According to a source in PORTLAND...Camby just signed and Extention with the Blazers... http://www.955thegame.com/Camby-To-Stay-A-Blazer-/6840481
Why would Memphis (which, in their minds at least, are similarly situated with the Rockets from a competitiveness standpoint) want to trade away Gasol this summer? They still have him under a very reasonable contract and are only paying Thabeet on his rookie scale deal (which is not THAT much). Also, the Grizzlies traded a first round pick already to add their potential replacement for Rudy Gay. His name is Ronnie Brewer, and he's a very similar player to Ariza. Both are long athletes who play good defense from the wing position and have shaky jumpers. Plus, with Brewer being Memphis's own restricted free agent, the Griz can probably re-sign him to a deal that is lower than the full MLE-sized deal that Ariza got last summer. So, why take on Ariza's salary? I think the Grizzlies see the same things in Gasol that you do. Hence, I doubt they'd be looking to trade him unless another team just bowled them over with an enticing package. Could the Rockets put together such a package? Possibly. But I doubt that Morey would be able to get GOOD VALUE in Gasol based on what he'd have to give up in order to get him.
I agree that Memphis won't be looking to move Marc but this is were Morey should put all those wonderful assets he has collected to good use. I say knock Memphis off its feet and make them say no but all this is assuming Bosh has already said no. Honestly, if Bosh says no I honestly don't know anyone else that would make sense and then we are left hoping Brooks takes another big step forward and Morey can make something happen with the MLE.
Actually (and I have been meaning to mention this previously in this thread), I think there is a good chance that the Rockets intentionally do NOT use their MLE this summer, unless some player is willing to work on a one-year deal. The Rockets are poised to be major players in 2011 free agency, when the new CBA will presumably go into effect. If Yao does not look like he'll ever be able to return to his former self, then 2011 is the one real chance that the Houston Rockets organization has to quickly turn around and rebuild. If they tie up $6M or so in 2011-12 cap room on an MLE-level player, that could seriously hamper the team's ability to pursue a major player like Carmelo Anthony. Also, with the new CBA likely to impose some form of "harder cap" or perhaps more stringent penalties for exceeding the cap, having salary cap room in 2011 will be more important than ever. Bottom line: Depending on what happens with Scola and Lowry in free agency, and depending on what happens with the pursuit of a star player via trade this summer, it is entirely possible that the Rockets intentionally avoid the use of (at least a majority of) their MLE this summer.
Makes sense Bima. Maybe they'll wait and see how the season goes (and if Yao can play) and then make decisions based on that mid-season?
I'd be okay not using the MLE, like I said, there really isn't another player I'd give the full MLE that could make a HUGE difference. That said, I get the Rox want to keep flexiblity with their assets for 2011-12 but I realllllyyyyy don't want to go into 10-11 with only Yao and a 1st rd pick(Udoh) as additions because that smells like a 6th seed and MAYBE a 2nd rd exit at best. I am going to keep the faith and assume Morey will do EVERYTHING he can to get that one more difference maker as he has stated in his post-season interviews.
Sometimes, you just have to fold a hand so all you lose is the ante. If you ever get pocket rockets, you need to have the chip stack to make it worth the most. I'd be okay with Yao and Udoh for next season. If Yao is done, we don't re-sign him.
First of all, either Yao comes back fully healthy (by March/April at worst) and the Rockets have themselves a legit star addition, or Yao shows clear signs of long-term deterioration. In either case, the Rockets are better off not using the MLE. Second, this is now several times I have seen you mention Ekpe Udoh as the Rockets' pick. I sure hope you're right. The way his stock has been soaring, I have serious doubts that he will be on the board at #14.
Me too lol, all the mocks I've seen have him in the 11-14 range so i'll stick to that but I am worried he is going to soar up the boards. I will say if he moves up that means someone else moves down but who knows this early in the process. I'll say this, I don't trust Yao so something to back him up is a necessity but we all know that and Morey has said it repeatedly so will shall see.
