So now we have 12 contracted players? Still three spots left? Yao/Mutombo Howard/Hayes/Novak/Lampe Battier/Bowen McGrady/Head Alston/Sura
Damn. Well, if all Bogans has done is AGREED to the deal, the Rockets can still try to orchestrate a sign-and-trade with Orlando. Unlikely now, though. I suppose the Rockets didn't want to bring Bogans back for more than the league minimum. While he was a pretty good defender for them, he could not hit the broad side of a barn last season. Plus, he is more of a small forward than he is a shooting guard. With both McGrad and Battier on the roster, perhaps the Rockets don't want a bad-shooting SF at $2M per year. I guess the Rockets might bring back David Wesley for one more year. If so, I'm all for it. When healthy, Wesley was one of our 5 best players. While I'd prefer that he be a veteran option off the bench rather than a starter, he is definitely worthy of a roster spot.
All I have to say is the Rockets front office must be up to something. There is no way they can go into the season with a backcourt of Rafer Alston, Luther Head, and an injured Bob Sura. They obviously don't like any of the current FAs available or they would be all over them by now. There must be some trade in the works now. We have our trade exceptions, Luther Head, our first round pick next year, and a couple of expiring contracts (Bowen & Mutombo) to use as bait.
10. Novak hasn't signed, yet. Although I would guess that it's likely. The Rockets aren't going to pick up Lampe's option. He's trying to work his way onto the Suns roster.
Bogans was a unrestricted free agent. He was a 2nd round pick 3 years ago. He signed a 2 year deal as rookie. He was a restricted free agent last year but he choose to sign the qualifying offer from the Bobcats so he could become a unrestricted free agent this year. Glad to see him leave. He isn't good IMO. He can't shoot, misses layups, is slow, and seemed overweight last year.
No worries, CD and his scouts are still watching film and doing their homework on the FA that will best be able to help the Rockets. Give me a GM like Joe Dumars that loses Ben Wallace and signs his replacement a day later or the Spurs who are near the top of the NBA food chain but still are 10 times more active in the FA market than the Rox.
This stuff about reacting rather than analyzing the situation and making smart decisions has to go. On Stevenson......He can easily fill Bogans role and has big upside.
Does that mean we have five roster spots open? That's a lot! Yao/Mutombo Howard/Hayes Battier/Bowen McGrady/Head Alston/Sura
STEVENSON IS too expensive for a low end role player!!!!! LAST SEASON 11pts/ gm 46% FG% 13.3% 3pt.FG % 74.4% FT% 2.9rbs/gm 2.0 ast/gm EFF 9.38 We need higher level players before we start considering the low end, after all there are several in the Summer League better and cheaper than Stevenson.
this isn't so bad. i really liked bogans, but he probably wouldn't get any playing time with shane, tmac, nova, head, bowen all playing the 2/3. i think it's important to land a PG with part of the MLE and a shot blocker with the rest of it. i would be ok going to war with: yao-deke-FA jho-hayes shane-novak-bowen tmac-head-sura rafer-FA-lucas
You mean, the Joe Dumars who let Larry Brown walk and got Flip Saunders to replace him? And the Joe Dumars who drafted Darko Milicic instead of Carmello Anthony or Dwayne Wade? And the Joe Dumars who made Milicic trade largely to get salary space needed to resign Wallace, then who lets Wallace walk? And the Joe Dumars who replaced the NBA's best post-defender with a guy who played about 30 minutes a 7-game series against Dallas? And the Joe Dumars whose best bench players right now are a guy with the knees of a 90-year old and a 35-year old backup PG who can hardly handle or shoot anymore? Now, I actually think Dumars is darn good, but the guy has still made some very bad decisions and I also think Carlisle doesn't get near the credit he deserves for melding that starting unit together in the first place. Still, any chance some can take to bash the Rox management and call them ineffective without even letting the offseason play out, let alone the regular season and post-season, they take it. Whatever. If we can obtain Jeffries, Banks, and either Ariza or some other wing (preferrably one who can shoot a bit) through a combination of the MLE, large TE, and player trade, and we are in pretty good shape in terms of depth, athleticism, and versatility. But, heavens, don't wait to see what happens and actually enjoy predicting possible moves, just bellyache.
Bogans was a very low skilled player. At least the Rockets will be forced to look at someone else. It may be asking a lot but possibly they will actually get some one with some skill.
I always thought Bogans was a restricted FA. $2M a year isn't too bad, heck Ward is still getting $1.5M from the rockets. Match it, and keep bogans, depth is important.
And in all of that, he won a championship and made it back to the finals again. Cant say the same for CD lately can you
I actually don't mind the housecleaning they are doing... GONE: Stromile Swift - good athlete, but low BB IQ keeps him very limited David Wesley - undersized, lost several steps, shooting fell off bad Keith Bogans - decent defense, poor shooter Jon Barry (cut during season) - lost one step too many to be effective
I actually don't mind the housecleaning they are doing... Goodbye: Stromile Swift - good athlete, but low BB IQ kept him very limited David Wesley - undersized, lost several steps, shooting fell off bad Keith Bogans - poor shooter, dime per dozen type player Jon Barry (cut during season) - lost one step too many to be effective Charlie Ward (retired) - still on the payroll this year though... Hello: Shane Battier - 35-40 mintues per game starter, solid all around player Steve Novak - solid shooter & 3pt threat Chuck Hayes (increased role) - limited offensively, but solid rebounder JLIII - change of pace backup PG, improved shooting might earn him a roster spot I'm not going to cry over anyone we've lost. I just hope we can add a decent size 2 guard. All these 6'3 and under guys won't cut it on a nightly basis. We need a good 6'6" 2 guard that can shoot and is athletic enough to play some good defense.
