If Ming takes longer to develop, then you keep Cato. At that point, the Rockets are probably midpack fighting for a playoff spot instead of seriously contending or falling deep into the pack. But, Cato does have a history of pouting, not playing up to his fullest, etc... Starting him off at center to start the season allows him to be his most productive, especially with the supporting cast assembled by the Rockets staff. But, once he gets demoted (an eventuality), he's not going to be nearly as productive, and I'm sure if there is a need elsewhere on the roster, that the Rockets are going to explore dealing him, especially if just one of the PFs can slide to center for 12 minutes a game.
Problem is that KT's trade value will never be higher than now. I doubt you can find anybody on this board, that thinks his stats will be similar (or improved) with reduced minutes. Add the attitude problems he will have not starting in front of Taylor, and you have even less trade value. Even if we traded KT, and Taylor or Griffin were injured, we have other options at PF. If Ming gets banged up to much in the middle, he could play some minutes at PF. TMorris showed that he has the rebounding/block skills to handle some minutes at PF. Since TM does not really have the ouside game, I think he would make a better 3rd string PF then KT. KT will not be happy unless he is the starter over Taylor & Griffin. Bottom line, as the chronicle stated, the Rockets cannot afford to give KT a long term contract.
Man I don't see CATO OR MING on the line up . So, how on earth will you think those guys will manage the Big man in the NBA(Shaq, Duncan, Garnett). This is no NCAA!!
He hasn't? Those rebounds and blocks looked good to me. Ming may not be worthy of the top pick in his first year on the floor. But, a 7'6 player that can shoot will undoubtedly make an impact. Offensively, even if it takes him a while to bang in the post, he will be able to stretch defenses with his outside shooting, and shoot a jump hook. Defensively, a man of that size will be a threat to penetrators, something we've lacked since Dream in his prime. At the least, Ming will be a top 10 center in this league the instant he steps on the floor. Also, I definitely see KT taking a backseat to Griffin. You're blowing any comments he had well out of proportion. KT, on most contending teams, is not a 35 minute per game player, and I think he understands this. He's about a 24 minimum, 30 maximum. If we trade Cato, we can give him a valuable spot in our rotation at about the low end of that range. If we can trade Cato, here's now I see the minutes distributed: Center: Ming -- 25 Taylor -- 18 Griffin -- 5 Power Forward: Taylor -- 10 Griffin -- 20 Thomas -- 18 Small Forward: Rice -- 20 Nachbar -- 22 Thomas -- 6 There's no real reason Kenny can't eventually play the 3, at least against backups. I think he can become a Donyell Marshall-esque player with time-- someone who can run the floor, score both inside and out to twenty feet, and handle the ball relatively well. That being said, he's not ready now. But, if we give him a few minutes per game at the three spot, we can use him against players that will not beat him with quickness, and give him the experience he needs to eventually be a backup at this spot as well. This rotation really gets everyone time from the 3-5 spots. Mo and Rice start, but are replaced early in the first and third quarters by Griffin and Nachbar. Later in the quarter, Mo comes back in for Ming. At the end of the quarter, KT comes in for Eddie. Thus, everyone gets their minutes: Taylor -- 28 Ming-- 25 Griffin -- 25 Thomas -- 24 Nachbar -- 22 Rice -- 20 However, with a player of Cato's salary (and ego), he is going to play at least 18 minutes per game, IMO, if he is on the team. If he stays, one of Taylor, Thomas, and Griffin is the odd man out. However, considering the lack of true centers in the NBA, I would rather try and win with the most skill players I can.
