According to a report by David Dalati on 610am in Houston, the Mutumbo deal is still out there and is by no means dead. The Rockets are also considering Keon Clark but, apparently, he may want too much money. There is also the possibility the Rockets could wait until closer to the season to see if a team gets desperate to move a player and take advantage. Not much there, but I thought the Clark thing was interesting. He said that with Clark's off-the-court problems and supposed poor work habits, he may want more money than he deserves.
That sounds interesting. I really wonder if JVG could whip this guy into shape and make him work hard like he did to Cato. If he can I wouldn't mind receiving Keon Clark at all.
That's solid, at least we know they're going after the right type of players. Mutombo's experience would be great, but Clark's energy would be excellent for the bench as well.
is Clark still in the league ?!? he only played in something like 2 games last year how much money does he think that will earn him
Great blocker and rebounder but he has a bad work ethics. Could care less about work ethics but money wise his got to be reasonable in some extent.
Let's just go after Mutombo and get this team secured for the season. Screw Keon. Why couldn't he fit in Toronto, Sacramento, or Utah?
I don't mind giving Keon two years, but not more. Either Keon for two years or Mutombo for one year. The good thing about Clark is than he can play PF and C, so he'll always be useful. The energy he brings is excellent.
Thanks for catching that, Jeff. It's fairly simple as far as what we can offer Clark. Apparently, all we have left is a LLE, and that has a maximum length of 2 years. We can offer him a 2 year LLE deal, with year 2 being a player option. That comes to around 3.3 mill over 2 years, or 1.6 mill and he gets to try free agency again next year- that's the best we can offer him. I don't see negotiations being an issue; we can offer that, and say take it or leave it. I'm guessing there aren't many teams out there that are willing to give him a sizable chunk of the MLE, not ones that are left at least. I'd be ecstatic if we managed to sign Keon for the LLE, and then pull off a trade for Payton. nWo- To be fair, he played 2 games for Utah. He played one year in Sacramento and was fairly successful- who here would be unhappy with 7-6 with 2 bpg in 22 minutes? I think money was the issue for Sacramento keeping him- that and being able to acquire Brad Miller.
Of course, we could also do a sign and trade with Utah, using the TE, to give him more money. This would have to be at least a 3 year deal, although only the first would need to be guaranteed. Doubt that the Rocs would use the TE on Clark, however.
Nike, I don't think the Rockets would want to go broke w/ Clark. Since he asks for top dollar, you can get Mutombo who can give you some rebounds and blocks at a cheaper price. Plus, Mutombo is a true center. Isn't Keon more of a PF?
Who has his rights? Can't they sign n trade him to us? Also, we used "most" of the MLE to sign Sura and Ward.. It's possible that we still have 2M of the MLE left, right?
Anyone wants Najera? It seems Lattener and him would be traded to Warriors for Dampier and Esychmer(PER Dallas radio). Mulling is trying to clear cap space and we can absorb Najera's contract with the TE.
Clark was making 5 mill with Sacramento, that's why they moved him (and let JJax go)- in order to afford Miller. As I said, "top dollar" from us will be 1.6 mill next year. About 1/3 of Mutumbo's salary. Sane- If we have 2 mill left, that means Sura and Ward's combined salaries this year would have to be under 3 mill. Ward's deal probably starts anywhere from 1-1.7mill ish (my guess is 1.5), possibly more since Anthony Johnson got 4 yrs, 11 mill. My guess is Sura starts at 1/2 the MLE (2.5 mill), possibly more. I'd have to be overestimating by a LOT for us to have 2 mill left under the MLE. Phoenix had his rights which eliminates most trade possibilities right there, seeing as they're in our conference. To further matters, Clark was quite certainly renounced in order to make room for the signings of Nash and Richardson. They don't really have any room to sign Clark in order to trade him. So no, sign and trade for Clark isn't really possible.
Isn't Keon an injury risk? With the history that he has, should we spend all our leftover money on this guy?
He had 4 straight 80+ game seasons prior to this year. In all, 80+ games in every year but last year and his rookie year out of a 6 yr career. His rookie year he played 28 games plus 2 DNP-CDs, before missing the final 20 games of the lockout season due to a collapsed lung. He may look like a toothpick, but he's been a pretty durable toothpick if you ask me. "All of our leftover money" is a relative term. When: a.) all of our leftover money is less than 2 mill b.) it can't be handed a contract longer than 2 years c.) we have a need for a shotblocker off the bench d.) Keon Clark is a top flight shotblocker Who else were you planning on spending the money on? If we can get him for the LLE, it's a no brainer. If this had been earlier in the offseason, when and he wanted 5 mill a year, it would've been a different story.
again... I ask didn't he only play in TWO games last season ?!?! and he is now with the Suns not the Kings
If we just need a shot blocking defensive center, IMO we should be giving Rueben Boumtje-Boumtje a closer look. He is more the size of Mutombo and athletic, long and lanky like Clark. Also, he would be comparatively inexpensive. Even if we do acquire either Clark or Mutombo, adding B-B would be great insurance as a third center.
Clark is to much of a head case and a question mark work ethic wise. With Mutombo you know what you're going to get. Shot-blocking, rebounding, defense, hard-work and a willingness to sacrifice to help the team as well as a willingness to defer and teach Yao. People say that Mutombo is a question mark due to age but I counter that with Clark being a question mark work ethic wise and off the court. Mutombo is also cheap and not much of a gamble (unless you consider giving up Pike a huge gamble).
