Chron: NBA lockout puts Rockets' decision on contract extensions in limbo

That's only for players not under contract.

The Rockets signed CBud to a 4yr contract for which the last year is a Team Option. Hence, the Rockets have a team option on him. The reason why Budinger would sign such a contract was because he was a 40ish pick who at least get some guaranteed money.

In other words, CBud got the anti-Landry contract. That's why he'll continue to be dirt cheap for the next 2 years.

 

I actually think (barring a nice star being available) Morey will pick up all the options and probably let chuck walk. These guys are young talent that haven't been given a chance. I think this is kind of a situation like in Moneyball where Morey got guys for a reason, and Adelman didn't play them for a reason. The management always wins, like Billy Beane did with Art Howe. These guys are all tradeable commodities.

 

Not really true if their extensions are picked up. They are much more tradable this season without contract extensions and them being expiring contracts.

Chuck will outperform Jordan/Thabeet so unless those two have made major progress, which I doubt due to the lockout, Morey rightfully wont sacrifice that many wins on a whim that they have improved that greatly over the summer with no training camp or offseason workouts with a new coach.

Remember what happened last season when Chuck had to sit out? It wasn't pretty. Les will not allow Morey to essentially tank by starting Thabeet/or Hill. If they dont resign Chuck, its for really good reasons. Meaning a contending team in the East wants to sign him and make him a key element of their championship team.

Even as expiring contracts and Unrestricted free agents, if one or two of these guys have a breakout season this year, there is still a good chance of getting a decent contract for the player or players they want to resign. If Im more I take my chances leaving them un-extended.

 

I completely agree. Morey didn't trade for Thabeet so he can play him for 2 games and then let him go. Same with Flynn. Hill is decent enough and (more importantly) big. I think Morey has already made the choice to take a chance on these guys, and I dount he cuts bait already.

Plus, I'm betting Chuck looks to play in a more stable situation and Morey doesn't try to compete on dollars. And, I predict the BBS will be in an uproar over the whole thing.

 

Not the members who understand the plan.

DD

 

[rquoter]Normally, Oct. 31 is a day of significance on the NBA calendar. Contractually, it is the day when teams must make what often prove to be weighty decisions on former first-round draft picks.

By rule, for example, midnight would've been the deadline for the Chicago Bulls to sign Derrick Rose to a contract extension or for the Houston Rockets to decide whether to pick up the $6.4 million option in Hasheem Thabeet's deal for the potential 2012-13 season.

According to several NBA general managers, however, that is not the case this year. With the lockout in place, the option and extension deadlines have been pushed back indefinitely. The assumption by those GMs is that teams will be given a grace period in the new collective bargaining agreement, when it is in place, to make those decisions.

"We were given memos in June that said everything would be frozen when the lockout started," a Western Conference GM said. "We're assuming that when we get a new deal we'll have a certain amount of time to make those decisions. But for now we can't."

There are always players where the decision isn't easy and teams want to judge after training camp, often right up to the Halloween deadline.

The Rockets were perhaps going to have the most interesting choices of any team had the Oct. 31 deadline been in place. Though various trades, the Rockets have acquired four players drafted in the first round in 2009 for which they must make decisions. Houston has options for '12-13 on Thabeet, Jonny Flynn and Terrence Williams totaling more than $17 million for next year that they were going to have to make by today. Those calls, like everything else, are now postponed.[/rquoter]

 

Straight Up!!!! Its such a no brainer.

 

I have to disagree. Morey's MO has always been to cut bait when necessary. If you think about it, the only player he hung around for too long was Aaron Brooks. And even that probably has more to do with injury and attitude than basketball skills. Morey's 09 fetish has always been about flexibility. Flexibility that allows the Rockets to either find hidden gems or cut bait quick enough. So far, signs point to the latter.

In addition, not picking up options doesn't mean we don't want them. Thabeet may return in 2013. Just not at $6 mil. Flynn looks to be a sure-fire minimum salary player after a year as our 3rd PG. Morey's opinion on Hill seems pretty obvious after drafting Donatas and going after Nene. His option may not be large, but it could mean not having enough to offer max to someone. Right now, the Rockets barely have enough to offer max if you count our current roster + 2 1st rounders this year and 2 1st rounders next year.

 

I agree with your post, but that sentence made me cringe...and I'm not talking about Aaron Brooks.