Brian Colangelo gave his post season press conference today and said that he will work with Bosh regardless of if he stays or not. He also suprised me personally, saying Bosh might give him a list of suitors for a trade. I would not of thought Bosh would do this because it creates a bidding war and strips more assets out of his new team, which would be stupid, but I suppose he may have more loyalty to Toronto than I anticipated and doesnt want to leave them with nothing. I don't know if this is good or bad for the Rox to be honest. We have less of a chance of getting him if he only picks one team because everyone will make a pitch to him, but that one team he picks would get him on the cheap. We would defeinatley make the list of acceptable teams, but then we would have to outbid everyone else. We could still probably land him, but would likely have to give up more than anticipated. But if a team like Portland or LA ends up on the list as well, they can dangle a Bynum or Aldridge, which would be tough to match. I can't wait till July.
If Bosh goes somewhere else, I hope someway Morey pries away Anthony Randolph from the Warriors. He is in Nelly's doghouse and should be available. Nelly is a sucker for soft, jumpshooting big men, so we can offer them Anderson and some fillers.
Not sure if anyone here has ESPN Insider where you can read the rumors, but today there was something posted about a Raptors sign and trade deal with the Knicks, with the Raptors getting David Lee and the Knicks getting Bosh. I don't have the insider thing, so if there is more info. there, ya'll may want to see if it goes more in depth on what will happen with Bosh.
Let's say they don't do a sign and trade for anyone and only use the MLE for someone like Brad Miller. Then turn around and use the 14th pick to get another young center/power forward. With Yao coming back, we would still be set to contend for championship in the west,IMO.
It was just that, a rumor. Yo're going to hear a lot about Bosh and other teams, including the Rockets, soon IMO.
There's all this talk....about amare..bosh..and us giving up key pieces and picks.. WHAT ABOUT TROY MURPHY! The guy is a legit, 6"11 Center. Rebounds and hustles..and can give you 15-20 points any given night..and Murphy had said before he wants out of indiana and to go to a play off team. Think outside the box people.
Let me preface this by saying one thing: I realize Chris Bosh is a great player and better than anybody we could hope to get through the draft or via trade. That said, I'm not as enthusiastic as some of you are about gutting the team, forking over all our tradeable assets and adding another max contract that will undoubtedly leave our cap situation in luxury tax hell. Especially if that S&T deal requires us to take on one of their bad contracts (i.e. Calderon). We're at a bit of a crossroad here. Adding Bosh or some sort of key acquisition along those lines is the epitome of the "swing for the fences" approach. Unfortunately, with Yao's status and legitimacy as a dependable part of the equation in question -- I don't think simply adding Bosh (and consequently subtracting whoever getting him costs) makes us a contender if Yao's health falters. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the center position is either going to make or break this team going forward. If you think Bosh can play center on this team, if you think he can coexist with and complement Yao well and the right deal comes along -- by all means, go for it. But personally, I favor a more conservative approach. My focus would be on building through the draft since, after all, that's how championship level teams are built in the first place. We have a very good team at the moment and even if Yao returns at 70-80% of what he used to be -- that STILL makes us remarkably better. Again, I realize how nearly ideal Bosh's acquisition could be in a perfect world. Unfortunately, his cost will likely be substantial plus watching us get snakebitten by injuries year-after-year has pretty much taught me to disregard completely this "all in" approach that we've attempted multiple times in the past. Like I said, if the right deal comes along and you feel Bosh satisfies those aforementioned variables -- go for it. Me? Personally, I'm looking to add as much youth, size, athleticism and upside as I can to our frontcourt. Give me a Hassan Whiteside or Ekpe Udoh type that with any luck we can possibly even draft outright. Give me Monroe or maybe even this Orton kid. Add to that an underutilized big that doesn't play via trade like a DeAndre Jordan and that's good enough for me rolling into next season. With any luck, Yao will return to his former self and both of those new acquisitions can battle it out for reserve minutes. In any event, there's little downside to adding youth and athleticism for the price the players I just mentioned will require. With Bosh, EVERYTHING revolves around health and durability which is clearly a bit of an issue with this team. Maybe not so much anymore with McGrady out of the picture and a Yao contingency plan in place (Bosh), but we've been burned way too many times for that feeling to not linger in the back of my mind.
people people bosh has not yet made his mind up and he definitely aint coming to texas he has made it clear he does not want to play near or at his home, dallas, expect bosh to either leave via sign and trade probably to chicago or newyork or stay in toronto
The Rockets could trade their 2011 1st round pick and maybe cash to the Timberwolves for their 16th pick this year. Now Houston would have #14 and #16( Whiteside and Alabi)(6"11 and 7"1 )( PF and C). Thats not too dreamy, is it?
