Indiana. The best team in the East (for a while, anyway). Indiana. The most talented team in the East. Indiana. Their best match up for a trading partner would be the Bucks and GP. However, there is something about intra-division deals which negate the idea of a 'best match up for a trading partner'. Indiana. Houston. Let's mix it up! Indiana would likely want Cato. They'd have to take back Mooch. Houston would likely want Harrington. Rox'd have to take back Croshere. Both teams would be better balanced. Both teams would have plenty of chips remaining to get their remaining pieces. Indiana would have Mercer and his expiring contract, Tinsley and Bender and their youth, and Foster to get their starting PG. Houston would have Rice and his expiring contract, Cat and his 'good' contract, EG and his youth to get two good guards to complement Stevie.
Who would our backup C be? Collier? Chroshere so far has proven that he was a fluke that one good year. He is too risky. Al Harrington has alot of talent. But we wouldn't gain anything with those two guys if we give up Cato.
Give up Cato when you can. It's not a lock he'll have any value again -- until his contract is expiring (which is when, never?). Harrington is a stud. Croshere is better to have than Mooch, tho not as cute.
Cato is a hell of a back up Center. Who would backup? No way in hell i want to see Collier running up the floor in our new unis as the back up.
I agree with xiki, Cato should be traded now because his value will not be much higher. Can you name any of Dream's back-ups, or better yet can you name of Dream's back-ups that contributed more then 15 min per game? I am not saying or implying that Yao is on Dream's level, yet, but he will undoubtedly get the lion's share of the minutes at the 5. Collier would do a fine job trying to burn up his 6 fouls in his 15 min per game. It is important is sports to buy low and sell high. We paid Cato on potential, and it has taken him 3 years to show any value. Indiana is a likely trading partner though, and I am sure that Croshere would have to be part of any package. I have a feeling that he may be more valuable here than he was in Indiana. I think it is unfair to label him a one year wonder. For whatever reason he got in Thomas' doghouse, plus with the emergence of Harrington, Bender, and O'neal his minutes were reduced. If we could dump Mooch and Cato for Croshere and either young 3 of Indy's - Bender or Harrington the Rocks would indoubtedly be better off.
a $8mil / year backup? Les is realy rich and can throw away money. While we are at it, why don't we just sign all the off-season free agents, paying them hundreds of millions of dollars and paying the luxury tax? If Lex can do that, other teams might not have enough players to play with the Rox, Rox will win the championship by forfeit.
Think about it. We'd be giving away the best back up center in the league. Anyone would love to have Cato. He could start for some teams like the Sixers, Bucks, Hornets, Sonics, BLAZERS... Eddie Griffen has some trade value with his so called "potential" I'd give him and Moochie up for Al Harrington and a couple of **** logs, sure. Al Harrington couldn't give us what we would be losing in Cato. Yeah, Yao will get more minutes this year, but the minutes he is on the bench is too valuable to us. If it wasn't for Cato, we would've lost a couple more games last year. He is our best bench player, yeah, I'd put him above Mo Taylor.
With Al Harrington, Griffin, and Mo; one of those guys would have to be playing backup for Yao. I would have to chose Mo. There aren't a lot of centers out there, let alone players, who can back down Mo. He can cross-over any center in the league, and he has a baby hook to boot. I wouldn't mind a line up of: Yao / Mo Harrington / Griffin Posey / Rice / Boki Cat / Austin (I assume he can play backup sgs?) Steve / FA
I'd put Keon Clark as the best Back up, but Cato is a close second. He's too valuable, especially since Yao isn't a 40 min a game stud yet.
Kind of an empty roster, but man, without the coaching ability of Rudy T, that team would go below 20 wins.
Losing Cato as a back-up isn't that big a deal. We could try to sign Mark Blount or 6ers back-up C/PF (I am blanking on the name, former Baylor guy). Not as good as Cato--but cheaper (couple mil per year) and good enough for 10-12MPG.
So really......he is leaving? or what? I'm just wondering.... Cuz they still got him too. So why would they want Cato?
Miller resigns, starts at 5 and backs up O'Neal. Cato gives inside presence, without needing the ball. He was born to play Bad Boy basketball. Moochie is gone and at least replaced with someone with some life to his game. Both teams still have plenty of maneuver room after this.
After a long thought over it(a week!) I think Portland is a very logical trade partner for the Rockets'(as half of the league!). Here's this week trade: McInnis+Stoudamire+Randolph for Mobley+Taylor+Norris ? We get them rid of a big contract(Stoudamire) while getting a good productive PG.We also get a big(6'4) defensive PG in McInnis and a rebounding PF in Randolph. Finally we get rid of 2 big useles contracts in Taylor and Norris while they get a scoring PF in the paint as they might loose Wallace. Thoughts?... ALA
What does Harrington bring that we cannot get out of Morris and Nachbar? Croshere? as in Austin powe. . . er Croshere? Rocket River Flotsam
