19 bodies, 15 spots, + maybe Francis -- Only Daryl can think this through

The thread title sounds like there was a major accident and there were a bunch of casualties: 19 bodies, 15 spots, and maybe Francis.

 

Pretty funny. Geez. Always seems like I am reading your posts. We must have similar sleeping patterns...

 

Yeah I work the graveyard shift so I have nothing better to do with my time..

 

A few of things...

1) We can only trade JL3, Novak or anyone else for future picks only if the other team is below the cap or has a trade exception. That limits the list of partners.

2) What makes more sense, cutting Novak or cutting Reed? Remember Reed was wanted by Morey in the James trade - we didn't have to take him. Also remember Reed make 4 times Novaks guaranteed salary. Like it or not - Reed will be on the starting roster - unless he's traded which we have to trade him alone or wait for a certain time period to expire. I wouldn't bank on a trade this soon.

3) We spend part of last years MLE to get JL3, Novak and VSpan guaranteed money. All are going to get paid and count against the cap (except VSpan now of course).

4) People with guaranteed contracts count as a roster slot - that includes dleague. Only Harris has a non-guaranteed contract. If we don't make Harris guaranteed, he can go where ever he wants and he doesn't count as a roster spot.

5) Jake, Deke and Hayes are Free Agents. They won't count as a roster spot unless we resign them.

Personally I see JL3 traded (somehow), Novak cut, only Hayes resigned and Harris is not signed. Morey might be able to pull something off as far as a 2/3 for 1 trade, but barring that, that is how I see the roster shaping up.

 

Currently 20 players considered 'Rockets Players', not counting Stevie. If Steve decides to come here (but why would he?), that would make 21.

For the sake of discussion, let's assume that Francis decides to come back here, instead of moving to the Clipps. (He won't come here, or at least he SHOULDN'T, but no one has ever accused him of making the very best of decisions ni the past, so hey, anything is possible I guess).

From the 21, you can automatically scratch one: Big Jake. He'll probably latch on somewhere, but it won't be here. Why? Doesn't fit the offense, and is a FA. Easy choice.

Down to 20.

Hayes and Deke are the next two hard decisions. I think that if JVG were still here, this would be a no-brainer on both these guys. But now, I am not so sure. Morey has already specifically stated that he is bringing Hayes back, so we should accept that as true, until proved otherwise. Deke, though.. I think now, especially with Butler joining the team, the possibility of Deke being on the opening-day roster is pretty slim.

However, if Yao should go down to any kind of injury (and unfortunately, history supports the notion that it is not beyond the realm of possibility), who is left to carry the 5? Butler, and then nobody? Eek. It makes me wonder two things about Deke: 1) *IF* he were to come back, how much $ would it be for? And 2) How much can you pay assistant coaches? One could make an argument that Deke's biggest impact in the NBA now is more PR than anything else. He makes for an excellent image, of philanthropy, generosity, spirit, and just plain old goodness. And how could you not want that associated with your team? But none of those attributes does much towards wins and losses on the floor. So I am wondering, what about the idea of asking Deke to come on board as an assistant coach for this one year at least, sort of like how Ewing did? Pay him what he was going to make at the Vet Minimum, he can keep himself in reasonably good shape, but not get so beat up during the season. Bang with the guys in practice, teach some of them how to gain that nose for the ball, how to better block shots, and oh yeah, if the worst-case happens and Yao breaks something again, then perhaps at that time he could be added to the roster for a spell. Just an idea. Saves the roster spot, but we still get the benefit of having him around, and it's less mileage on his body too, and he still gets the same money. Seems like a win-win to me.

So, keep Chuck, but decline to add Deke to the roster.

That makes 19.

Newley? Nope. Down to 18.

Lucas? Well, Morey has already stated that they are trying to move him. This is GM-speak for 'He's not going to be here anymore.' Traded for a likely future #2.

Down to 17.

We have to get rid of two more bodies. One body is already gone in every aspect other than contractually. Sura. Seeing as how we are already going to have to cut NBA-level talent, I do not personally see the benefit of keeping Sura on the roster just to have a 2-million expiring contract at mid-season. Why? Because the whole point of that mechanic is the automatic assumption that we will be wanting to add to the roster during the season. We're over-stocked as it is. Just pay him his money and release him. Seriously, what of value could we really get for Sura's contract, either now or during the season, which would make it worth the precious roster spot?

In my mind, it's best to just cut bait with Sura now.

Down to 16.

A handful of guys are on this bubble, and one of them is going to be the odd man out.

