No, this isn't a feel sorry for #13 thread. But, IF we draft Ming, is he the type of guy you want coming off the bench? Will coming off the bench motivate him, and he'll return to "foaming at the mouth" for his 15-20 MPG? Or will it make him sulk more than ever? I bring this up, because in David Aldrige's latest chat, he mentions... They're [The Magic] looking for young bigs, but they're a little hamstrung because they'd like to save potential cap room to take a shot at Duncan next summer. So I would expect them to make smaller trades with some of their picks, maybe go after a Kelvin Cato type if the Rockets do take Ming, for example. The bigger question may be if there is a market for Cato...could our resident Mavs/Magic/Knicks/etc. fans answer that?
I know what most folks here think about Cato, but I still think he is a serviceable center and our starter. Especially since Yao will not have the benefit of a full Rocket training camp to learn Rudy's system. Also, when was the last time Rudy began a season starting a rookie. . Hakeem?
Just realized the error in my statement. Bill Fitch was coach when Hakeem started his career. But thanks for the heads up on Dickerson and Mobley!
I hate to bring this up...this is gonna hurt... ...but we "need" Kelvin Cato. "Overpaid blow-hard, writer of children's books, doesn't even care about basketball except that it gets him laid" Kelvin Cato. What if Ming gets called back? What if he mangles his feet playing half the year for China and half for the NBA and needs limited minutes from time to time? And if we move out one of our other power forwards in a trade, maybe Kelvin can play some 4...until Eddie bulks up, anyway.
[SARCASM]No we don't. We've got the sharp-shooting Jason Collier. Collier has a deft stroke from 15-17 feet out. He dominated the ACC, and averaged 17 points, and 11 rebounds a game at Georgia Tech. This guy was a steal at #15 2 years ago. He can even be a weapon against Shaq, because he'll force him out of the paint on defense.[/SARCASM]
Colier. . .Cato . . significant difference? YES in Blocking. . but not much else CATO FOR MIKE MILLER *grin* or Armstrong *yeah right* or . .. umm. . . who else there? Rocket River
I agree with ROXTIA, for the most part. Yao will need time to adjust. I certainly hope he doesn't need two years of bench time before he can be comfortable starting, but the Rockets should ease him in slowly, especially since he won't get here until mid-October earliest (is that right?) If Yao gets injured (like any other player), we'll only have Collier, and our PFs (including Eddie) to back him up. Unless we keep Willis, it's not a smart move to trade away Cato without getting a big man in return. Any available big man in such a scenario would likely bring baggage of his own, so what's the point? Might as well stay put with Cato. It would be super if Cato went into his bench role with energy but we've always hoped Cato would come out out with energy and with the exception of parts of this year, have always been disappointed. I'm not holding my breath. About all I'd expect from Cato is to give Yao a hard time in practice, but I wonder about that even. Yao or no Yao, I'm sure we all want Cato to succeed. C'mon, Kelvin - show the Rockets some more of that fire you displayed last season. If you bring it, you know the fans will support you. Just avoid Blinebury.
I have to stay consistent. Move Cato at the earliest convinence. The Rockets could use the #15 pick on a C\PF (like Melvin Ely), or use the MCE (even better) to sign a big body. But please, no more 6 year deals! (That's what makes Cato's deal so bad)
Cato will be the backup for Ming. I'm guessing Cato will play 2minutes a game. Thats Bill Walton-like.
Cato is an outstanding center. I have seen him stand up to Shaq. We must not let him go to another team that will be greatly improved by his defense. I cannot reiterate enought how we must keep him at all costs. Ming is merely trade bait for us to get a mega-star small forward. I feel the same way about Rice, Mo-T, and Moochie. They are way too valuable. It would take one heck of a package to move these guys, many of whom could start for most of the teams in the NBA. Sorry, I get flustered when people talk about moving these fan favorite, pajama wearing, pillars of our freakin' community.
The Magic need a center, yes, but note that Aldridge said Kelvin Cato-type of player. Prefacing that statement he noted about the Magic's quest for Duncan, which is already tight on cap space....adding Cato would detract at that, unless of course McGrady or Hill were traded for Cato, something that won't happen. Cato makes too much money and has too long of a remaining contract to really be in the eyes of the Magic - unless their plan dramatically shifts.
Does anyone else remember, back in Cato's first year as a Rocket, that he said he'd PREFER to come off the bench. He said this when he was starting in place of an injured Dream (and playing pretty well during that stretch). He said he prefers to see the flow of the game before coming in. So, maybe he would relish a bench role. Still, I say that Cato will be our starting C at the start of the season. Once Ming adjusts to the Rockets' system and to the NBA game, then Ming will gradually get starter's minutes and eventually take the starting spot.
Why is everyone into Cato bashing for the zillionth time? Didn't he just make a good improvement? How about the streaks of double digit rebounds? Cato actually tried and he actually improved. He is about the only Rocket frontliner who played most of the games. They guy is still a relatively young big man who is a bit of a project and suffers from the worst hands in probably the league. Cato is not a superstar and might be slightly overpaid for a big man. He is currently just a good backup or platoon center, which is just what we need as Ming develops. If he had been acquired to be a backup for Hakeem for instance he would be just viewed as a somewhat erratic but potentially talented bakcup and we would not be so upset. Please get over the fact that Cato has not been a star. Talking about a lightning rod. Every anxiety and concern about the Rockets has to be blamed on Cato. Oh well I guess one way to be popular on the board is to insult Cato and call him a coward, a fraud, a pansy childeren's writer and call for his death and slow dismemberment.
Originally posted by WyoRox Also, when was the last time Rudy began a season starting a rookie...Hakeem? Or some guy named Francis? I would certainly move Cato for the right deal, but starting or coming off the bench, he'll get a lot of minutes next year. Rookie centers always get into foul trouble, and that's in addition to possible injuries and trips to China.... Like it or not, last year Cato was our most reliable big man in ... six years? It's great to have a dominant center, but you also need depth. Until Ming is playing 35+ minutes a game, 75+ games a year, we need a backup capable of starting, and Cato fills the bill. Do I love his game? No. But he was much improved last year and actually pretty solid. At times, excellent. Why suffer through the bad years and then trade him just as he's starting to learn how to play?
