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But, perhaps we end up with SAR (a much better PF in my opinion, right now) because of the egomaniac Rod Thorn. Perhaps a SNT with Portland would be easier to pull-off then one with Memphis. Maybe we even get DS or RP in the deal somehow giving up Wesley, Sura, Spoon, and/or Baker, who knows...

 

I'm not sure that Rahim is even in the equation for Houston right now. Since day 1, the interest just hasn't been there on either side. Rahim is a finesse player who would rather loaf around on the perimeter than get inside and do the dirty work. Because of that, I think the Rockets brass is shying away from him.

 

Point taken, but if not NJ or Houston, where would SAR go? Definately not to another losing team IMO, he's already turned down the Bucks, and I'm not buying the all the Clipper talk recently, so...Seattle if they unload Radman and Evans, but would the Blazers even deal to the Sonics?!? I guess the Kings are the only logical choice then, but that leaves us with... Walker!!!

 

Swift was the most realistic guy to sign of the three (SAR,AW, SS). SAR and AW would have to take > 50% pay cuts to play for the Rox. Swift is the most realistic guy to sign but it will take a minor miracle for his stock to fall so low that he only commands MLE money. A good horse trader like CD knows when his chain is getting yanked, so when CD says "But that's not the route we're taking right now." it ain't happening.

Sounds like CD is moving on and the rest of us need to move on as well.

 

The problem with your logic is that Swift has never made more than Rookie Scale $. Both Abdur-Rahim and Walker have both had max contracts.

 

CD.

"Managing Expectations". One of the keys to success in any business.

 

So is your point that Swift will or won't sign for MLE money because he was making rookie money. My point is that someone that was making max contract money would have to have a leg amputated during an offseason motorcycle accident before they would take a step back for an MLE contract. My point was that it would be more realistic for the Rox to sign someone for MLE money that was making 5M last year like SS was making, more realistic but not probable, Swift is generating too much interest to slip to MLE money.

I think we get Mark Madsen for depth at PF and go after a cap casualty and someone like Damon Stoudamire if teams pass him up because of his age and size.

 

I wasn't making a point. Even Swift can't guarantee that he will or won't sign an MLE at this point. If SAR lands in NJ, that sort of limits the options for SS. What he wants to do is significantly impacted by the dynamic of the market.

And your opinion flies in the face of what almost every reptutable media person and most agents publically express...older players place more of an emphasis on winning than money. Otherwise, why on Earth is Abdur-Rahim on hold for NJ's $4.9m TE?

OK...Walker and SAR won't play for MLE and Swift is too valuable....so we wind up with nobody of consequence?

This is ridiculous. First, Stoudamire (who has made his veteran big bucks like AW & SAR) would take Houston's vet minimum. Secondly, no one in their right mind is going to give Mark Madsen a full MLE.

Lastly, it's ludicrous to think for one moment the Rockets went into the summer thinking they were going to end up with Madsen and Mighty Mouse as the sum total for their efforts. It's even more unimaginable that given the players still remaining in free agency that you would think this is satisfactory or even the upper limit. If so, we need to make a tip jar bet.

 

we could let swift go. we have lonnie baxter!




JK......

losing out on swift would be a major let down. if he gets overpaid then it will soften the blow. some one talked about how this is like last year when we went after barry and fisher. both got overpaid and under produced. if that is the case here then i won't mind.

i don't think SAR or the rockets are in love with eachother. plus, SAR is holding out for a 6th year on his new contract, and only wants to do a S&T so he ends up with even more money. i don't think that CD will be willing to give out that kind of deal to reef if he would let swift walk away for similar reasons.

if swift doesn't work out then i would guess our next target would be walker. he is still looking for a S&T too but maybe once he gets turned down enough he will be willing to take the MLE. if money is an issue here too then he can kiss the rockets goodbye.

i think if worse comes to worst, we will be able to sign marshall. same agent as swift, so we will already be in talks with him. marshall has said he wants the MLE. we can offer that.

 

CD, is that you?

 

I would rather do a S&T for Marshall. Give him a lttle more money for a shorter contract say 3 - 3.5 years guarenteed. Maybe Wesley + 2nd for Marshall. Then we can use the MLE for a SG.

 

I think Memphis is probably asking for too much, particularly for a division rival.

CD is probably telling Swift he can have any combination of an MLE with a player option. He can opt out for mega money after year two or three. Maybe we can reassure him we will be "fair", as we were with Shandon. He could eaily average 7-8-9 mil over a 5-6 year span this route. And it doesn't cost the Rockets picks, players, taking on a bad contract, etc.

With SAR, Swift, Walker and DM all floating around, I think their current teams think they have a lot more leverage than they really do. Those team are going to have to settle for less or loss them for nothing, we will see.

I think it is working out great for the Rockets to get one of these guys for a reasonable price.

 

My guess is swift will take more with seattle than to with houston.Whoever said SAR is lazy and plays on the perimeter haven't watched him play even against the Rox.all the yrs and we never had anyone to slow the guy down a little. you dont produce like he does being lazy. thats jst crazy.

 

Except Seattle is not going to offer a big contract to Swift given they are stocked with servicable PFs and with their other needs (they only have two guards under contract). Further they are in a much better position to get good value on contracts with their own restricted free agents (VR, Evans, Wilkens) than an unrestricted one like Swift.

The only reports we have heard was one "prelimenary" contact from Seattle to Swift. They are a lot more likely to go for Walker or SAR in a S&T (VR) than an outright signing of the less proven Swift for big money.

I don't get the negatives about SAR either. It isn't like the alternatives (Swift, Walker, Marshall) don't have even bigger questionmarks. Still, any for around the MLE is a great signing.

 

Shareef is what Juwan was in his prime. a consistnt 18 and 8 guy. Just under all star caliber but close enough to make a few teams. I think he is an upgrade over Juwan, but he isn't what we are looking for exactly in the 4 but he is the most consistant and you know what you will get. If he goes to NJ i could see him have his best year.

 

Yeah, those guys are servicable, but i think that Seattle can offer him more, then put radmanovich into play via sign and trade for nothing else draft picks or something.

I agree Desert, SAR is the most complete pf out there. People tend to forget that rebounding is part of defense also. If the Rox get more effecient on offense, it makes their defense that much better. I just like his consistent play and the versitility that you get with him. It could be times when you could play SAR,Howard,McGrady,and Ming all at the same time. That would be hard to defend for alot of teams.

 

So what is swift? Is he this guy who all of a sudden plays hard, shoots 50% not 43% grabs 8-9rebs, something he never has done, or stays out of foul trouble? Give me the known quantity and people want to trip, but when Howard played after we got rid of Taylor, this team really played well. Whats wrong with a a better version of Howard coupled with a defensive guy like Wallace and slide McGrady back to the 2?

 

I remember one of Yao's top 10 play in his first 2 years here is his over the head pass to Moochie when Moochie was chased by Wesley. So when Wesley joined Rockets, one of his first questions was:" How the hell are you guys losing games with Yao and Tracy".

So, my ration is maybe SAR would want to come to Rockets since Yao posterized him last season. I know, pretty far reached.

 

i've been working on my hypnosis, lemme get infront of one of em and they'll sign cheap