I admit, its so disgusting waiting for the Rockets whether to make a trade or not. They're also slow in signing free agents. Someone said that they had interest in signing travis best but he's going to dallas... If we're going for a trade, is Miami the right one? (if Odom is not matched) Honestly, I'm really worried at our SF position. We have good ones but they lack in height.It's very difficult to match up especially in the west.
from what i noticed in the rocs in today's offseason moves, i dont think they need to nab every "quality-named" free agents. one example is lamar odom. sure, he is a very good player, but do you think he will fit for the new jvg system? i think the rocs are doing the right thing here by really pickin the ones who are really needed (not to mention cheap), and the ones who will really pick up and mold into the jvg system quickly.
He's not talking about getting Odom. He is saying that Miami is going to wait on the Odom deal before trading any of their other swingmen.
sorry for the off topic.... TODAY IS B-Ball Freak 1000 post... LETS CELEBRATE... hahah B-ball freak Senior Member Posts: 1000 Joined: Sep 1999 Member: #762
If you have been following JVG's comments, the lines between Francis being a 1 or 2 are pretty blurred. The same for Pike and AGriff at 2 or 3. Recall that Van Gundy mentored under Riley. IMO, Miami (with Odom) does not have an abundance of swingmen because Riley is going to play Odom as a point forward. They will start Odom, Jones and Caron Butler with Rasual Butler backing up the SF and Wade the SG. There was more than just a lack of skills as to why Best and Carter weren't resigned. They are going to change their entire style with Odom. IOW, I'm not holding my breath that we could score either of the Butler boys...and I'd love Caron on the Rockets.
I agree... i would also love caron to play for houston.. To bad the rockets dont have any plans to trade for him anytime soon... And i think miami is going to hold on as long as they can.
Houston trades: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 17.1 minutes) Houston receives: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes) SF Caron Butler (15.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7 apg in 36.6 minutes) Change in team outlook: +11.9 ppg, -0.2 rpg, and +3.2 apg. Miami trades: SG Eddie Jones (18.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 38.1 minutes) SF Caron Butler (15.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7 apg in 36.6 minutes) Miami receives: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 73 games) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 73 games) Change in team outlook: -11.9 ppg, +0.2 rpg, and -3.2 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Houston and Miami being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Houston and Miami had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Mobley is friends with Odom. We throw in a future pick. Wade Cat Odom Grant Cato Francis Butler Jones Griffin Ming
That trade would Rock. Too bad Riley won't do it. . Shoot, I'd throw in Rice for Vlad Step and other trash. Rocks would own with Butler and Ming. Jones not too shabby running with Francis, either.
OK, I've seen way too may people attempting to trade for Caron Butler. Miami had to rebuild their franchise when Zo went down, and it became obvious to them what everyone else knew- Jones and Grant weren't franchise players despite the contracts they were given. Jones and Grant aren't part of the future. Caron Butler is. Outside Odom staying away from drugs and staying healthy, Butler is their only hope for a franchise player. He had an excellent rookie season that was simply overshadowed by a 7-6 Asian, and a high school phreak, still has 2 more years plus an option on his rookie contract, and is a tough defender, solid offensive player, and a hard worker, IOW the quintessential Riley player. Caron Butler simply isn't a piece that will be given away to help the Miami cap situation (which is pretty good as it is, Jones/Grant aside). That's for the Jiri Welsches of the world. Rasual Butler could probably had, but I hardly see him as an upgrade to Nachbar, Pike, Griffin, or Rice. But wait, Cuttino mentored him back in Philly, obviously we should trade for him. Or we should trade Cuttino to Miami to reunite the pair. Da Wink- Our SFs are good, but they lack height? Nachbar is 6-10. Rice is 6-8. Who are you proposing we get from Miami that has height? Eddie Jones is 6-6. Pipe dream Butler is 6-7, and Realistic but not as talented Butler is also 6-7. If height from the SF slot is what you're looking for, Miami is the wrong place to look, unless they've magically found away to circumvent the CBA and trade us Lamar Odom.
Is this all tripe? Supposedly before the season we were fishing for an upgrade at power forward. Rasheed Wallace. Jermaine O'Neal. And even Antonio Davis. If we looked into an obviously overpaid Toni Davis as our power forward, then why not Brian Grant? He's 31 (Davis is 34, I think). We can make the playoffs with what we have; we can improve, sure. But the coaching staff knows what they need (I think at the summer leagues Pat Ewing said what we need is a "bruiser"). Anyway, I happen to think that Miami and Memphis are not just sitting around for a reason. Like the Rox. Odom's situation needs to be resolved first.
Besides agreeing w/Nikestrad, I want to tender a question... ...has a 2nd year stud on a rookie contract ever been traded away to alleviate a cap situation?
IMHO, Rice will not be in a Rockets uniform when the season starts. He will end up in Miami as part of the a trade. Cap dollars are needed in Miami with Odom's arrival and they have some stacked positions requiring purging......
How do you figure?? Even if Odom's offer isn't matched, the Heat will still be under the cap. Odom gives them 11 or 12 players and they have 4 or 5 expiring contracts next offseason that will probably help them stat under the cap.
They have 2 giant contracts and that will hamper their ability to clear enough space to sign a good big man. While Caron may not be a reality, they may have to throw in a player they really like in order to move the Grant or Jones contract. It is clearly not tripe despite your highly educated opinion.
B-ball said it best. Also, look at their team makeup. They are stacked at the 2, 3 with Odom addition. They basically have a rookie 1 in Wade (if they convert him) and their 4s are weak, except for Grant and they have no center threat or even competitive possiblity.....plus like B-ball said major hampering contracts if Odom is added.... weak at 2 positions + overabundance at one or two positions+ large contracts (with odom that will make 3 over 9 mil) = potential trading partner. JVG has made it clear the Rice is damaged goods and we need a 3. Cato would not be good to lose unless we can pick up something in the middle
If they were truly worried about, they wouldn't be giving Odom 10 mill a year. They still have the MCE and the advantage of being located in Miami- we saw Kandi this year take a deal for the MCE. If guys like Jamison with 6 years (off the top of my head, it may be 5) left can get moved, Grant and Jones can as well. Jiri Welsch is a far cry from Caron Butler, and Golden State got a pretty talented piece in NVE in return. Jones is not exactly dead weight. He's scored 18+ ppg the last 2 years, shooting around 40% from 3s, and is a former All-Defense guy. Caron Butler could land a good big man in his own right. Or if you packaged him with Butler or Grant, they could land a Rasheed Wallace. Rasual Butler is the wingman from Miami that could probably be had without much trouble. He's not a world-beater though.