Mike Harris, Justin Reed, Kirk Snyder, and Steve Novak all have to be sweating about now. One of these guys is going to be gone. Financially, the easiest to cut will be Harris, but after his SL performance, you can't just assume that he will be gone.Let's just say that he will have a fighting chance in camp. Some people have stated that since Reed was specifically added as part of the MJ deal that there is no way he will go, but don't jump to that conclusion either. Remember, at the time of the deal, no one knew that we would subsequently land Scola, Butler and Landry. Reed is by no means a given. Novak probably has the most to prove to Adelman, simply because it's either going to be feast or famine with him. If he can find his spots on the floor, and Rick can get the offense tuned to find him, and he can knock down the shots, then he could become super valuable. However, it could just as easily be a complete dead end. Training Camp is going to be huge this year for Novak.

And Snyder? Well, if you listened to JVG, he was not shy about telling everyone that Snyder's problem was/is that he is just not 'smart' enough. Maybe that's true, nobody but Adelman gets to determine that now. Training Camp is also going to be big for Kirk as well.

Out of these four guys, I have a hunch that Reed is going to be sent packing. Sorry, guy. Harris is too much of a local-guy feel-good story, and we are still intrigued by Snyder's athleticism and Novak's shooting to let either of them go just yet.

That gets us down to the magic 15. This is assuming, of course, that Francis comes back. If he doesn't, then all four of the above guys can stay, or else keep Sura's contract on the roster.

As for what to do with that roster once it's down to 15, well that's a whole different kettle of fish.

 

jake and sura need to go

 

I like neros post above... Snyder has another strike against him and that is his shooting. If you look at the people Morey is getting now that we have Adelman they are all shooters and IMO shooting is going to be the primary deciding factor in who gets cut.

Reed = another big body which IMO we need
Novak = Shooter
Harris = The closest thing on our roster Corlis Williamson and can play 2/3/4 depending on matchups
Syder = odd man out

Lucas has been replaced by Brooks
Rafer and his poor shooting will go too but they just haven't figured a way to get that done in a 2 for one yet.

 

Nero, nice post. However, I disagree about Justin Reed. He's on the books for 2 more seasons (including this upcoming one), and I just don't see Le$ buying him out for $3 million (what he's owed), considering he's the most "expensive" of the guys you've listed. Thus, I think he'll stay. Honestly, given the options presented, I think Novak is on his way out.

 

I agree with everything you said except getting rid of Deke

 

Thats some good posting!

I think that, as others have said, Reed will be here. The trade was supposed to be Howard for MJ straight up, and then Morey requested Reed to be added after the fact, is the way I understand it. That means he is wanted here. I think he is on the team. I think that the question will come down to the two guys who arent guaranteed money. Landry and Harris. I believe that Landry will win out, and we tell Harris to stick around for when he is needed, ala Chuck Hayes did 2 years ago.

All that is, as you say, IF we sign Francis.

Lineup

PG - Alston/James/Brooks
SG - Mac/Francis/Head
SF - Battier/Snyder/Novak
PF - Scola/Hayes/Reed/Landry
C - Yao/Butler

 

Not sold on either Reed or Butler

 

You forgot Wells

 

DARYL MONEY CAN DO ANYTHING LOL !thats his new nick ...it catchy !

 

I'm comfortable with Butler being the only true center that is backing up Yao as long as Yao is healthy. As previously mentioned, I think that if we could get Deke to play assistant coach like Charlie Ward did, it would be the perfect situation. We could sign Deke if needed, if Yao was out.

 

Did everyone just skip over this post. This is exactly what should happen: cut Novak, keep Harris if it comes down to these 2. Harris showed a lot more potential than Novak. Novak has one-trick and that's it whereas Harris is multi-faceted.

 

Could Landry play center in emergency situations? If so, he could provide roster depth, youth, and flexibility as the third-string PF and C. As much as I love the Cookie Monster and respect what he's done, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a chance on someone younger instead.

 

True that, I did forget him. I guess I just spent to much of last season trying to forget him. Got to used to it.

In this case, Snyder/Novak/Reed/Landry/Harris are fighting for 3 spots. I give it to Snyder/Novak/Reed. Landry and/or Harris will have to outwork them in camp if they want to steal their spots.

If Francis isnt here, we keep 4 of those, or sign Deke.


PG - Alston/James/Brooks
SG - Mac/Francis/Head
SF - Battier/Wells/Snyder
PF - Scola/Hayes/Reed/Novak
C - Yao/Butler

 

Hayes and Landry both. You are in about the same sitation with them. Undersized for sure, but in situations, they could play at the 5. Scola as well. IMO

 

Landry IMO is headed for the D League. Heck, he is too much of a runt to be a PF let alone a C. We may as well use Brooks as a C -- he's quicker than Landry.

 

He Won't be heading to the D-League. Rockets need more support at PF. He'll stay on the active roster. Plus, I know that "summer league" centers aren't "regular season" centers but he held his own in the summer league with a lot of big-bodies. He's stronger than a lot of guys that play in the NBA right now. And we had 6'6 Hayes at PF last year.