their best pg despite injuries. cuttino , might be gone