This is according to espn insider(rumor section). I dont have one, so could somebody post it? Smith has potential.
I think Feigen's facts are incorrect in the story. He may have gotten the first day that 10-day contracts can be signed (Jan. 5) confused with the first day that all salaries become fully guaranteed (Jan. 10). In order to make sure that a player is no longer on the roster by Jan. 10 is to waive that player on or before Jan. 8. I do, however, believe the quote from Nelson Luis that Ish is staying. (My guess is that Morey knows that he has interest in Smith from at least one other team who would take him, possibly for a future second round pick, if the Rockets ever needed to open up a roster spot.)
Bima the Thug, I suspect that the team will get a center, if at all, through a pretty significant trade and won't waive Ish to sign, say, Jarron Collins. Jordan Hill, Hayes and Miller have their deficiencies but they are at least better than the minimum wage reject Cs out there.
Great news, if true. Ish is one player I enjoy watching. He is still raw but his natural abilities are very rare in the NBA today. He reminds me so much of a young Kidd. I hope Adelman will be more patient with him as he is with most of the Rockets players.
Yes, this is what I was thinking. Ish has shown enough that a least one team somewhere would be willing to give us something for him. Or we keep Ish in the event that we make a big trade involving Brooks or Lowry.
Man are you kidding me? As far I am concerned--Ishmael Smith is a keeper. I'm not Rick Adelman. But if I were, I'd start Ishmael Smith every other game or mix it up between Smith and Lowry. Man, with Ish Smith doing the passing, he will make Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson look like superstars. I don't know why he's riding the bench. The Rockets' youngblood are riding the bench when they are the winning formula. I just try imagine if Ishmael Smith was alive when Ralph and Hakeem were lording it around 85-86. Please keep Ishmael Smith, and give him more minutes. He is the saviour of the Rockets!!!
It says here that they will not cut him later this season, nor will they trade him for a mere 2nd-rounder. At worst, they might trade him for a high 2nd-rounder on draft day, eyeing a specific player.
The Rockets should buy out Jeffries (if they need to make room for a center). I'm happy not taking any contracts back for Yao and Jeffries. Let them come off the books, and re-sign Brooks. Then sign Kendrick Perkins. Perkins / Miller / Hayes Scola / Hill / Patterson Battier / Williams Martin / Lee / Budinger Brooks / Lowry / Smith
He's a promising rookie. If he continues to develop he'll see plenty of time. And if either Brooks or Lowry is traded before the deadline, we'll need him.
