From FoxSports' Rockets Team Report. Coincidence? You be the judge. FREE AGENT UPDATE: The NBA playoffs have got to be filling the Rockets with mixed emotions. The Pacers' Austin Croshere is a free agent after the season and an ideal fit for the Rockets' needs. A frontcourt player able to work at either forward position, Croshere could give the Rockets a big body to set screens for their guards with the shooting touch to burn teams that trap the ball. But though he has proved his talents to a potential suitor such as the Rockets, his emergence with the Pacers has made him even more valuable in Indianapolis and perhaps more attractive around the league. The Pacers are certain to make Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller free agent priorities before Croshere. But as valuable as he has been this season, Croshere could be a key to their changes. Once they make a qualifying offer, they could match any offer up to 108 percent of roughly $3.8 million a season, the league average salary. The Rockets, like all but two teams, are over the salary cap. If the Pacers want to keep Croshere, the Rockets would have to work a sign-and-trade deal to make it happen. The Rockets hold almost $4.5 million in trade exceptions making it easier. And unlike any pursuit of Seattle's Rashard Lewis, they would be working a deal with a team from the other conference. But the hope remains something of a long shot, particularly if Croshere continues to key a championship run. ------------------
AAAAAAAhhhhh! Damn you Clutch! Do we actually have some slight chance of signing Austin or trading for him? I've never watched him play until the playoffs these past few weeks, and damn am I impressed. This guy is pure hustle. Incredibly determined rebounder, has muscle, heart, and the sweet touch from outside. He would be nothing less than a perfect fit on the Rockets. Just imagine- we could actually run pick-and-rolls with a real big man who could make teams pay for doubling our guards, which they always do. He would be perfect! But there's no way we can pay him more than the mid-exception. There would have to be a sign-and-trade. Indy would be crazy to do that. Or would they? Do we actually have something they want? Does Austin want to be here? Quick, New York, kick the Pacers out of the playoffs so Clutch will tell us something!
Nolen- I completely agree. Croshere is exactly the kind of player the Rockets need. A big man who hustles, hits the boards, and shoots the ball well. And he is young too. I think he can be an excellent player in our system. He had a great game 1 against the Knicks, and although he has had sub-par games since then, look at his numbers when he was a starter this year. He averaged a solid 13-15 points as a starter, and even more importantly was always around 10 rebounds a game. A 13/10 power forward who can shoot is EXACTLY what this team needs. ------------------
could this be the guy there was a rummor about a few weeks ago ? not an exciting player , a good fit and young... hummmmm??????? ------------------ It's all about marketing !
"A 13/10 power forward who can shoot is EXACTLY what this team needs." I couldn't have said it any better and won't try. ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
Can he make his hair do those cornrows. I think we should look for some common trait in all of our players. At least with those crazy designs you would still have something to look at if we were s*cking. Croshere = no cornrows = bad fit ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Tyson fight
I agree, but I think 15-8 is more accurate. VERY few people average 10 rebounds. The reason I say more points is this: Cato was able to get 8, and we're all complaining about his lack of offensive skills. Croshere is skilled in there post, and shooting. He IS in fact ideal, and I dream of getting Moiso, and placing him in between Cato and Croshere.....Moiso-Croshere would be a wonderful forward tandem (I tend to think Croshere is more of a SF full time, who plays PF in spurts, like Walt, but more often. I think Drew could perhaps be beneficial to Indiana, if they don't make it to the Finals this year, as Jackson isn't a guarantee to be back. ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
Croshere is alright, and don't get me wrong I'd be happy with adding him as our mid-class free agent, but I don't know if he is all that. He is a slight notch above Kurt Thomas (though Kurt completely outplayed him this weekend), Outlaw or Forston, it is a close call between say him and Trent in potential overall contributions. But I think Rashard Lewis or Tim Thomas for instance have much bigger upsides than Croshere. Croshere reminds me a lot of Othella in this way--he is a super sub who can do some damage because the defense is focused on other players. I don't think Croshere is going to be an above average starting PF in this league and I think he will be cut down to size like Oth when forced to play the best every day. I also think Brian Grant would bring far more to the table, Grant played Malone and Utah far better than Croshere could dream of doing. Also, as Portland is deep with front-court talent (mostly young too) Grant may be just as feasible for us to get as Croshere. These are, of course, just my observations. ------------------
Brian Grant may be a fine player, but I don't see why people are always raving about him as some sort of savior for the Rockets at the 4 spot. He's not the only one who has had a good series against Malone. OT and Robert Horry both had them among others. Heypartner has pointed out that Danny Fortson played the Mailman quite well as well. Moreover, I really don't see how a team could justify paying Grant two or three times as much as Fortson when Fortson gives the same production and toughness and is significantly younger. That said, I don't think Fortson is as good of a fit as Croshere. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited May 31, 2000).]
I don't see why Indiana would want to give up Croshere. Bird supposedly loves the guy, and if Bird stays on in any capacity I don't see Croshere going anywhere. I'd be going after Al Harrington instead, anyway. ------------------ "Yes, I came from the 80s...but I didn't kill anybody. Give me a break." -Mike Tramp, former lead singer of White Lion
You actually think we can get Brian Grant and if so how? I sure don't think we'd get him when you look at what the rest of teams might offer to pry him away. My real thought is that if Portland loses this series with LA, Paul Allen is gonna go "duh" I want a center of undebatable quality. He could then offer Grant (and something else) in a trade with Atlanta for Mount Mutumbo. Although the Hawks would pause to see if they could get Wallace instead, they know that he is untouchable. And with Mutumbo recognising the signs that the Hawks are gonna suck for a while he could be looking to force Atlanta's hand this summer. I don't think Paul Allen is going to like paying 80 million or so every year only to run up against the "LA Freak Diesel" and be dismantled. So far the only thing Sabonis has done with Shaq is curse in Lithuainian. Oakdogg, Brian Grant in my opinion is certainly better than Fortson. What you must take account is that any player no matter how talented who plays for Portland has deflated statistics. The talent level on that team is obscene. Freak, I do think you are right though that Bird and the Pacers will re-up with the guy. I still remember when Bird was tooting Croshere's horn for him last season, talking about how hard he worked, how much talent he had, and so on. Everybody including me thought old Larry had one to many puffs off the peace pipe. But now we see his reasoning was valid. He's invested in this kid, he wants him back. Priorities would have to remain in the order of 1)Rashard Lewis (cause he more fits our run and gun style) 2)Austin Croshere if something could be worked out. Not likely. Kenny Thomas and Bryce Drew maybe (who knows). ------------------
