Well, the story here is a friend of mine here in Beaumont recently got the chance to talk to Rashard's brother who is here. Essentially, his brother said what his agent had been saying all along. Rashard would love to come back here, and it is his top choice this summer. However, at least for next season, he intends to stay in Seattle if he cannot force a trade to Houston. The positive I got out of this was that his brother said that the ONLY thing that is keeping him out of Houston right now is his restricted status as a free agent. If he were not restricted, he would sign with Houston undoubtedly. That being said, his brother said that Rashard definitely will be a Rocket in due time. He said Rashard will only sign a one year contract with Seattle, so he can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when he would sign with the Rockets assuming they gave him close to what he is worth. He doesn't hold any grudges against them after draft night. His brother said that Rashard "just has too big of a family around here." Bottom line: Rashard WILL try to become a Rocket, however it will in all likelihood be next season and not now. Thought it was worth noting that next season he does intend to sign here. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!! [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 07, 2000).]
Interesting, I heard the same thing some weeks back but dismissed it. The only problem with it is, will Seattle be willing to only give him a one year deal? We will see, but I see him signing a 3 year deal. ------------------ A Chuck paraphrase: It was surreal! And I don't even know what that means! Charles after Eddie hit THE SHOT
The Seattle TImes had an article today saying basically that Rashard will be in Seattle next year but he will only sign for one year, thus hurting Seattle in that they would have to use one of their exceptions and would most likely only have their small exception left. ANyways, he definitely only wants to sign for one year in Seattle. YOu can find a link to the article at http://www.prosportspage.com ------------------ When I die I want to go peacefully like my grandfather. Not screaming like the passengers in the back seat!
Thanks a lot, CAT. These are the info that interests me most. Really appreciate the scoop. ------------------
If Seattle has to use one of their exceptions to sign him and decides it's not worth losing a valuable exception just to keep him for one year, is there any chance he could sign with Houston this year? ------------------ We need some meat in the post and I don't mean Brian Grant!
I remember reading about him awhile back saying that he was wanting money. My question is this: Does he want to come back to Houston NEXT YEAR because it is close to home, OR does he want to come back to Houston NEXT YEAR because we will be WAY under the cap with Dream retiring? To me, seems like he is doing it more for the cash. Because if he wanted to play here NOW he could somehow get it done. ANyway, regardless of Why he wants to play here I go on record as being the ONLY CLUTCHCITY.net poster as saying he is WAYYYYY OVERRATED. He is not going to be a stud like alot of people seem to think.Wont end up being like Kobe Bryant or Garnett either. Most likely he will be a younger Joe Smith. ------------------
Oooh, good news. If he can put on enough weight/strength to be a PF.....all we'd need to do (after sign Mobley) is draft T. Morris-Francis-Anderson-Morris-Lewis-Cato Thomas/Mobley/Collier/Langhi/Moochie off the bench is a good defensive team, that's tall, young, athletic. Just running through a quick scenario, don't mind me. That's good news, and a reason to keep some space clear for Rashard, which we will have. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
I doubt it RP. Seattle would probably sign him to a 1 year 4 million dollar deal, which would be the maximum for them. They wouldn't let him walk, even if he only wants to sign for one year. (which appears to be the case) DUDE- That is not the case with Rashard at all. There are a ton of teams with cap room next year. Miami, Atlanta, and Dallas come to mind. And some may even present a better chance for him to win. (in the short term) But from what I've heard from my friend and other people, it is not about the money with Rashard. He would sign for the exception with us this summer IF HE COULD. But he can't. The only reason he is waiting until next year is so he can be an unrestricted FA and go to Houston. How could he get it done now? It doesn't matter if he said he would play for the league mimimum here- if Seattle matches the offer, they can keep him. And if he requests a trade, who's to say Seattle will help out a rival that will battle with them for a playoff spot? Seattle could let him go to an Eastern Conference team where they wouldn't have to worry about giving Lewis to a rival. He is not like Joe Smith at all. This is a versatile player who can matchup with the Garnett's and Wallace's of the world, a guy that can stroke the 3, and a guy that can play multiple positions. He may never be a Garnett, but he will be much better than the Joe Smith's of the league. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!! [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 07, 2000).]
