Of course that's not saying a lot, but considering how difficult it is to acquire centers even up to Cato's potential, he has some real NBA value. Come on lets rate the centers in the league, you've got Shaq, Mourning, Sabonis, Ewing, Rick Smits, Shawn Bradley, Luc longley, Marcus Camby, Jayson Williams (the all-star) well who else is there that comes to mind? Come on, besides Shaq, Mourning, Sabonis, and possibly Ewing, Cato is at worst in the top 10 centers in the league. Of course that is not saying too much, but definatley he is still a valuable comodity. After all last year Cato was worth almost Scottie Pippen alone. Okay put in Williams, but Cato was the guy the Rockets wanted!!! Rogers was just there to facilitate cap space. Mihm and Cato might have as good a game at this point in their careers. That says a lot about the NBA value of Cato. ------------------
Come on Vince .. let's not go overboard with Cato... We are looking at someone w/lots of potential but as they say "potential ain't sh#t until you achieve it" (or something along those lines) . If Cato has that much potential then we could do some damage in this draft , if he has that much potential then we should be able to trade him for some very good quality NBA players that would compliment the Franchise and Franchise Jr. (SF&Cat). There are teams out there that NEED a center real bad in order to compete w/Port and LA ..(Suns come to mind but would they be willing to let go of Rogers ? cause that is exactly who we would want ) I just hope that they have the same high reagard of Cato as Vince does ! ------------------ It's all about marketing !
vince-- If you can sell anybody on Cato being among the best centers in the league, I have a job for you. I'll have you earning mid-six figures in no time. ------------------
I think that Cato is better than a lot of centers in the league who have much better offensive skills than him. He isn't one of the best, but he is one of the most valuable. I happen to like a center that plays good defense and gets out of the way on offense. A good example is New York. Everyone says that they are better with Dudley on the floor. If Cato improves he could be a great complement to our guard heavy offense. Don't forget that he preserved our win against LA this year by blocking two of Shaq's shots in the final minutes of the game. I think that all of the Cato trade talk is a little premature. I hope that he is here next year and is given the chance to improve. I bet that Indiana would pay Cato even more money than he is making if they could get him. My list of centers that are DEFINETLY better than Cato: Shaq, Mourning, Sabonis, Ewing, Smits, Divac, Mutombo, Duncan, Robinson. That means that Cato has to fight through a whole slew of players that are currently at about the same level as him. If he could improve his game some next year you might could call him a borderline top ten. If he could climb to a top three shot blocker and a 10 rebound guy (possible) then he would definetly be a top ten center. ------------------
Come on guys, I'm trying to sell Ice to eskimos You have to play along! With this attitude nowonder nobody wants CATO at a dollar per dollar. Cato is the Number three center in the league with Shaq and Mourning being 1 and 2. Dats ma storee 'n um stcken 2 it!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------
With his incredible power, and presence under the bucket, counter acted by his very under rated outside touch he is truly an enigma for opposing teams. You're right Vince. I heard he's been working with Dream and has perfected his Fade away, going out of bounds, jumper and since the end of the season has increased his bench press by over 150 pounds! ------------------
if that was true I would say.... lets trade him for #1 lotto pick.. but since it isn't .. nevermind KT has better footwork then Cato ! ------------------ It's all about marketing !
I think he looks better playing the role of a bigger Bo Outlaw next to a GOOD center on this team- that, of course, requires heart and a hard hat. I can only imagine what impact he would have as the hi-energy garbage man... and since he has trouble with taking the passes into the post anyway, it seems to fit. ------------------ "We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual."
At the end of the season cato was shooting that fade away with more consistency. Suprisingly enough that shot was going in on a consistent basis. Cato wanting to can go down under the basket and rebound ferociously. Cato does also posses that nice looking 10 foot jumper. Cato does posses the impecuable hang by the rim and DUNK IT IN YO' FACE Shot. And that is a sure 99% field goal shot. OH OH and don't forget his shot blocking ability. With CD and Hakeem working with him this summer, don't you think Cato can become the star as advertised? I think he can!! Cato can become as dominant as Mourning and Shaq. ------------------
I would be happy if Cato could just play as well as Willis used to play for us. Cato will not be as dominant as Shaq or Mourning. He doesnt know how to cheat. ------------------ I have a special purpose.
