I understand where your coming from as far as rebuilding. But from the perspective your coming from, is that, you would rather be a last place team than a .500 team. If you do not have a realistic chance of winning a Championship, should you tank a season? IMO it's, "No". Les, DM, and Coach A, I'm sure have a long term goal and a short term goal and in the face of adversity are trying to do the best they can of sticking with it at this season unfolds. The Roxs haven't had too much good luck over the past year or several years for that matter. But I would be greatly disappointed in this Rockets organization if they folded a season by letting go of one of the only bright spots we've had in a while, because it might cost them a few dollars in the FA market, over a player we might or might not be able to get. The difference between "winners" and "losers", is that losers find it quiet easy to lose and become accustomed to it. Winners do everything in their power to win, while leaving it all on the table everynight, taking any loss hard and not being able to sleep at night. As far as recruiting FA's, what kind of star would want to join a team full of losers?, A team and organization that tanked a season. I wouldn't think too many. It shows alot about a person's character. I'd much rather be on a .500 team than a last place team any day. How many teams have gone from last place to a championship the next year? There's no need to clean out the closet for something that's a unknown. Be prepared? be ready? Yes. But to quit? NO! Guys like Scola and Shane, in my book are winners. These guys go along way toward showing the young guys how to carry themselves as NBA players and how to be mentally prepared to to deal with the NBA game. They set the tone and environment in the locker room. Is everyone tradable? Yes. But Scola is the type of guy you keep around unless he's a mandatory in a deal for a player you can build a team around. Let's be winners! not losers! Scola is a keeper!
Two things here.... Ariza and Gortat got MLE deals and Millsap is about to get slightly higher...Scola is better then both Gortat and Ariza right now while is better if not at the same level as Millsap. Johnson is a tier 2 but will get tier 1 money from someone(Rox) but Rip is no where near a tier 2 player and is signed for 5 years and making 11.5 mill next year. Boozer is a rare case where he would be better then Scola but with his injuries you could make a case teams might want Scola before Boozer. Scola wont be making 11.5 mill next year but I can assure you someone will give him 8-9 million and I am pretty confident when someone doesn't get there prized free agent for some reason they will look at Scola and offer him crazy money.
We're taking Scola far too for granted here I have a feeling on this BBS. Remember the days of Chuck Hayes 6'6 no offensive game AT ALL starting at PF next to Yao Ming? Phew, thank god those days are over. Scola is an incredibly important piece to the team. His hustle, rebounding, extremely efficient offense is EXACTLY what win us games. His midrange jumper is a killer! In fact I can't even recall a open midrange jumper he didn't sink...(or maybe I tend to forget those he misses =p) The question is, yes, if an awesome offer came by I'd be all willing to trade him...Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett anyone??? But I really don't see any team offering too much for Luis. He's on an incredibly cheap contract we might as well keep him for the time being rather than trade him away from some average borderline starter like Mickael Pietrus or whoever. Young teams are not going to give us equal young talent in return for Luis. Contending teams will offer veterans that we don't want to touch. Only realistic scenario is where we trade Luis for a star PF like Amare or Bosh along with other contracts and young awesome talent like Aaron Brooks...but thats a long shot right now! Luis for Amare!!! I don't know why Phoenix wouldn't do a deal like this... Luis + Brooks + McGrady + Cook for Amare + Richardson + Barbosa
You have to not look at the glass as half-empty but half-full. How about bringing in other players that would complement Scola well and make him want to stick around.
I think this is a reason why it isnt as cut and dry...He is valuable and I really think if Morey has a vision of how he wants this team to look and he is fairly confident Yao will return along with good Cap flexiblity above is the best reason I would keep him.
This basically sums up everything. Scola is a keeper and should only be traded in a blockbuster trade that could net a franchise player for the Rockets.
If the salaries match then why not. Boozer is not a player you can build around but He can produce that could help the team in next years campaign. He is an upgrade but not that much.
Salaries not even close...we would need to throw in Barry+Cook and maybe something else to make it work! He does come off the books next year but his injuries make me weary...I say no thanks
I would simpoly trade Luis for 2 reasons : His Age He is expendaple with Landry and Chuck .. Iam sure that if Carl gets the right amount of time he would be a 20/10 player
Then its best just to keep Scola. he is still the best low post presence in the team as of the moment.
I understand what you're saying and i'm all for any trade that improves the team, I just don't think it will come to this. I highly doubt Scola will command anything in the $8-9M range. Agreed with leebigez that he's an MLE-$6M type of player and he hasn't given any indication of being money hungry through the media. I think he will take whichever type of market value extension we offer him. I mean, if we have ANY hopes of being competitive next year we're going to need Scola's consistency, energy and grit leading us every night. Landry is looking more and more like a career bench player so unless Morey has a blockbuster up his sleeves, Scola is going to be (and needs to be) a steady force on this team next year. Where does the low post offense come without him?
don't forget Luis is a RFA at the end of the season, which means, with our good financial situation and good cap situation, teams will be very reluctant to sign him to an offer sheet...and thus we should be able to get him at a reasonable price. Scola sacrificed money just to play in the NBA and I'm sure he'll take a hometown discount to stay in Houston, Don't think Luis ever plays for the money
I understand what you're saying and i'm all for any trade that improves the team, I just don't think it will come to this. I highly doubt Scola will command anything in the $8-9M range. Agreed with leebigez that he's an MLE-$6M type of player and he hasn't given any indication of being money hungry through the media. I think he will take whichever type of market value extension we offer him. I mean, if we have ANY hopes of being competitive next year we're going to need Scola's consistency, energy and grit leading us every night. Landry is looking more and more like a career bench player so unless Morey has a blockbuster up his sleeves, Scola is going to be (and needs to be) a steady force on this team next year. Where does the low post offense come without him?
I am not so sure about that, i would say that it eill depend most than money or a city, on which plan Morey has for the team, he would like to be in a team willling to win, and be a player in those wins. If Morey is stuck with Yao and Yao continues to be an injury machine, he knows his NBA years are limited and he won´t like to be on a team "waiting" for his all star to recover. Also if he sees he can improve more this season because yao is out, and feel that his role will be back to 4th scorer he may want out, Luis is very high in his post game and i am quite sure he think he deserves to receive more game. As far as money i am quite sure Scola will receive at least one 3 years 25 million offer sheet, many will be looking for Bosh in FA, and those who don´t get him will have to go for another PF. In short, i don´t think Scola can be counted in for 2010, and i don´t think it´s just a money problem, he is a veteran player, and will look for what all veterand look for, winning a title.
This is the reason to keep him unless an offer comes that is to good to be true presents itself. He is a keeper and a focal point of the offense this season.
I sort of agree, I dont understand why you guys think he is a MLE guy at best...if everyone seems to think his role will increase and be our BEST player this season then why wouldn't he get 8-9 million per yer if not more...I mean freaking Gortat got a full MLE and he is no were near as proven as Scola...I do think he would want to stay here and give us some sort of discount but what if a contender came calling and offered serious cash...he wants to win just like all of us.
With a platoon army of Luis Scolas I could take over and rule a small country. They would only be afraid of not fighting hard. However after some thought, I have to agree with this. But it would have to be nothing less than a move for an incredible talent.