Cat I totally respect your opinion on him. But I disagree. You said he can play Multiple positions. What are those? He is far too skinny to play C or PF. He is a far inferior ball handler to play either Guard position. To me that leaves just SF. And a SF to me should be a good outside shooter. And that is something I havent seen with him. He shot 33% from three point range. As much as I hate to say this, Matt Bullard looks better at the SF position to me than Rashard at this time. (Okay so that last sentence might be an exaggeration, but you get the idea) ------------------
Rashard is an good three point shooter. He got very few attempts last season, so those stats are somewhat skewed. And also, Francis shot 30% from the 3 point line last year, and I think you like him. The first game Rashard started this year was at PF. It was a game against Toronto back in February, and he went up against Charles Oakley. In his first NBA start, and at PF, he got 28 points and 12 rebounds, and he could bang with Oakley. Don't become misled by his frame. He is tough. Croshere is somewhat skinny too. And Paul Westphal played him at SG a lot in the playoffs this year against the Jazz, when he got a lot of his positive attention from the league. You don't have to be an excellent ball handler to play the SG, but Lewis still can handle the ball somewhat well from what I have observed of him. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
I am hoping I am wrong. I LOVE Francis, and Anderson. And if we get Mobley back that would be great. I think we got an amazing young team, with sky high potential. ------------------
Is Rasheed Wallace too skinny to place PF? Rashard, with a little more bulk, can very easily play as a Western Conference PF. Duncan is gone. The new types (the Wallace/Garnett mold) dominate. Rashard may or may not have great 3 point range, but he does bring a good medium range shot (a la Horace Grant, except more range) Rashard eventually will be able to play SG, (he's working hard on his handles this year) but I see very rare circumstances for that to even be needed on this team. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
Would you trade Shandon for Rashard if it meant Cuttino was a lock to return? I think Seattle would go for that. Shandon and Payton would be the best defensive backcourt in the league and they still have Patterson and Mason at SF anyway. I don't think Shandon would mind too much seeing as he would go to a playoff team. Then trade Bryce for a back-up 2 guard.
Nah, I'd probably pass on that. It's not that I think Shandon is better- I know Rashard has a much brighter future. But look at the facts guys. We aren't going to win the championship this year. We're just going to be fighting for a playoff spot. It's not like getting Lewis this year for Shandon will make us an immediate contender, so why do it? Do it next summer when you can get him without giving up anyone. Shandon will be a valuable piece of the puzzle, and giving him up to get Lewis for a season that you won't win the title anyway doesn't make much sense to me. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
The main reason is to keep Cuttino, who doesn't look like a lock to stay. If he knew he would be an automatic starter here then that would help him make his mind up. Essentially it would be Shandon for Rashard AND Cuttino.
From what I've heard from here, Cuttino is almost a lock to stay. Not many teams would offer more than us, and if they could, I seriously doubt he would abandon the Rockets, the team who took the chance and got him in the NBA and his best friend. Plus, look at our two best sources here at ClutchCity- Clutch and oeilpere. Clutch said on the front page that it would be "shocking" if Mobley did not return. Oeilpere said that a deal was already done and he was 100% on Mobley returning. I'm not that worried over Cat leaving. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
We won't trade Shandon. Cat will stay. Cat's just checking his value around the league, maybe laying a smoke screen about what he'll do, helping the Rockets by making other teams think they can swipe him away for free. . You want Rashard now? Probably have to send Cato. Cato + Walt + Milwaukee pick + trade exception = Rashard and Long = big cap money next year. ------------------
Rashard could come here if he wanted too & with out trading CATO & all this other crap. Who did we give up for Pippen? Roy Robertson, Rob Ripley or what ever it or he was, doesn't matter - it was a joke. When a player wants to leave, he leaves & normally the team on the receiving end gives up very little towards the value of what they get! Francis for all those player you gave up. Would you do it again? HELL YES!!! Pippen for Mr. Rogers would you do it again? I don't know I kind of like his sweater & trolley & Pippen was kind of a joke here. Basically I don't buy it. Restricted or Unrestricted Rashard could be here if he really wanted too & of course the one part that really matters if the Rockets really want him? ------------------
How could Rashard be here if he's restricted? This is what we've talked about for months. He WANTS to come here, but because of him being restricted he can't do that. It doesn't matter HOW BAD he wants to come or HOW LITTLE he will play for- the fact of the matter if we CAN NOT outbid Seattle. And all Seattle has to do is match our offer and he automatically stays. Pippen was not a restricted free agent you know. If Pippen was a restricted free agent, and we tried to sign him, Chicago would have matched the offer and would have kept him automatically. The point was Scottie could come here and not give the Bulls the option of matching the offer. Please explain how Rashard could get here this summer, being a restricted free agent. ------------------ Member of the pro-Collier/Langhi movement. IN RUDY WE TRUST!!
