19 bodies, 15 spots, + maybe Francis -- Only Daryl can think this through

Guys Jake signed with another team all ready. I believe it was Charlotte.

 

If Battier starts instead of TMac, something very strange will happen.

 

Chuck Hayes should not be resigned. He probably will but I just don't think he brings that much to the table. His D is overrated when compared to his total lack of offense, passing, and ball handling skills.

 

Seriously, we don't have enough PFs to let Hayes go. Who would back up Scola? Novak? Landry? Both aren't good options. Landry is a rookie and our experiences so far with Novak shows he can't cut it at the 4 in the NBA.

That leaves Butler . . . who's also not exactly proven himself in the NBA. Hayes is a mediocre PF in the NBA with some hustle, but at least he's demonstrated that. Unless we're getting another proven PF, I would keep Hayes for backup.

 

Look at the roster, we have to make a 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 deal. The deal will involve one of our point guards ( most likely rafer, but I wish it will be MJ) and shooting guards, plus lucas or sura depends on the salary. It is most likely we get a big man in return. If sura or lucas is not included in the deal, then they will be cut. After the deal, we will have 17 including Francis. With the addition of another quality big man, we may not sign Deke back, so it is down to 16. Harris is the one on the go, since it will cost nothing to cut him. In the end, we have

Yao, X, Butler
Scola, Hayes, Novak, Landry
Battier, Reed
Tmac, Bonzi, Snyder or Head
Francis, MJ or Rafer, Brooks

If we can not sign Francis, then we will keep both MJ and Rafer. Maybe we will trade sura and head or snyder for another big man or even swing man. Anyway, I don't see harris will be in a Rockets uniform next year.

 

http://www.nba.com/transactions/movement2007_team.html

He is still looking for a place to play right now.

 

I'm suspecting Reed, JL3, and maybe Sura will be cut. Jake will likely not be re-signed and Newley will stay overseas, along with Eliyahu. If Francis signs, we can part with Snyder. There will be a logjam at the guard position and Snyder is expendable. Harris has drawn lots of raves and can off bench as an energy player, although I haven't seen him play. He can be Chuck part 2 as a combo forward. Here's what I see being the Rockets roster barring any more changes to it.

Starters: 1.Alston
2. Tmac
3. Battier
4. Chuck/ Scola
5. Yao

2nd Unit: James
Francis
Head- James,SF, and Head are interchangable
Bonzi
Chuck/ Scola
Deke

At the end of the bench or inactive:
Brooks
Harris
Butler
Novak

 

^Sorry I forgot about Landrey. I think he will make it in place of Harris.

 

First off a few things - why do people keep talking about Jake? He's not on our roster, he's a free agent and he is clearly NOT in our plans. Second, I can't believe the number of people saying we shouldn't resign Hayes. I'm not saying he should start - but Hayes is great for us coming off the bench. Not to mention, I'd rather have him than Landry or Harris. Third, you can make more of a case for not signing Deke, but even if he plays few to no minutes we should get him if we can get him on the cheap - he's a good veteran to have around, still a defensive presence, and he still helps Yao grow as a player even if he's not playing! Fourth, it doesn't make sense to jurt cut Novak - he's got a contract with the Rockets, so I think we'd have to buy him out of his contract which would count against the salary cap...maybe we trade him, but cutting him doesn't make sense.

Ok, all that being said, here's my depth chart:

PG: Alston/James/Brooks
SG: Tracy/Head
SF: Battier/Bonzi
PF: Scola/Hayes
C: Yao/Deke/Butler
Plus: 3 others - Landry, Snyder, Novak

Honestly, in this rotation I'd take Mike Harris over Snyder or Novak as I think we need someone else who can play PF (even if his natural position is SF) - but seeing as both Snyder and Novak have a guaranteed contract compared to Harris' non-guaranteed contract I don't think we'll get him here unless we make a trade.

I think Sura and Lucas will be traded for something. Reed is going to be cut - did he even play for our summer leauge? The only reason I think Landry will make it is because we picked him over some other bigger named players in the draft and Morey seems excited about him.

That being said, in an ideal world we'd trade Snyder and Novak for a rotation player and then sign Harris.

 

Freaking addiction! Oh well .....Whats with all the Novac love? What has he done since coming here that warrants keeping him? He didnt even look good in the summer league. The only thing he ads to the team is a POTENTIAL good outside shooter. The minutes this plyer in the rotain will get will be limited. Wouldnt the team be better served with all around hustle type player like Harris filling in those minutes than a one dimensional player like Novac?

 

Another thing, Novac was a second round pick. Doesnt that mean his contract is nongauranteed?

 

You dont think Scola will be the starter? You think he will be in the IR?

 

Amen this is not the Jeff Van Gundy offense no more. Bibby is not a great passing point guard he flourished in Sacramento because he is good a pick and rolls and the passing was by the centers and power forwards sounds like Steve can flourish in this system as well if you ask me.

 

Barring any trades...

Certain:
Yao
T-MAC
Shane
Scola
Alston
James
Bonzi
Head
Brooks
Reed (Morey's man, he signed him in Boston)
Butler
Hayes (Rockets will match any reasonable offer and Chuck isn't getting an unreasonable one from any other team)
Novak (Adelman likes shooters, they have plans for him to play)
Snyder
That's 13

Long Shot:
Steve Francis

Certainly gone:
Sura (when you add Scola and Chuck Hayes contracts to the current payroll of 64.3, Rockets are over the lux tax. Therefore they will buy out Sura. Leslie is not paying lux tax)
JLIII (if Rockets don't get a draft pick for him, they will buy him out so that he signs everywhere. The kid has enough to make an NBA roster and play a bit. Houston was never a good idea for him, too much emotional attachment and anticipation)

Bubble:
Deke (at the veteran min. Deke will be an absolute steal. Les would be paying only $0.5M (league picks the rest) for the guy who was NBA's leader in Reb48 last year
Landry (coaches seemed disappointed at the effort in Vegas)
Harris

So, if Deke does not bolt to another team, it is between Landry and Harris and it will be decided in camp; if Deke bolts, then both will be in on the 15-man roster. SF3 is a long shot, but if we get him, then two of the bubble guys will be gone (depending on whether Deke signs or not.) There will be tons of Nellie ball with Steve on the team...

 

Where is this coming from?

 

1.yao
2.tmac
3.battier
4. alston
5.scola
6.james
7. wells
8. head
9. hayes
10. brooks
11. butler
12.reeds
13.synder
14. deke
15.novak

rest to dleague

 

replace with satellite tv ?

 

I would love to have francis back because it would give us that killer instinct (NYK vs. Wizards in D.C.:- Scorers table anyone?) on this team. Last year and against dallas 3 years ago now we didn't have that player with the killer instinct. As much as i love Tmac, he does not have that killer instinct that Kobe or Agent Zero possess. Francis would bring that "i don't just wanna beat you; i want to make it hurt" thought on this roster. We need someone who has the courage to drop the dagger in clutch situations.

 

keep snyder and harris.
just get rid of alston, head, JL3 and sura.
problem solved.

 

I don't think we do anything until training camp is complete. The battles at the 3 between Snyder and Harris should be awesome. It comes down to who can hit the 15 footer and play the best D.

I don't seek Novak making the team at the 4 because what he gives up on the low post. 3's can post Novak up and go around him at will. We need to stop falling in love with cats that can only shoot the 3 and nothing else.