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Cato's movability

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by NIKEstrad, Nov 18, 2001.

  1. NIKEstrad

    NIKEstrad Member

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    This thread is not so much to think of dream trades, but to discuss whether Cato can be moved.

    So, the big question. Can he be moved....of course.

    The lack of big men in this league is huge. Calvin Booths are making similar money. Evan freaking Eschmeyer got over 20 mill, and has about as many DNP-CD than games played.

    Now, big men are falling left and right, and teams still want one, and at the same time would like to get one that's price won't skyrocket with any production (see Jackson, Marc; Mohammed, Nazr; Booth, Calvin).

    Fact: Kelvin is locked in long term.
    Not a great thing, but comparatively, I don't think he can be called vastly overpaid any more. And for teams hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, having 5 years to make sure a guy develops, and have him locked in with no worries about free agency (and the MCE next year will be rather close to Cato's contract) can be a good thing. Especially if they think he can be the big man they want.

    Fact: Teams still want, and need more big men.

    Ratliff just went down in Atlanta for 8 weeks. (Note: Cato is from the ATL)
    Phoenix is still desperate for big men
    New York still wants big men
    Miami really needs an extra center.
    Indiana would still like to make J. O'Neal into a PF rather than C
    Just about every team in the league could stand to add a healthy big man.

    Jim McIlvane was tradeable. Juwan Howard was tradeable. Do not overestimate Cato's untradeability. Be patient. Washington got an expiring contract and a talented SG for Howard.
     
  2. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Member

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    I never doubted his tradeability, I just doubt the organization's desire to trade him. Every time It hink they are going to really try and just get rid of him, something comes up, and Kelvin tells everyone how he's rededicated and will lead the league in rebounding, Rudy decides to start him for about 9 games, everyone realizes he sucks again, they may make inquiries to trade him, nothing pans out, and we're back in training camp next year again. I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope that Rudy, CD and company have finally realized there is no hope whatsoever for Cato to ever be useful and try and seriously trade him...
     
  3. sTWO

    sTWO Member

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    I don't think you all understand : no one wants Cato, except for maybe the CBA.

    If we were able to even give him away to another team, it would be a miracle of God.

    If we get anything in return in the event of getting rid of him, I will come on this board and apologize for doubting it. But I'm skeptical.


    sTWO
     
  4. Sane

    Sane Member

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    sTWO,

    That's not true. Cato's 6million(?) won't be a lot next year, or even this year. He's tradeable, no doubt about that.

    But, the organization doesn't want to trade him. Cato will improve, you can't give up on him after 10 games. He's hardly played the past two years, give him some time. He's trying, and he's learning. If, by the all-star break, he hasn't improved, then we should think about trading him. But we have to give him till then.


    Who's gonna block shots if Cato's gone, Kenny Thomas, Maurice Taylor or Kevin Willis?

    Eddie griffin is coming along nicely, but hes still a work in progress.


    Unless we can alnd proven talent for cato, we're not getting rid of him, I don't think so.
     
  5. Htownhero

    Htownhero Member

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    Is he blocking shots now? :confused:
     
  6. rocketteen

    rocketteen Member

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    Cato doesn't block shots while he's here. I say get him the hell outta here for any expiring contracts...gosh I hate him.:mad:
     
  7. outlaw

    outlaw Member

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    Where's the evidence that's he's trying and learning?

    Cato has 6 blocks in 206 minutes.
    Willis has 8 blocks in 226 minutes.
     
  8. Sane

    Sane Member

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    Its still too early.

    Francis is hitting 40% of his field goals.
    Glen Rice is playing like trash.
    Walt Williams is playing like trash (except for that one game).
    Moochie Norris is playing like trash.

    I don't hate these players. They're just not playing well. it's early in the season. Give him some time. Once he starts dealing with not getting fouled out, then his blocks will start to go up. It just takes time.

    After two injury-plagued years, it takes some time to adjust.

    I'm positive that with Willis help, Cato will be averaging these numbers after the All-Star break:

    10.5 pts
    9 reb
    2 blk


    That's good enough to put us well into the playoff hunt.
     
  9. TeXaSalsa

    TeXaSalsa Member

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    cato isnt completely untradeable. i just want him off the team badly... well i sorta suggested this to The Cat earlier.. what would ne1 say bout...

    cato/langhi/collier for matt geiger/samuel dalembart n 1st or 2nd rounder..

    as much as we hate cato.. philly fans hate geiger just as much.. plus he might retire soon leaving them w/ a less desireable buyout..

    philly might do it just to dump geiger.. but as an added bonus this sometimes offensively challenged team gets a good shooter in collier, and a good offensive player in langhi.

    we would do it.. to dump cato. just to get rid of his sorry ass. plus dalembart is a good prosepct... and was griffins teammate. in philly, he wont seee much time behind coleman/deke/jones etc..


    i duno im usualy not a huge trade guru in fact ive been in the past critical of wild trades but this one seems somewhat feasible.. right now however philly is the only team i would think would take cato just cuz they hate geiger just as muc.
     
