Williams would be pretty easy to move. But only to a team who would not comsider him as a starter. He is good for a really good team to serve as a backup - as he did in Portland. His numbers have been about the same even though there have been attempts to play him longer here. Bullard should move to the same type of situation. Cato should not in any way be moved. He is not a superstar, but he is still learning and will only improve. He has been the first legitimate "next center" that we have had to back up Hakeem (who could forget Riley, Tabak, and that white guy we drafted a few years ago that everyone called a "banger" and we sent him off to Europe to "develop" until he was ready to step in - yes, Eric Meeks). That might have been the longest parenthetical statement I have ever written.
DREAMER I just don't understand why you would want to torture Dream by putting him in the starting line-up next year. I mean c'mon He's on his last legs. Trading Cato and then having Dream and Pig Miller as your centers for next year would be taking steps backward, instead of forwards. I think Kelvin Cato is the best non superstar center out there right now, and remember this is only his real first year of playing time. The guy should defintley be part of the future. Dreamer if you love Dream as much as you say you do you'll hope he's not forced to start next year.
Aren't David Robinson and Patrick Ewing starting for their respective teams? ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited March 08, 2000).]
Here is what I would like to see Houston do. Center: Olajuwon Power Forward: Cato, Venson Hamilton Small Forward: [Draft Pick], [Draft Pick] Shooting Guard: Anderson, Mobley, Drew Point Guard: Francis, Norris Injury Reserve: Package Williams and Thomas for a front-court player. (Van Horn?!) Package Rogers, Massenburg, and the trade exemption for another front-court player. Package Miller and/or Gray with one of the above trades or renounce their salaries. The draft is loaded with SFs, Houston should at least draft one. If they have another draft pick, they should select another SF and hope one of them (if not both) will contribute. Collectively, Williams and Thomas should attract an above average frontcourt player. (I do not want to start another debate about Thomas, but the only reason a team would assume Williams' salary is if Houston offered another player.)
I don't think we have to get too crazy. Kenny just might be our power forward of the future. I think Rudy may think so. (1) Sign Mobely (2) Go with the 3 guard set at times moving Anderson to the 3 and playing Mobely more, especially while the rookie 3 gets his feet wet. (3) Sign veteran point guard to backup and teach Steve Francis (4) Trade Drew, Williams and TMass, and use our 4.5m trade exception, maybe draft choice (5) Find a way to trade for Olowakandi (have Dream mentor him, teach him basic footwork and work ethic and kick his butt into gear)We need more than Cato at center who Dream can mentor. (6) sign Rashard Lewis, Byron Russell, or Bo Outlaw, if possible. (7) Draft Morris. Make whatever trade necessary to move up. Then we'd have quit a Maryland crew on the team. I liked that deal with the Clippers someone talked about. I'd just like to also get Olowakandi in the deal. We need a lottery pick 3 for rebuilding. If that doesn't work out, then try to get Swift to backup Kenny. So that would leave us: Dream/Olowakandi/(Cato) Thomas/Cato/Rogers Lewis/Bullard/Morris Anderson/Mobely Francis/Norris or veteran Then the following year, we'd have: Cato/Olowakandi Thomas/Rogers/rookie Morris/Lewis/Bullard Anderson/Mobely Francis/Norris That team could go places.
Morris is staying at Maryland, but I do hope that the Rox go after Lewis hard. I think that he was our one mistake in the draft in the last five years
DREAMer, Don't let the "crowd" get you riled up. They just don't realize that the Dream playing at 60% capability is better than most centers in league history. Because anytime you have a guy that rates a 125 on a scale of 1-100 go to 60% it's anyone else's 85% effort. People "writing off" The Dream, Dream still has the heart of a Champion, he still is a champion. Count on your fingers the true champions centers in the league still active as we speak. Now subtract the number of guys who didn't carry the team on their back... the only center that truly led his team to titles (notice the plurality there) was The Dream. Others have multiple rings, but they were as important in those equations as our "also on the starting lineup" guys like Elie... they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I dare say that Hakeem at 46 years old could school Longley at 26... Dream starting = using your brain - after all he's still a 2 time, team carrying, champion... and correct me if I'm wrong, but that helps in the intimidation department - injuries or not - and next year NOT - so all the more reason to start the Legendary Dream. Can you tell I'm a Dream fan? . . . . YBR . . . . You Better Recognize.
I have criticized Walt plenty, but I don't think he is quite worthless. I think he would be a decent player on a team whose offense would create a lot of open shots for him. If fact I thought he would be oustanding insurance for the Laker's (possibly losing Rice) or the Spurs (who knows about Elliot's future). He wouldn't be a bad addition to the Kings or Heat either. But then I am not sure who we would have to take on to make the deal work--Fox, Horry, Fisher, S. Walker or Daniels + salary filler, Corliss, Funderburke, Majerly, etc.
