[Stein]Rockets summon D-Leaguer Alexander Johnson for tryout

I suspect...........unfortunately............that this is a tryout to see if he can effectively replace Hayes. The scouting report on Johnson is he is a very effective postup defender. If he indeed is and if he shows something to us over these last few games, I suspect we are not going to renew Chuck's option and are going to see if we can either get him cheaper, let him walk, or trade him in a package for Bosh or some other big name. I suspect this is a look at replacing the Chuckster.

 

That's foolish thinking... you can't look at a guy for 5 games and a summer league and know that he can replace someone defensively who's been on your team for 5 years and faced multiple situations successfully.

They want to get a look at him because he's doing so well in the D-league and to see if he's someone they want to check out in case they need to fill the roster after whatever trades/transactions take place in the summer/draft.

I wish everyone would stop making it about replacing Chuck... it's about pre-planning for every eventuality.

 

Hayes has been a stop-gap solution for so long that he has become a fixture as well as a team captain. I have been looking up and down the roster, and that is the only scenario that makes sense other than cutting Armstrong, who on th surface seems to be a more feasible trading chip. Besides, Morey trades a $2.3M contract for a $0.45M contract and gets a player of equal or greater value.

 

Why doesn't Chuck work on his Offensive game?
Jumpshot?
Free Throw?
Post Move?
Offseason layup drill?
Is it a crime to be at least a slight threat on offense?
Does it come up with the staff?
Does Chuck have a part-time Job?
You mean the guy is "Hard working" yet hasn't improved offensively in 5 years?

 

A trade chip that has been traded like 5 times in the last year? I doubt anyone would touch him at this point in a trade situation. I could be wrong though. I agree that it's possible they won't pick up Chuck's contract, but my guess (and hope) is that they will still try to get him back for a cheaper price. There just aren't defenders like Chuck floating around to replace him.. do we not remember the Dorsey story? Everyone said Joey would be the replacement for Chuck and we see how well that went.

As for the poster above me...

 

Why is it every time the team signs a 13th, 14th or 15th man from the D-League or some other basketball scrap heap there is some Rockets fan talking about them being viewed as potential replacement for some starter or key rotation player?

People: Sometimes (in fact, most of the time) a (victory) cigar is just a (victory) cigar.

 

Believe me, Carl, most of us agree with you. However, if Johnson is signed, there has to be a roster spot adjustment somewhere. What do you think the change is?

 

Yao.

We're getting rid of Yao.

 

Johnson is a Joey Dorsey who can score.

 

To be fair, Hayes has improved on the offensive end. At least he has a okay(at best) hook shot that he sometimes use.

 

Rockets should have held on to Pops.

 

The easiest guess would be to dump Mike Harris. His contract is guaranteed for this year, but so what? He's not owed much.

Hilton Armstrong is possible, too. He's not that useful. Sure, they can sign him to be a salary filler, but I doubt that's of much value. There are other ways to match salary, sure it will include rotation guys, but if you are making a big trade, you need to give some rotation guys anyway.

It's really probably just a end-of-bench re-shuffling to give Johnson a look (the same look they gave to Temple, Conroy, Harris, etc). Might even be in part a favor for David Thorpe, Kevin Martin's trainer. The team seems to have a good working relationship with Thorpe. Thorpe has consistently praised the team, and was at the MIT Sports Analyitics conference, too.

 

When can the summer trading begin? Washington, according to news reports, indicate they are not going to re-sign Randy Foye, who is sort of intriguing. He was drafted one spot before Rudy Gay and he was Kyle Lowry's backcourt mate at Villanueva. Foye is 6-3 or 6-4 depending on who's measuring, 220 lbs and even stronger and quicker than Lowry. He's a much better scorer than Kyle but not as skilled as a PG. That said, Foye is the type of player that I would have thought Morey would be trying to acquire, not another PF.

 

THAT was a dunk!

 

The only way we get rid of Chuck is because someone wants him in a "bigger deal. I do think he has looked slower since the all-star break and I also think he and Scola are the only truly frustrated Rockets.

So for Chuck personally a move might get him more money and a situation where he's not constantly in situations where he's in a hopeless mis-match.

But can we afford to lose him? He's the most vocal leader on the team and Battier & Scola have called him their favorite player in the entire NBA.

I think Chuck will be here. But I wish him the best and hope he'll always live in Houston.

 

That's because he's been playing hurt... I've told a bunch of people this, but Chuck does not like braces... so the fact that he's been playing with it for a couple of months now shows he's really hurting.

I hope he is still in Houston too.. I have no time to watch two NBA teams during the season and I am pretty committed to my Houston Rockets now

 

Wow!!! We got thi guy??? I know footwork is important in BBall, but this is not what I was thinking. Great job scout team!!!!

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.........and one of those eventualities is them asking Chuck to come back at a reduced salary and Chuck saying NO. They want an option. I didn't say I liked it or agreed with Johnson being Chuck's replacement. I'm saying it's a possibility if Johnson's postup defense is what the scouting report says it is.

Yeah, it didn't work. And I'm hoping that Chuck stays. He is one of the top 3 post defenders in this league. Don't want to lose him. I'd actually like to see Johnson replace Andersen and Andersen be moved in trade along with Ariza and perhaps Jeffries and our first rounder for a big upgrade like Bosh. I just have a funny feeling that Johnson is going to stick and be a cheap minimum salary guy that gives us some pretty nice bench production next year. Everything makes sense. I was thinking we may try to pick up a guy like Diogu as a cheap minimum salary replacement for Landry but Johnson brings more size and defense to the table. So, hopefully Chuck stays and Johnson works out as well. If Johnson does work and garners a contract for next season, this definitely keeps our options more open on draft day.

 

If the Warriors can find 3 D-League players who can contribute, we should be able to find at least one. Conroy, Pops, Temple, and Harris have all been crap.

 

We did. His name is Chuck Hayes.