Put this on the front page this morning. It's from Bob Young in an Arizona Republic article Roster overhaul unlikely: ------------- Gugliotta is coming off knee surgery, and his salary will increase 15 percent if he is traded. He's not likely to be dealt. Clifford Robinson is the heart of the club's improved defense. He's not likely to go anywhere. And the Suns love the potential of Marion, who had a solid rookie season and brings athleticism that's tough to replace. That leaves Rogers, who resurrected his career in Phoenix. The Suns love his versatility and toughness. He's also their best three-point shooter. Already, rumors in Houston are that the Rockets are willing to part with backup center Kelvin Cato, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound shot-blocker who is 25 years old. The Suns are believed to have interest, but at what price? The Rockets pursued Rogers hard last summer, and his name is likely to come up if the Suns have interest in Cato. Of course, if the Rockets are willing to give up on a 6-foot-11 center when they know Hakeem Olajuwon is close to retirement, then Cato's value is questionable. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
In that sense...if we dealt Cato, would that mean that we would also be looking for another C to work with Hakeem this year? This is a question...not a statement...would they do that in the draft (Mihm), or other trades? ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
I thought Rodney Rogers was fantastic during the regular season, but his performance during the playoffs was one of the biggest chokes I have ever seen. Nick Anderson has had problems ever since his choke against the Rockets, and I wouldn't be surprised if Rogers never steps up under pressure during the rest of his career. ------------------
If the Rockets were actually interested in this trade, it would have to be in conjuction with one of their other scenarios working out, such as getting a top 2 pick in the draft lottery. Curly: And I think that Cato would need to be replaced. ------------------ screw Bud Adams
Ah I see, the picture is getting clearer. The Rockets representative in LA was no coincidence. ------------------ Check out the new and improved Draftsource.net
The thread begs the questoin I've had for a little while: with the NBA evolving the way it has (eg, the rule changes), can we be successful as a donut team? I wonder if it is even worth having a prototypical (there's that word again) center. Can an effective offense and defense be run with two PFs underneath? I notice that all the teams left in the playoffs have legitimate centers (Philly perhaps just barely qualifies and will soon be eliminated). But half of those are frequently injured and I wonder if they're worth the headache. Sure we'd have our hands full with Shaq and his like without a real center, but we do anyway. And how many teams nowadays have centers like that. Most are slow, fat, oft-injured, unmotivated and/or bad. Mission for heypartner, since you like game tactics so much: what can you do defensively with our short guards and two good but 6'9" power forwards? ------------------ http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
Marion and 2 first rounders or no way, centers are hard to come by. sooooooo just giving the great unknown away for rodgers would be stupid as we already have enough small 3's. So that was just wishful thinking of the Arizona republic. Rodgers would not help this team out that much for we need low post presence. This trade would happen only if we are doing a three way trade. Well thats my take on it. ------------------ "We need to fockass".....Dream back in the day
Juan- You make a good point to think about with 2 PFs. Apart from Shaq the era of the center appears to be over. Mourning is the next most dominant center and with his height (6'9-6'10) he could play as a PF, even though he does play like a center. Most of the other big men of the 90's are all aging very quickly (Dream, David, Patrick, etc). Shaq is the exception, but no team in the league can match up with him, Shaq is just a giant who noone can stop individually. I like the idea of the 2 PFs, but I would prefer to have a legitimate center, because of my background. I am a Barkley fan and I know the frustration of the Suns when they had a great small team, but they couldn't match up vs. the Rockets or Spurs who had good big men. Phoenix many times tried to play a smaller team with CB, Majerle, Manning and Ceballos. Mark West was the starting C, but he was just a body to play 5 or so minutes in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Also when CB was in Philly we tried to start a front line of Armon Gilliam, CB & Rick Mahorn. It never really worked playing 3 PFs at the forward & center positions. Hnestly I would rather have a true C, but I like the option of having a couplke of PFs that could play together in some situations (like KT and Swift ot Martin in the draft), but I definetely would rather have a true center, so I don't have to get frustrated again, like in Philly or Phoenix. ------------------
wooo ohhh I like this stuff. who to pick from SunLand? guys I like: Gugliotta Blount Rodney Rodgers Marion I would say to pick Googly mebbe, but if a good PF is nabbed, and this trade is mostly to move up in the draft, then the Rocks would need to draft a non PF and a center Mihm. No. How about the Rockets get a combo of Rodney/Marion Blount Big Country top 3 pick Vancouver gets #9 and Suns pickings, like Googs or longley or Todd Day or Chapman Suns get Cato and Harrington Interesting at least. Juan, u should start another thread, I think its an interesting topic. But i think the donut offense can be successful. Chicago is some proof. ------------------ Cato is 7 feet tall.