  10. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    I would do it for Gieger and 2 second rounders
    Langi is unhappy
    Cato and Collier are un productive

    Gieger would not see much time here but . . . .
    [MoT KT Griff even Walt b4 him :)]

    I like when the rockets have second rounders. . .we get steals and hustlers.

    Rocket River
     
  11. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    If Geiger takes advantage of Larry Brown, he'll walk all over Rudy. Besides, the Rockets don't want to pick up Geiger's tab if he does retire from injuries...

    I see the Rockets options as either Charles Oakley, or Charles Oakley myself. If someone needs a big man (i.e. Cato) what sort of trade do you guys see going down? The Rockets need a big man too, you know. So which teams exist that could give something to the Rockets better than Cato? What are their needs... and who would take Cato back?

    I keep coming back to the malcontent factor. Want an upset big guy that plays tough? Charles is the ****ing man. The young guys need to hear a mean old veteran, imo. Oakley will give 'em an earful.
     
  12. Drewdog

    Drewdog Member

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    I think you need to change your name to in-sane!

    Dude, your beloved Cato is averaging .67 blocks per game!!!!!
    Yep that means that he is blocking LESS THAN 1 SHOT PER GAME.

    Unacceptable by my terms (even if it is just 10 games), but I guess thats perfectly ok in your Cato fantasy world.............
     
  13. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    Cato is not tradeable at all. Like Portland already figured out, he's just not good. He has no potential. The only thing he is is tall. That's it. There are many tall guys in the NBA.

    Booth and Eschmeyer were signed as free agents by teams who could afford them. Cato already has a contract -- teams don't get to decide what they pay him. Also, Booth and Eschmeyer both have skills--Cato has none. He literally has freaking ZERO skills. As tall as he is, and as much leaping ability as he as, he can't block shots. CAN'T BLOCK SHOTS. He can't catch the ball. Has no shooting ability. Doesn't play good position defense. He basically can't do anything.

    This is what I don't get about people who say "he could be so good if he just tried harder". It's not a matter of that--he's just not good.
     
  14. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    I know its crazy and he's hurt, but maybe atl will go for Cato and Walt for Ratliff and a pick down the road. Willis could start and we could bring sorry ass Collier off the bench. Then when Ratliff gets healthy, Collier can be 3rd string. we'll have our shot blocker and court runner for the future. Plus Nazr has played well in his absence. It makes sense, but will they do it? I'm in beaumont for a month and can't see the rockets, it really sux! :mad:
     
  15. Puedlfor

    Puedlfor Member

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    Charles Oakley hasn't played tough for about three or four years now. He's old, crochity, and has a mouth that is inconsistent with his production on the court. His contributions on offense include taking a few long jumpers then b****in' to the press after the game.

    <b>Kevin Willis</b> is a tough old man, Charles Oakley is just old.
     
  16. Doctor Robert

    Doctor Robert Member

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    Given the length of time that Cato has had to improve and the complete lack of motivation displayed, I would say that he is a "Dead Dog". The most likely explanation for his performance seems to be the depression scenario that has been suggested, but at this point it doesn't really matter. If that were a problem that could have been fixed, it would have been addressed by now.

    That said, I don't think that we should do anything with him. Even a depressed, pathetic 7 footer is better than a serviceable point guard to us. Cato can sit on the bench 8 out of 10 games for all I care as long as he is there to throw into a game in emergencies. If all available centers foul out on Shaq, put him in. If our centers are injured, put him in.

    The comparison to Howard is ridiculous. Is there anyone here that thinks Cato is 1/3 the player that Howard is? He is averaging 14-8. The only thing positive I can think of is that we could swing a "Lima-Mlicki" trade where another overpaid center comes in with an opportunity to resurrect his career, and therefore becomes a different player.

    Trade him for Ostertag or Ike Austin.
     
  17. DLS

    DLS Member

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    Leebigez,

    please, that is homer talk. Ratliff is not going to be traded for 2 stiffs. What are you talking about?

    Enough with fantasy basketball.....please?
     
  18. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    DLS, all i'm saying is nazr has played good,very good, he has a new contract. Ratliff is hurt like he was last year when he was traded. we might be able to give up cato and a future draft pick for him. its not fantasy,just a proposal.
     
  19. rimbaud

    rimbaud Member
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    Salsa,

    Just to let you know, Geiger is considering retirement.
     
  20. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    Cato's movability is decreasing with time.

    Who is going to take Cato??? The Rockets can't possibly want Cato, so Cato is either immovable or the Rockets are stupid. Which is it?
     
    #20 Achebe, Nov 20, 2001
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2001

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