Lior Eliyahu? You can't be serious. He was a backup last year and averaged 3.8 points per game in the Euroleague. He's not even close to NBA ready.
The way I see it is after the Bonzi trade our backup "wings" were Head/B-Jax/Novak/Landry/Harris. Not only of those guys out of that group is your traditional swingman capable of playing both wing positions. That being said, i'm tempted to take just about anybody to try to remedy that problem. Carney has been a huge disappointment, no lies. Physically and athletically he has enormous potential to be a lockdown defender and slasher offensively yet he is neither. Would I take a chance on him, though? Absolutely. If all he costs is a meaningless 2nd-rounder or trade exception why not? Athletically, he stands out and he still has upside despite being 24-years-old. His shot is not bad too. Not a high percentage shooter but his jumper has nice form -- i'd like to see him punishing teams for doubling Yao.
I'm a huge Memphis fan. Haven't missed a televised game in 35 years. I didn't think Carney would be a solid contributor in the pros, because of inconsistency in both play and motor. His outside shot is suspect and he disappears on the court. Of course, he might get it and his athleticism is out of this world. I really think CDR will be a more solid contributor because of attitude and his unorthodox and uncanny ability to score. If I could get him from NJ for a future 2nd round pick or a trade exception after they sign him, I certainly would go for it.
Luther Head sucks but I think Carney is setting the sights too low. It would be just like getting Kirk Snyder back to solve the backup SG issue. The Rockets are going to have to get someone that has size and can actually play.
I remember watching this game. Rodney Carney dunked on Dwyane Wade and then Dwyane Wade didn't appreciate that and came back and dunked on Rodney Carney. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zIpQhlT-m1M&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zIpQhlT-m1M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Uh . . . What do you call these guys?: Aaron Brooks Donte Greene Steve Novak Carl Landry (most likely) Joey Dorsey I'd say that's a good amount of young talent developing at the end of the bench on a contender, especially Brooks and Greene.
Because the Rockets are over the CAP and you can't trade for more then 125% of the salary you give up when you are over the cap, and trade exceptions don't count as salaries.
Luis Scola is "2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)" not quite 6'10. He doesn't have outstanding length, nor huge hops. How many times against Utah did you see him afraid to go up against their forwards after a rebound?
Different players but I see what you mean. CDR: NBA ready, more developed but questionable athleticism Carney: Less NBA ready, less developed but with elite NBA athleticism You're probably right that between the two the better fit as a Rocket would be CDR since he can do a little of everything whereas Carney is just an occasional highlight or two. All the same, i'd still take a flyer on Carney in the hopes he can develop into a better all-around player. As a track & field nut, Carney is a former track sprinter/jumper with a KILLER first step....he just never uses it. Take that killer first step, add his speed, length and athleticism and you have all the makings of an awesome slasher. For all those same reasons he should develop into a lockdown defender too. Whether he will or not remains to be seen.
The cap has no bearing on using Trade exceptions. The 125% rule doesn't apply with non-simultaneous trade exceptions. You can't combine trade exceptions but you can combine players. I don't believe the ROckets TE was big enough (Correct me if I am wrong) Whether the Rockets would have even considered it if they had a big enough TE I don't know. But the Rockets TE was not enough to absorb both players and that would have been a deal breaker for the 76ers so end of discussion. Does anyone know exactly what are TE's are?
I beg to differ. The Minimum Salary Player Exception is not just a salary cap exception for player signings. It is also applicable to trades. A team can trade a player making the league minimum to another team without regard to matching salaries. http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#19 Minnesota used a trade exception to acquire Rodney Carney. The T-Wolves did NOT need to use another one of their trade exceptions for Calvin Booth, since Booth makes the league minimum for a player with his number of years of service. Plus, Minny got a first rounder . . . All for a second round pick. Not a bad deal for Minnesota.
None... Scola is a pitbull... fearless. He may lose out and may avoid a pointless foul but he has never shown any signs of being afraid.
The Rockets DID have a trade exception big enough for Rodney Carney. They did not need a trade exception to acquire Calvin Booth, who makes the league minimum and could thus be acquired using the Minimum Salary Player Exception (see my post just above). The Rockets have two (2) trade exceptions: --The one from the Bonzi Wells/Bobby Jackson deal is approximately $2,284,200 --The one from the Kirk Snyder/Gerald Green deal is approximately $917,473