Chicago had this guy who wore 23 and 45 nuff said. ------------------ "We need to fockass".....Dream back in the day
Cato is extremely frustrating and overpaid, but you have to ask yourself who we would replace him with? We don't have to have a scoring center to be successful(just ask the Bulls), just one who can be a good defender. Maybe we could find one out there for less money, but why risk it? My gut feeling says keep him - he is young, tall, athletic, and generally a good fit for this team. My out clause is that if we are going to get someone really special in return, we do it. Finally, why on G_ds Green Earth would you sign him to such a ludicrous contract at the START of the season? What was the rush, we had all year to negotiate with him. ------------------ http://rocketdavo.tripod.com [This message has been edited by davo (edited May 18, 2000).]
I dont think this doughnut thing is going to work. However, a stud big man is not necessary either. With the guards the Rockets have esp when they go small, they need a frontcourt player that can rebound and block shots. Despite the new rules, the staple of championship teams is still rebounding and defense. The Lakers were mediocre in these areas last yr, but Phil Jackson walked in and cleared it up, you can see the difference. The Heat, Knicks, Pacers and Blazers are all solid defense and rebounding teams. With the Rockets guards esp when they go small two 6-9 frontcourt players isnt going to cut it. What's worse, Kenny Thomas is not even 6-9 he's 6-7. If the Rockets choose to go this route it will be exciting to watch, but it is just not going to work. Small ball does not win championships just ask the Phoenix Suns. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
davo, Didn't Cato's situation fall under FAQ #43 on the Coon site and and that is why his deal had to be cut then? Mango ------------------ Arch Stanton lives! Donate Blood!
Forget about Rodgers and Marion, this is a great chance for the Rockets to get some Aussie on their roster Trade Cato for Longley Smeg of OZ ------------------ CUT Tino Isn't it amazing how quickly everyone did a Cat Backflip!!!!!
How about Cato ,Drew ,Cat for Penny Hardaway and Clifford Robinson Center-Olajuwon PF-Robinson SF-Walt/Shandon SG-Penny PG-Francis ------------------ Dont do today what you can put of until tomorrow
Now I think about it I don't think Cato is *that* bad. Sure he is an offensive liability, sure he's not worth $42m, but he is a legitimate center in this league. He's not a great center or even a good center, but he is a legitimate center -- young and tall with good shot blocking skills. He is still rough but he has potentials. Don't you remember the blocked shot he had on Shaq which won the game on National TV for us? If he works hard in the off season, and quit b*tching with the refs. I would give him a chance. I really wish he can work out with Dream to learn some offensive moves, but I don't know if Dream wants to do that anymore. Sailor ------------------ If Dream was a horse ... he would not be pulling your bandwagon anymore.
I really think that we should not trade Cato, especially for Rodney Rogers. Who are we going to get in order to replace Cato?? He's one of the most athletic centers out there. I've seen signs of a jump shot every now and then. When Hakeem came into the league, he prolly didnt' have a good fadeway, maybe not even a good jumper. But he worked on it and got better. Malone couldn't shoot at all when he came into the league, but he's a really good shooter now. I think everyone is rushing Cato and expecting him to the next hakeem in a span of 1 or 2 years. I say keep him, wait for his development, and then see what he can do for us. ------------------ treasurer of the moochie norris fan club
I think it would be a major mistake dealing Kelvin Cato for Rodney Rogers. I dont have anything against Rogers, but he has been an underachieving player pretty much every season until this one. The key for him this year was that he lost some weight and began taking the ball to the basket to complement his 3 pt shooting. Whether or not that was a one yr fluke or if he will continue to play in that way and stay in that condition remains to be seen. Plus, the Suns are going to be a direct rival in the West to the Rockets, the last thing we want to do is give them the inside shot blocking presence they need in Cato which could be the final piece to the puzzle. Atleast if the Rockets are going to deal Cato to them make it worthwhile. The player I would want off the Suns roster if the Rockets feel they have to deal Cato is Shawn Marion. Marion has some major potential with his long 6-7 frame, excellent hops, ability to run the floor and excellent defense. This is also assuming that the Rockets could not use Cato to move up in the draft if necessary. If it came down to it, I would much rather have Stromile Swift on this team than Shawn Marion. I still cannot come up with any adequate replacements at center for Cato if the Rockets deal him which is why I am not in such big support of this. I dont buy this Brad Miller, Jahidi White, Adonal Foyle stuff. Those guys just are not going to cut it. The last thing the Rockets want is to become some flashy offensive team that cannot stop people (which is essentially what the Suns are and have been for a long time.) That is a recipe for disaster in the playoffs. The Suns will never win big in the playoffs until they start getting some legit defense in the middle; I think they finally realize this which is why this Cato rumor is starting and why the Mutombo rumors surfaced earlier in the season. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Davo...That was the same question I was asking when they initially signed Cato. I believe (cant quite remember) that I was the only one who was saying this was a bad move, and consequently got flamed for it. Especially after his super preseason.
Its easy to say "We gotta trade Cato because his salary is too high", but what are the Rockets going to do when they don't have an inside presence? The reason I ask is because I'm getting worried they are panicking and are willing to accept less for him just to unload the heavy contract. Unless the Rockets are going to get 1-2 players that can make a significant contribution this team next year I think they should stay with who they have. Basically a Cato for Rogers deal straight up would not be in the Rockets best interest. They must get more value for their $42 million. ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