TheCat, I see things pretty close to you. But we are not going to trade Cato. 1--it would be hard for another team to get him, and 2-he isn't a terrible back-up defensive C. Plus, by having him come off the bench his sporadic play won't be as disturbing to the team. Guys, I would be very surprised if Ming doesn't start and get at least 24 MPG. We need his shot and shot-blocking, even if he get's pushed around quite a bit for a while and takes his learning lumps here and here. He will be expected to be a contributer, and right away he should be the best center we have got. Cato and Mo can back him up depending if we need more D or O. Also, along with Ming, EG has got to get his minutes. I don't care where, but the guy needs a minimum of 24, and probably 28. He is a future forward, probably our future power power specifically, he must get his minutes. The x-factor with our frontline is if Rice and Nachbar are going to contribute heavily. Is either Rice or Nachbar going to be a better true SF this year than a better player playing out of position at SF (EG, KT)? I certainly don't know the answer to this (I hope Nachbar already is but that is optimistic), but I certainly think KT and EG are both better anything's than TMo so I don't see TMo getting meaningful minutes. We HAVE to get Ming's minutes around 24 and EG's around 28 for their development, it would also be hard not have Mo's at 28 and KT's at 24 also because those guys deserve those levels of NBA minutes. Thus I see it like this as far as average minutes: C Ming 24 minutes, Cato 16 (some days 22, others 10), Mo 8 PF Mo 20 (most days more than 20), KT 16, EG 12 SF EG 16, KT 8, Rice or Nachbar 24 Assuming health is OK, if neither EG or KT can earn SF minutes over Rice, Nachbar and TMo (yeah, right) than either Mo or KT, probably the latter, really has to be traded. My hunch is if KT really is NOT on the trade block (which seems to be the case from insiders) it is because we think KT and/or EG 1) is fine with, and 2) does adequately for the time being, at SF.
1. Cato is not going to be traded 2. MoT cannot play the C (can't handle the West Centers) 3. KT cannot play the 3 (too slow, not quick enough) 4. EG will not play the 3 either (not quick enough, needs blocks) There is no need to have KT, MoT, and Griffin playing out of position. Ming-Cato-Collier Taylor-Griffin Rice-Nachbar-Tmo Mobley-??? Francis-Norris-Maddox We trade KT for a SG. As much as I like KT, he doesn't offer the Rocks anything we don't already have. He is a PF and we already have 2 startable ones. Very simple: We have an extra PF, we trade the PF for something we do need (backup SG). Like I said before "No need to have players play out of position"
Gucci, I just have to disgree. I woud prefer, and I think the Rudy would lean to it, having the 5 best players on the court vs. the 5 best players at their natural position if these two groups of players are quite divergent. Now I am not saying it doesn't have to be a little balanced (Mooch ain't going to be the center). Other teams play tweener forwards at the SF (Marshall, Van Horn, Jamison, Gasol) if that is the best they have to work with, likewise guys like Marshall and Horry and Cliff Robinson who we hope EG is an improved version of have floated between starting at the 3 and 4 or even 5 (Cliff). While EG may more naturally be a PF, he may very well be the best small forward we have right now, and by playing him at the SF we get the best combination of 5 guys we can put on the floor. We will just have to see if Rice and Nachbar are ready for heavy quality NBA SF minutes or not. If it is "no", EG or KT will get plenty of minutes at the SF because they are a lot better than Tmo at any position not involving raising the ambient temperature of the treated pine.
Bzzzzz! We can't start the season with Taylor in the starting 5, he's suspended. This will be a factor. Do you think if the Rockets start 5-0 with KT or Griff as a starter, Rudy will want to mess things up by putting pot-head in the starting lineup? I think a lot will depend on these first 5 games. Also, you left out Cato. I can definetely see Ming and Cato at the same time on the floor, their games are complimentary. Bottomline is the scanarios are endless, Rudy will go by feel, will see what's working, who's in shape, where the chemistry is. It's impossible to determine now how the lineups and the rotations will shape-up...
I didn't leave out Cato; he's prominantly discussed in my posts. I cannot see him and Ming on the court at the same time unless one of the PFs get traded or there are some serious injury concerns at SF....there's just too many talented players to play the two centers alongside of each other for long stretches of time. And do you see the Rockets starting 5-0? I don't. If he's healthy, Mo Taylor should be the incumbent starter and should get the nod of Griffin and KT, in that order. It's his job to lose, in essence. But I do agree that there are many scenarios - endless, no, but a lot of possibilities. We won't know a lot until September and October, but it's interesting to analyze things now - after all, these are the dog days of the BBS.
