Well said. Unless there is any possible way that his progress could be stunted I say "Get 'ur done" CD.
Get traded as an expiring contract for a player that might have some impact. If we waive Baker to clear a roster spot, that expiring contract goes *poof*.
Same game, in July of 2003. It's hard to believe that Badiane's game would have gotten WORSE since then. Then again, if he hasn't improved much in two full years, that's not a good sign. We'll find out over the next few days, won't we? This should be fun. It might not be a good idea to put him on the roster, though. I'm thinking his tireless hustling might embarrass Vin Die-- er, Baker into retiring, and we need V-Bak so we can unload him before the trade deadline for someone who can actually play.
Well, actually Badiane (not pronounced Badjan btw) is a pretty bad ft shooter. often at Shaq's level, sometimes even below (at least percentage-wise). Badiane most probably will never be starting caliber for a contending team, since he just don't has the offensive skills. But he can be a hard working lite version of Kelvin Cato without the big body and without the big pay cheque. But with a little faster lateral movement. I would say the time is right. Give him a roster spot, especially if we don't get Swift (Sadly, I don't think he'll give up that much money to be part of the Rockets). We'll probably trade Spoon and Baker or at least they'll be gone otherwise after next season. Give this guy a shot. If he learns and can actually get playing time at the 4 and 5 (about < 10 mpg) keep him. If he can't achieve this then he can be cut easily.
Who pronounced it like that? Van Chancellor? How can you hear how ClutchBBS posters are pronouncing it? Or am I missing something? Anyway, I found his stats online and you're right -- his yearly % has hovered between 47-57. Yikes. More Badiane stats: http://www.euroleague.net/plantillas/jugador.jsp?id=CNO
from GermanRoxFan: I have been trying to get an answer, but as I recall the new CBA includes an additional roster spot (not dressed at gametime). However I'm not thinking we give him a roster spot, I'm am saying CD said it's a possibility. It's amazing how some are dismissing that slight possibility out of hand. For all the people that do I remind them that when and if Badiane and Spanoulis get here they will still be rookies. While I want what's best for their development I still want to see both of those guys in camp and on the floor with T-Mac and Yao. That doesn't seem to be an option with Spanoulis who may become a millionaire without the NBA. With Badiane we have nothing to lose by signing him and not giving him a roster spot. By all accounts the NBDL is going to be very different this year under the new CBA and it may be the best place for Badiane anyway.
It's these voices I always hear! Arrgh, there they are again. No, I won't run through the streets all naked! Seriously, I think krocket wrote about it. I think you have indeed missed something.
That's true but fortunately Vin Baker isn't the only expiring contract we have. Wesley, Spoon, Baker and with the team option we have on Moochie those are all expiring contracts. If it comes down to it I think we can afford to drop one of these guys under this one-time CBA rule to bring Badiane on board if he's ready. Let's get be for real here. Sure, expiring contracts always give you good leverage in trade talks but unfortunately for us, with the exception of Wesley all of our other expiring contracts are all useless, deadweight, waste of a roster spot. Let's just drop Baker. I'm sure Badiane can come in, look lost & dribble the ball off his foot just like VB did, the only difference is Badiane needs experience and is potentially in our long term plans.
from baller4life315: I wouldn't cut an expiring contract unless we were sure it was worth it, and it wouldn't surprise me if we don't make use of the one-time exemption. But I agree with you mostly, and much more than I do with some of the ridiculous statements that have been made in this thread. This bbs has made an art form of trashing our draft picks and pays little attention to other teams' except the ones that hit the jackpot. And it's easy to dismiss a 2nd year project drafted in the 2nd round and ignore any possibility it might work out for us next year and thereafter. All Badiane is right now is potential until the Rox staff see how he performs now, but that's no reason for all these "forget him" posts.
If simply being on the same court as the rest of the Rockets doesn't embarrass VB into retiring nothing will. He is just there to take 3.8Mil of Les' money to bank before he goes.
I indeed wrote about it. I heard an announncer pronouce his name something like "Badjian" (I don't know French or how to spell phonetically). Because Senegal only obtained it's freedom from France in 1960 I would not be surprised at all if it was pronouced in the French manner. How the Germans pronounce it is unknown to me. Hakeem's name was mispronounced for years before he finally corrected everyone, and I am not positive we have it right yet. BTW: Does everyone know about Moussa Badiane who graduated from E. Carolina this year. He broke Kenyon Martin's C-USA blocked shot record. From Fance. Didn't get drafted that I know of. Don't know if they are related. Moussa was actually born in France.
I want him signed and sent down to the Austin NBDL team so I can watch him play. Better in the USA than in Germany. DD
Well the Germans, French and we Texans may definitely not get it right. CD did call him bad-y-ane on the radio. Then again most people in Houston probably never got Olajuwon's name pronounced correctly either.
Not sure if anyone would agree with me, but... One reason that I can think of for not signing Malick is that we want to keep our hold on him as long as possible in case he does break out. For example, lets say he works hard on his skills and will break out in 2 years. If the Rockets sign him now, the best contract he can expect from the Rockets will be a 2 year contract, with the second year a team option. After 2 years (and that is assuming he is not cut after year 1 due to him not having broken out yet), he will be a free agent, open to all teams to bid for. All 30 teams will see that he has broken out a la Simmons, and will start offering their MLE or higher for him. I realise he might be restricted then, but that is still a whole lot of dosh that the Rockets have to fork out when we can simply sign him for cheap in 2 years time after we re-evaluate his skills (and see that he has broken out). If he doesn't break out, then who cares whether the Rockets sign him, right? If he does, the Rockets will want to have him for cheap for as long as possible and this is done by simply maintaining his rights until he does show that he is about to break out. Besides, by not signing him there is a roster spot to give to an undrafted free agent if the Rockets so wish (just in case that free agent breaks out ) ... Which is pretty much what we are doing with Malick anyway if we sign him (waiting for him to break out, that is)...
There is a lot of guesswork going on here. One thing for sure though, Badiane is doing better than second round draft picks the Rockets sent overseas in recent years. Guys like Venson Hamilton and Tyrone Washington are USA college tested prospects, unlike Badiane, they disappeared as they are gone, not to mention garnering CD's encouraging words. There is obviously constant interest from the Rockets to Badman and Vassy. Whether they make the roster is one thing, the fans have reasons to be cautiously optimistic is another.
Badiane has more of a chance of a rash "breaking out" on his azz from sitting on a bench in Germany than his game does of "breaking out" to the level of a quality NBA player. Those of you saying to cut Baker because he sucks and bring in Badiane who also sucks are misguided. If you cut Baker, how about bringing in someone who can play right away and leave Badiaintsh!t in Germany just in case he miraculously learns how to play.
Dude , what so bad about a little irrational day dreaming during the summer? It's not like we make real decisions. A Young 6'11" African soccer player with limited basketball skills but a lot of desire and athleticism comes to America to learn the game and goes on to become one of the top 10 NBA players of all time, bringing the city of Houston it's only World Championships in any major sport.....yeah, your right , that could never happen.
Nothing is wrong with that for those who realize that the chance of Badiaintsh!t being a major contributor is as remote as Clay Aiken becoming an action movie hero. The difference between Hakeem and Malick is Hakeem showed marked improvement year after year. I doubt any one ever said the really impressive thing about Hakeem was that he gained weight.
