Sane,I like your posts but I disagree with you about Cato being a quality starter center.He is a good backup center but no more than that.
Well I don't want the Rockets to trade anybody. But I want us to sign some free agents. My favorites... JON BARRY definitely!!! He just abused us. I would like him with us abusing others...He can SHOOT and he can RUN THE POINT. That's perfect. BRENT BARRY would be even better! But there is a lesser chance of getting him...I don't even know if he is going to be a free agent. WESLEY PERSON would be wonderful as well...Voshon Lenard would be nice too. But all these shooting guards!!! I would prefer a small forward who can shoot and defend. Wesley Person is pretty old...and can't really defend fast people. Well it doesn't seem like it. He's like Glen Rice!!! But we still have Cuttino Mobley. And he is most likely staying. Luscious Harris would be A WONDERFUL BACKUP. So would Tyronn Lue. Then we can waive Moochie! SO ARE THERE ANY SHOOTERS AND DEFENDERS WHO ARE SMALL FORWARDS AND ARE GOING TO BE FREE AGENTS NEXT YEAR? Bangers...we got Cato. And we're stuck with Taylor and Griffin unless we trade em...which isn't gonna happen. COULD... MENGKE BATEER!!! Sure!!! Yes..he's Mongolian. But it would be great. He isn't much of a leader...but at least he can help inside somehow...for no reason basically. It don't matter. Minimum wage!!! Just sign him for mental support for Yao. CAMPBELL OR BATEER?!? Definitely Bateer. Campbell is old...he can still score. But we already have Cato. And we have Mo Taylor. Bateer is still kinda young. He is much cheaper. Yes.
Saleem, sorry...I didn't mean to ignore you. I'm not sure I can give a definitive answer. IMO, the most likely trade partners are those teams trying to load up cap space for the 2004 summer. A partial list would include Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando and Utah. Secondly, as I look at the FA list on RealGM, it doesn't appear to be a real blockbuster crop like this year. Instead of Duncan and Kidd, it's KMart and Mo Pete. Perhaps their list is not very updated but it looks like leaner pickings. This will impact Rice's trade value. I think the general concensus on this board is that in order to get a younger more productive player, the Rockets will also have to receive a bad contract as well to balance out the trade. Part of the difficulty in predicting a Rice trade are the associated variables...about 20 games remaining for a player (Griffin, Cat, Cato) to distinguish themselves as "untradable", possible draft day deals and the process of re-signing James Posey. Mine is a minority opinion, but I would not be surprised to see Rice finish as Rocket and not be traded at all. As you can see in this thread, there are many inexpensive 2nd tier players available and cap space is only good if the player you are targeting is available.
not a bad idea. Seattle is an enticing team to deal with because they may get an extra lottery pick from the Milwaukee deal. Heres one scenario. trade Griff and Mobley for Barry and one of their lottery picks, let Posey walk and sign Elden Cambell or P.J Brown to offset the soft style of Mo T. draft a point guard with that lottery pick, like Luke Rid. or TJ Ford. Ridnour/Barry Francis/Barry Yao/Cato Nachbar/Rice PJ Brown/Taylor
saleem, I guess we just have to disagree about Cato. The reason I think he's a quality C is because I think that, with the right personnel/PG, he could average 10/10/2 with incredible hustle and effort. Teams that would love this type of player include the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns. Maybe, overall, he's not a better than backup C. But right now, there are teams with worse starting C's. Tsakilidis, Stepania, Kemp, Declerq, aging Mutombo, Ervin Johnson, maybe Dan Gadzuric, and Portland's aging and injury prone duo of Sabonis and Davis are all examples of teams who can use10/10/2. The reason I think we'll trade Rice is because we don't need the cap space as much as other teams do. It would be OK for us to exchange his one year contract with a two-year contract at a similar price. That 10M that the other team gains is now worth a quality star players these days. Our aim this summer, in my eyes, should be to get rid of our big contracts. Try and package Moochie (bad contract) with Rice (good contract), and also package MoT (bad contract) with Mobley (great contract). In exchange, get 2 backups and one solid starter. We need to cut down the rotation this coming year. T-Mo developing a 3-pt shot in the summer would go a LONG LONG way in helping us improve this team. Why? because, if he does, we would be more open to letting Posey walk, trading Rice, and getting a SG/SF type player (Wes Person) to be the 3rd SF and 2nd SG on our team.
I agree. I believe Rice is the best way to improve the team. A deal with Rice and Cat and/or Cato will bring good value. (I just hope Rudy isn't 'too in love' with GR.)
Thanks Gater. I had thought of that as well.Next years free agent class isn't comparable to this year but if Brand signs for one year with the Clippers teams will want to clear out space for him.
I think, with our cap situation, we should stick to guys in college who could fill a shooting role in the 2nd round of the draft. I like Matt Carroll at ND a lot, Hollis Price may be small, but he's ridiculous from 3. Kyle Korver is another. Darius Rice maybe. If you want a pg, look at a guy like Steve Blake. And then, I like the idea of adding Luke Walton to this team a lot. Bangers I have no idea, I like West, Collison, but thats about all there is in this class, and they'll be long gone by our pick.
I don't think we can draft a college player who can make an impact in the 2nd round. Especially quality PGs and big men are usually all gone in the 1st round. I would like us to draft a very young European kid and let him develop in the Europe league and when he's ready, call him back ala the Spurs' handling of Ginobilli.
