First off, I'm sure Shandon's gonna have a career season this year....But is that good or bad for us? Well, let's say he has an OK season, then I don't think he'll opt out of his contract, cause he'll play for a better season to get more money when he gets bird rights.....BUT, if he does opt, and he wants around 5.5 million per season, then that means we won't be able to sign MO to anything close to the max....I think that means we'll have a maximum of 7 million for him.....which makes it a hard decision.....So will Shandon opt out of his contract or wait for his full bird rights? Cause if he has a really good season, which I expect him to have, then he knows he'll make more while his value is so high after THAT season....... Which leaves anohter question, If u had to choose, who would u sign, Mo or Shandon? If we lose any of them, we go back two rebuilding years EASY.....The draft shouldn't be the ONLY rebuilding tool (see Clippers)... Your thoughts, and answers to the question, Mo or Shandon? ------------------
My feeling is that if we have the opportunity to sign a free agent with cap space, we will convince Shandon to play his third year and then sign him using full bird rights. For more speculation/analysis of Shandons position, see the thread http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/008224.html As far as choosing one - trust me, we won't have to. ------------------ Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info
Thanx Davo, that's GREAT to hear......b the way, do you think Mo will play for ANYTHING less than the max? Do you think the rockets will offer him the max if he has a 20ppg season and doesn't disrupt the locker room? ------------------
Thats a tough one Sane - If Mo has a great year, then the Rockets, based on recent history (read Kelvin Cato) will be tempted to try and lock him up with a max salary, but they may not have the cap space to do it. Unless we unload Walt and/or someone else, we will only have around $6mil under the cap next year, and thats assuming we don't sign anyone else in between. And, as you aleady alluded to, Shandon may have his eye on that particular pot of cash. One scenario that may work is signing Mo to another Mid level exception next year, which will be over $4mil. If he signs for 2 years, he will have full bird rights the following year and can earn the really big bucks. If course, none of that really answers your question. One thing in our favour, is that if there are not many other teams out ther with Cap space, Mo's best option will be stay here, even if it is for less money. ------------------ Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info
Not to break up this party between you guys but what exactly is the max we can offer Mo' next year? Anyway, even if he has a 20ppg 8-10rpg average for the season, I'm not convinced he deserves a max contract. If he can do that, I'm sure the Rockets would gladly give him 6-7 million working up to 9-10 at the end of his contract. One thing is pretty much guaranteed, he will want the long-term deal since money seems to be his driving force. ------------------ Don't you have anything better to do?
Rocketspimp: With Cato making 7 million, Mo has every right to insist upon the max if he averages 20 and 8. Cato's contract stinks . ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
I think it's impossible to decide either way until we actually get to see Mo play in the Rox system. I'm not so sure that his previous play with the Clips is a good indicator of his true value. I think the major factor here is not so much his play, though I might be alone on that. I don't think it's appropriate to say "well, he got 20-10 this season, so we'll give him the max based on that" or anything along those lines. If he goes 20-10 or thereabouts but doesn't pass or include the rest of the team (ie, he does well at the expense of others - padding his stats), then I'm not sure he's as valuable as he appears. If, however, he goes 16-7 or thereabouts but fits in well to the system and plays well with the rest of the team, then that to me is more important than his absolute #s. In other words, if he enhances the overall chemistry of the team, then I say give him consideration for the max. That is actually the true value I see in Shandon - he fits the system well (damn near perfectly), doesn't b**** or demand the ball, isn't greedy (either with the rock or with $), gets along well with the rest of the team, etc, etc. To me that is what makes him so valuable; his stats and excellent D just add more value. If Mo demonstrates that he truly understands that it is a team effort out there, then we might have some tough decisions to make next offseason... That said, I think that Shandon has DEFINITELY earned a nice, fat contract. Mo has yet to earn one. We'll see... ------------------ [This message has been edited by treeman (edited August 29, 2000).] [This message has been edited by treeman (edited August 29, 2000).]