Cato as dominant as Mourning and Shaq? Sure hope you're joking by that... ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
CK- LOL Exactly what I was thinking. He can get to Shaq's level once he knows how to run over people offensively and get away with it and hammer people in the closing moments of a game 7 and get away with it. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
We have entered the Twighlight Zone. Whats next, Pig Miller doing a 360 windmill? ------------------ Rockets games are like a box of chocolates, you never know whacha your gonna get.
My list of centers that are DEFINETLY better than Cato: Shaq, Mourning, Sabonis, Ewing, Smits, Divac, Mutombo, Duncan, Robinson. Good points. AND out of those centers, Sabonis, Ewing, Smits, and Robinson are old and nearing the age of their careers. Even though these guys are better than Cato, I'd still rather have a young Cato than any of these 4 simply because they are gonna be out in a few years. Plus, their game diminishes greatly as they get older, while Cato's game can only get better. At the end of the season cato was shooting that fade away with more consistency. Suprisingly enough that shot was going in on a consistent basis. Yeah I agree with you vince. Towards the end of the season I also saw Cato hit a couple of fadeways/jumpers. Although he only took a few, they looked pretty decent. If Cato is working hard over the summer, then definately we should keep him. Everyone agrees that Cato has a lot of potential, but we don't know how hard he will work to tap that potential. Just wait for a season to see how he improves/works... then judge. ------------------ treasurer of the moochie norris fan club
For those of you who think that Cato will be in intensive training this summer with CD, I give you today's Ames Tribune: Kelvin Cato will be back to Ames this summer to take classes toward finishing his degree. I guess it's possible to do both, right? www.amestribune.com/mbb_full.cfm?num=1096 ------------------
Well, after watching much of the NBA playoffs, I've decided that no matter how underachieving, bad, or good Cato is, the rocks should keep him at least another few years. Cato is a center who has the ability to block and rebound with the best of em. As we watch Shaq rumble his way through every team, does anyone honestly think we would be immune to that without Cato? I know, I do not believe Cato alone can stop Shaq either, but he is one of the few who I think can have the "Sabonis effect." Cato is a talented center who with time can develop. The rocks are not in a 2-3 year window of needing to win a title. So before every body wants to shake things up so bad, let's just give em some time.
Potential wise he is in the top 10 in the league. But production wise he would be in the bottom 10 of NBA starting centers. He doesn't rebound, he gets his points when his man leaves to double team and he runs towards the basket and manages to hold onto the pass for a dunk. Put it this way his best game last year was the pre-season game vs. Cleveland. Great (or even good) players play great (or good) in big games, not the preseason. Potential is nice, but he showed no enthusiasm. You would think someone who had rode the pine in Portland would have been thrilled to be playing, but Cato never looked inspired. ------------------
For the amount of time Cato spends around the basket he is a terrible rebounder. He averaged 24.3 minutes per game. Per 48 minutes, Cato averages 11.85 rebounds. Here is a list of 2nd tier centers alone who had comparable playing time as Cato, but averaged more rebounds per 48 minutes. Fortson 20.62 J. White 17.25 B. Wallace 16.26 Feick 16.12 E. Johnson 14.62 Ostertag 14.55 Pollard 14.45 Camby 14.29 Potapenko 13.32 K. Clark 13.05 Dampier 13.01 A. Foyle 12.39 Cato wins the award for most baseline alley-oop dunks though. Cato is just an athletic dunker and shotblocker. Period. He has no offensive moves, and he can't rebound. No wonder last summer they said his stock was dropping (after watching him play in summer tourneys). After we picked him up we thought we got a steal, but it turns out they were right. [This message has been edited by knits stekcor (edited June 09, 2000).]
"...since the end of the season has increased his bench press by over 150 pounds!" I seriously doubt that he incresed his bench press by 150lbs in just over a month. No amount of steroids could give a man that boost. ------------------ We need some meat in the post!
