Mutombo likely to return, Our off-season is likely over?

Here's the article:

Sept. 6, 2007, 12:46AM
Mutombo to play one more year
Center expects to tie up loose ends, sign with Rockets


By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — It has taken nearly four months to get the agony of the Game 7 playoff loss to Utah out of his head. But Dikembe Mutombo is ready to look forward to one final NBA season with the Rockets.

"I will probably sign," Mutombo said Wednesday night at a reception for Basketball Without Borders, the NBA outreach program that is in its fifth year of assembling the top 100 African prospects. "I just need one more phone call. (Rockets owner) Les (Alexander) and I need to squeeze out one or two more things."

The Rockets made the 41-year-old Mutombo a veteran's minimum offer of $1.2 million in July and likely have upped that to $1.9 million, the most they would have available under the NBA salary cap.

"I will probably play one more year," Mutombo said. "Not half or part of a year. If I sign, I will be there on Oct. 1.

"They can only offer me a little contract, pay me only so much at this point. I know the Rockets are in that position. My mistake is that I didn't get into a position to sign a contract earlier in the summer. I let myself get pushed to the back, and that's what makes me a little mad.

"But I understand. They must look at the overall franchise and the future and where they are going and do what is best for them in the future. I'm just an old guy looking to play one more year."

The 7-2 center was productive last season, his 16th NBA campaign. Mutombo started 33 games during the stretch when Yao Ming was sidelined with a broken leg and finished the season averaging 3.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.01 blocked shots. New Rockets coach Rick Adelman wants the security of a veteran defensive force behind Yao for a potential playoff run.

"Physically, I am fine," Mutombo said. "I can come back and play again. No doubt about that. Mentally, that's where I needed to heal. I was upset. I was frustrated at the end of the season. I was angry about the final game and the way it came out.

"I had a great season in my role, and I had great hopes and expectations for the playoffs. Then we get into the first round, and Dallas loses. Everything was opening up. It was there for us. But we didn't take advantage of the opportunity that was in front of us.

"You don't know how many times you are going to get these opportunities. Everyone on our team must understand that. I realize it. I'm at the end. It's why it hurts me so much to lose. ... I don't want to go out like that."

fran.blinebury@chron.com

 

he's gonna go out on a good note. hopefully gettin the ring thats been alluding him his whole NBA career.

 

Good to know he's coming back. I don't see him getting that much PT but he should already know that. The off-season won't be over for us until we get rid of Alston/JL3/Reed like you said. I rather not unload Sura's contract unless we get something in equal value because I still have my hope of him making a miraculous comeback. Let a brother dream.

 

OMG....that is like dreaming for money to fall from the sky

 

As far as our bigs now, Scola/Hayes should be able to man the 4 but I hope that Butler gets a chance to show something at the 4/5 (and not due to any injuries--knock on wood)--he might have potential after all. No room for Landry...

I hate to release guys that have value or could be packaged in a deal but everyone knows we have to get the roster down--it makes sense for other teams to just wait us out and then sign our castoffs w/o having to give up anything...what can we do?

 

yeeeehaaa!! Deke is back! Good now we can get him that ring he so desperately wants!

 

hopefully yao stays healthy and deke doesn't even play a quarter as much as he did last season.

he's a great teammate and an even better person so nothing wrong with keeping a guy like that around. i don't see much playing time for him but that might not even be where he'll be most valuable.

just keep pushing yao in practice, keep team morale high, and you may just get that ring, deke.

 

Based on how deke ended last season, I am not certain he is still able to produce. I hope he won't be called on for anything other than to spell Yao for about 5-10 mpg.

 

One more thing to do: bring the # of players to 15.

 

but what will he bring this season? He works well under JVG, where he provide defensive cover for Yao 10-15 mins each game.

But under RA, with all the possible plays etc, i do not see Deke fit in anywhere.

 

Untill he is gone, we wont fully realize how good this guy still is even at age 41. i'm ecstatic he is returning. i a chump like scott pollard could thrive under adelman in Sacramento then so can a far superior like Moutombo.

He'll give yao enough time rest to recharge he's battries for the 4th quarter.

 

Why wouldnt he?. i dont expect to see radical changes on our defensive game plan. why fix something that aint broke?. the perciption that the kings under Adelman did'nt play defense was nonsense. in 2002 the kings led the league in the least field goals allowed.

Moutombo will get alot off offensive rebounds in the motion offense. the way the spacing works under adelman, it makes it alot easier to get offensive rebounds. if Coack Adelman felt deke had nothing to offer, why would we be trying this hard to Re-sign him?

 

We still need a 3rd rate PF and SF. i also think Alston, head, lucas, Sura(waived) harris and landry(NBDL) are gone.

I'm probaly in the minority, but i see Capitan Kirk thriving in the motion offense. he's big, and strong and Atheletic as they come. he'll get alot of good shots due to he's atheletic ability.

 

If you are talking about Synder- I hope he returns too. We have not really seen what all he can do-I have high hopes

 

I'm sure Adelman values shotblocking, defense, and holding down the paint just like JVG did. Just because Adelman likes offense, doesn't mean he doesn't value defense either. Anyway, Adelman wants a savvy vet solidifying that backup spot for him. With so many scorers, someone's got to block shots and Mutombo will be great for us again. I feel so much better knowing that he's back there backing up Yao.

 

Yep Kirk Snyder. i think due to he's size and atheletic ability, he'll thrive in a offense where off the ball movement is key. he'll get alot of open shots due to he's size and speed.

James/Francis/Brooks
McGrady/Snyder/Head
Battier/Wells
Scola/Hayes
Yao/Deke Butler.

 

Adelman does coach defense. in 02 the kings led the league in the least field goals allowed with stellar defenders like Webber, Pjea, Brad Miller and divac. sarcastic offcourse. if he can do that with them, i cant see why he cant do that with a already great defensive team.

What i like most about adelman is he's teams are balanced. unlike under gundy we wont be excellent on offense and have zero offense. we'll have a bit of both. just like the spurs.

 

Do you think guys like Francis (James and Bonzi) can be really good defenders for us this year?

I think we have better defensive players than the Kings players.

 

It's likely over offseason if we sign Deke.And I REALLY THINK that Rockets will keep our last year starter Rafer Alston.Maybe JL3 trade but heck I wouldn't mind if he stays and develops in case of some injury or something.Just a thought.