Sane, I agree that Shandon will have a career year, but it won't have to be much in order to be considered a career year. I figure he'll score 15PPG, 5RPG, and4 APG. After this season or next season, he should get a 5 year contract worth at least 35 mil or 6 year contract worth at least 40 mil. As for Mo, if he has a great year, the only was he would agree to stay is for the max. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
"As for Mo, if he has a great year, the only way he would agree to stay is for the max." Yeah, but what constitutes a 'great year'? A 20-10 season? Or a 16-7 + chemistry/jell season? He (his w**** agent, more to the point) and the Rox might not be in total agreement on that. There are no absolutes here. 'Course, if he puts up 20-10 AND enhances chemistry, the answer is easy... Also, whether or not we're actually a winning team may factor in. A 50-32 record (thereabouts) might influence the decision alot. ------------------
if he remains a 17ppg guy, gets 8 rebounds, and can play with the team....he definately deserves the max, there's not a better PF we can get like that for the next 3 years (excluding draft).....He's young too.....I don't thikn he'll play for our 6 million, cause if that's what he'll settle for, he would've been playing in Toronto for 6 million........I'm basing this on the fact that MO has the season that Rudy expects him to have, 2nd string scorer and improved rebounding....and definately good chemistry with the players.......hmmmmm, it looks like we're gonna have to look at the draft for a starting SF, and trade walt's contract.....Mo won't play for 6 million, and he definately won't wait two years for the big bucks...... Something just hit me though, Mo's agent isn't some idiot, he must KNOW exactly how much money Houston will have next year, meaning either he will settle, or the exception will be used for players that will give us capspace next year, OR, and this is really gonna hurt, Mo is ONLY here to showcase his numbers and has already set his sights on another team......Other teams are Wizards, Orlando (maybe?), New York......as much as I hate to say it, choice number three seems to make the most sense......uh-oh ------------------
None of those three teams will have cap space next year. His hometown team of Detroit might, but that's looking somewhat slim w/ their contract count. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
Actually, the Wizards trade with the Grizzlies just gave them cap space, and they'll have anough to match us, so why us and not them? ------------------
It seems J. White, J. Howard, R. Strickland (assuming 5 mil buyout instead of 11 mil contract year), and their big SG (?) take up 36 mil by themselves... 41 if Strickland stays. ------------------ I've posted so much that what I say must be true. The latest on Maurice Taylor
Ok, but still.....there must be 3-4 teams who have as much as cap space as we do next year...... ------------------
Sane: I've only heard that Houston, Detroit, and Chicago will have cap space next year. Of course, someone may do a salary purge between now and then... but nobody that has a desirable situation. I think that Houston's primary attraction next year will be that it will be a talented team... with some cash available. That's a rare combination... and since Webber's the only franchise player scheduled for free agency, it might become very important in retaining Anderson/Taylor. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
I for one don't feel that Taylor deserves the max if he has a 17ppg 8rpg season and jells with the team. We may have to pay him the max to keep him, but I don't think he would deserve it. Look at all the people getting the max out there, Kobe, Grant Hill, Payton, Rasheed, etc. Shaq and Garnett get more than the max. So does Juwan Howard, but we all know he doesn't deserve even 7 mil a year. The only person on our team that deserves the max is Stevie. Hakeem is also getting more than the max, but he signed the contract when he was a lot more productive, plus we owe it to him. I don't think Taylor is in that class of players to deserve the max, but we may have to pay him the max to keep him. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
It's not all about his worth....It's also about how much we NEED him.....If 2 million Dollars isthe difference between keeping Mo and starting Kenny Thomas, then show MO the money......... So what would stop him from going to Detroit? My oint is, we have to make him feel at home, cause one year won't really make him feel as at home as wqe think, Cause he'd get the starting job at Detroit.....but truthfully, if we can match Detroit's offer, and the Bulls have Brand and Fizer, than I think we're keeping him...... BUT, I just read an important rumour on NBATALK which has Ewing going to the knicks for Juwan Howard.......so they can be spenders next year with Pat's 18 million off the books right? ------------------
