[Chron] Rockets wait as Lewis weighs options (Agent says Rockets a long shot)

The alternative is to tank and go for the #1 in next year's draft.

 

I believe Rashard would rather play here in H-Town his home town. The only one doing the talking is his agent and Lewis has not come out and said anything about the Rockets. I am sure if he really wants to be here he will make it known later, why not weigh all the options before than.

 

Rashard is not worth the kind of max money that Tmac, Yao make. He's not a gamechanger like they are.
I say we fold from the bidding if he demands more then 12mill as the ceiling. We can fry other more valuable fish with that kind of bank.

 

Unless Morey is just playing a game, signing Lewis first before getting a decent PF will be a very bad move for Rockets.

Adding the 5th established scorer in Lewis (besides Yao, T-Mac, Wells, and James) won't help our offense much but will make our defense and team chemistry suffer. Don't do it, Morey.

 

I wonder what Adelman thinks. Nobody is mentioning him in these discussions. What kind of pf's has he used in the past? Could he be interested in a starting five of Alston(or James), Mcgrady, Lewis, Battier, and Yao?

 

Whoops! Nevermind. The only way we have any possibility of getting Lewis is trading Battier, but I am interested in what kind of pf Adelman might use. Lewis is 6-10.

 

Rashard is worth a super star contract. He is a well dervered all star. A couple of years ago he and Allen led the Soncis in a tear and were the best team in the NBA for the start of the season. Too bad that they didn't have any help what so ever. They've been a two man show.

And for anyone that says a max contract will hurt the Rockets ability to make moves, what are you talking about? As it is they are already over the salary cap. They can't fork over big money to free agents as long as Yao and McGrady have max contracts; which would be for the next 5 or so years. Lewis would be a major coup to get!!! A player of his talent would move the Rockets into a bona fide championship contender. And for you who care a sporting media's "Darling" of a club.

The only thing signing Lewis for a max contract does is increase the Luxury tax. And aren't we already one of the highest ticket prices in the NBA? A championship Yao, McGrady, and Rockets are a lot more marketable for Les than a continuous first round playoff flop of a team. The Luxury tax is high, but I bet that he could more than make up his money if the team got a championship or two. Just a hunch.

It isn't my money, I'm not spending it or making it (I know that). But if Les wants to acelerate another championship into his torphy case, he makes every effort and covers every option to assure himself this happens. Get it done Morey!!!

 

I may be wrong, but I think Les said he didnt want to pay the luxury tax. I believe he said the GMs could sign what they wanted so long as it didnt go over the luxury tax.

I am so glad someone fianlly said that. This isnt our money. We all set around counting it like it belongs to us.

If Les doesnt want to pay the luxury tax that is his business.

The way I understand the tax is, if you have a player you are paying 1 million for if you are over the tax you have to pay 2 million....is that right?

 

Keith Van Horn??? Gag, that left a nasty tast in my mouth, nasty!

 

I like the enthusiasm. I really do! However, a max contract for a non-franchise player is crazy! The only way he even gets the max from a team is if that team has no reliable scoring threat - a la Orlando. We are not in dire need of a reliable scoring threat after Tmac, Yao, James, and Bonzi. So if you pick apart that aspect of Lewis' game, there's not much left in other crucial areas.
With 2 established franchise players in Yao and Tmac, that money is better spent building around them with multiple good players who can take less, such as Chauncey Billups or Joe Smith ---both of which are far more effective combined than blowing that money on Lewis.

 

in another thread Clutch talked about knowing the Rockets would chase this guy from the fox report....my question is...what/where is this fox report, and who else did it mention???


Help Please!

 

I'm in agreement with Queenie and all others who see this desperate and (what I'm sure is nothing more than an utterly futile) atttempt to persuade both Rashard and possible Rockets season ticket purchasers that coming to Houston has any basis in reality.

As I opined in another thread, Morey, having to resort to plan C in the draft is now desperately praying to the Marketing Gods that he can convince as many fans (see that as Corporate Sponsors, Suite Purchasers, Season Tix holders and even partial season tix holder), not to mention advertisers for Rox TV and Radio broadcasts that the Rox will be able to field a product worthy of their almighty dollars.

Since this game is about one thing (except to fans and some players), and one thing only ($$$), my distrust of Morey is only growing with each announcement coming from Rockets Central.

We should be working out and negotiating with the best possible PF combination (to work with Yao and our other players) as we can possbily afford under the cap.... instead, we're signing the love child of Mugsy Bogues and Scary Spice and chasing a player who speaks of his open disdain for Houston following his draft night horror-show.

If Rashard becomes a Rockets, I'll run naked around Toyota Center in broad daylight (not that anyone would EVER want to actually see something that horrifying!!).

Along those same line, the chance of us signing Chauncey Billups is equally absurd. There are agents who want their 10-15 % cut of those max contract deals. No agent in is right mind is going to present an offer that's below 50% of what the market will pay for the likes of Rashard and Billups.

Morey's spinning his ass off because he knows Aaron Brooks and Landry were both a HUGE reach for a team with several holes to fill. This team needs a swing player that can get his own shot and knock down a perimeter jumper with consistency. We're not even speaking to Morris Petersen and he's probably the next best thing we could have aside from signing a Joe Smith or and Ike Diogu.

Paint me sinularly UNIMPRESSED with $Ball Morey and his entire team. I cannot believe these people get paid massive salaries for this kind of crap!!!

 

Still need the link or some help here

 

I can't seem to find a font to use that has enough 'gay inflection' so I can say "Sweeeeeet! I like - - Can I pay to see more??" yet still retains its masculinity!



Good post! I agree with your take, very much so with Morey. I hope we're wrong about this guy! Also, if we do sign RL, it may be uncomfortable if we BOTH ran naked through Toyota Center (Especially with that Air conditioning in there! I'd be pulling a Costanza!) so I'll just, you know, bow out and yell from the stands! "Sweeeeeet! I like - - Can I pay to see more??"

 

If we don't get Lewis...and it looks like we won't. Then Francis is up for bat.

 

Try Billups

 

I don't mind the Rockets not getting Lewis the the alternatives don't look very promising. Can't they do better than that through trade?

 

YEAH!!!! Francis will make a great power forward. You're a genius.

 

billups is a good 4