By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3268664 Pardon the dust while the Rockets renovate in order to better serve you. Or, not. There has been plenty of dust kicked up this offseason, but most of it has been because of blustery talk. The Rockets have promised a While You Were Out makeover, but thus far delivered This Old House. Same old house. The one that ended with a 40-point loss that has become a symbol for just how far away this club remains, not to mention a conversation starter for coach Jeff Van Gundy throughout the offseason. So how ya doin' Jeff? "116-76," he'll say. And then he'll groan and curl his bottom lip, as if still in agony. Walls creeping in Van Gundy knows — they all know in Rocketland — that too many pieces need attention. And with every day that passes, the walls just seem to be creeping in. Stromile Swift was the primary hope for creating a new and improved team. He could become a key Rocket. But the club had hoped to have something settled, some kind of agreement with Swift's representation, by Thursday. Then, they hoped for something to break Friday. Today, Swift, a Grizzlies free agent, is in the midst of sign-and-trade discussions involving the Nets that could pay him $10 million more than the Rockets can offer. Another day passes and so does a bit more hope for the Rockets to make the moves they need to make. It has not been for lack of effort, but simply trying hard won't make this team better. Every playoff club that finished above the Rockets — and many below them in the Western Conference — has already added or plans to add an athletic forward that gives the Rockets trouble. That's not including the Lakers, who have acquired Kwame Brown in a trade with the Wizards, or the Timberwolves, who still have Kevin Garnett and figure to rebound from a bad year. Behind already Unless Swift or someone like him arrives, the Rockets could be in a losing battle just to get to the No. 8 spot in next season's playoff drive. Since they are over the salary cap, they could offer Swift only a mid-level exception of about $5 million. The chances of landing Swift looked good for a while, but the Nets have a trade exception which could lead to a sign-and-trade deal of about six years for $38 million for Swift. The best the Rockets could offer is about $28 million. Perhaps it is time for a Plan B. But the Rockets' interpretation of a Plan B and reality might be starkly different things. Big-time power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim would be the Rockets' dream, but the Blazers have been asking for a lot in sign-and-trade talks. Rahim also commands more than the $5 million mid-level exception the Rockets could offer. The Clippers, bless them, with more money to spend and newly signed Cuttino Mobley, could be a more attractive fit for Abdur-Rahim, and a threat to the Rockets' playoff hopes. Want a sure sign the Rockets realize the power forward of their dreams might not arrive? Van Gundy is in Minnesota this weekend for a first-hand look at 2003 draft choice Malick Badiane, a 6-11, 240-pounder who is athletic enough to fill the role but not yet ready. The search for the right complement has come to that. Perhaps a more realistic Plan B will be the tough decision to make do with the power forwards already in place — hoping Juwan Howard stays healthy — and reaching for a gem at point guard. One name the Rockets are apparently kicking around: Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams. Sure, the Rockets have a ridiculous eight — count 'em, eight — guards on the roster. All of them can contribute nice things. All of them can play a little point. All of them scrape, hustle and play a little defense. But none are point guards, at least not the kind of point guard that can make a difference. Williams makes $6.8 million a year and is signed through the 2007-08 season. Those are numbers with which the Rockets can work. He has been a problem child, sure, which is one risk the Rockets are contemplating. Van Gundy probably would like the challenge of bringing out Williams' best and knows the risk-reward possibilities. His friend, Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello, wouldn't mind moving Williams but would shoot straight with Van Gundy about his status. I like Bob Sura, just like you do. I think No. 1 draft pick Luther Head will help this team, too. But of the eight guards on the roster, the one who plays point guard best is Tracy McGrady. That's no way to take the next step. McGrady should be on the receiving end of great passes, not distributing them. If the forwards the Rockets want slip away, their attention just might shift toward dumping some of these hybrid guards and getting a real one.
On second thought I shouldn't have posted this. This guy is full of it. Rockets 8th? Ever heard of T-Mac and Yao? Pessimistic azz
Lopez likes to stir the pot. Sometimes he can be a jerk but most of the time his articles are OK. For better or worse, he's written some very memorable articles over the last 10 or so years.
Id take Williams to get Swift. Yeah i think were gonna get past the 8th post though with or without help from FAs.
I wonder if John Lopez actually believes that CD is sitting at home with his thumb up his a$$---well, maybe he is; to each his own; but that still leaves a hand free to hold the telephone and make deals. Could it be that the reason we've heard nothing is because CD has learned to keep his dealings confidential? Impatience. Jeez. At least Lopez could take these things into consideration, put them into his article. A little too pessimistic for my taste. Maybe there's a sign and trade worked out that won't be announced until July 22 and all this "we hope to hear from Stromile soon" is a smokescreen.
Wow, they're considering J-Will. He's got a lot of talent but he is a bit of a headcase. I would definitely take him to get Swift. Maybe they'll throw in Posey.
The only thing I have against White Chocolate is his streaky shooting and his poor defense. He started launching those terrible off-balance threes again last year, but JVG could beat that out of him. A penetrator/playmaker of his caliber would be welcome here. Assuming we can find a SG who can grab a few rebounds...
How about: Mike James David Wesley Charlie Ward (Total $10.3) for Swift - 6 year deal starting at $5 million J-Will ($7.5 million) (Total $12.5) Swift gets slightly more than the Nets trade exception deal would pay. Memphis' salary payout is only $2.8 million more than if they renounced Swift, and they get out of the rest of JWill's contract. The Rockets free up their log jam at guard and pick up a pretty good distributor at PG. Both teams benefit. Houston can even send up to $3 million to Memphis to sweeten the pot.
The only way any team will get Swift and Rahim is through sign and trades. The PF market is pretty weak outside these two, so they'll command top dollar. I mean Kwame Brown just signed a 3year/25Million deal with the Lakers. You don't think Swift will get 8mill/yr? I think he most definitely will, especially since he has never had the big payday.
When has it ever been easy to be a Rocket fan? Why should this offseason be any different? JVG will improve the team by November. No need to worry. That is unless we end up w/ a fool like J Will (or Antoine or Spree)
The problem with your $8m SnT for Swift is he becomes BYC and almost impossible to trade for without a 3rd under the cap team. By my best guess is that Swift has to stay below $7.2m to avoid BYC complications. (This assumes the new CBA is like the old regarding CBase Year Compensation).
why did he even bother with this dumbf#$k paragraph? who are the athletic forwards that the suns, spurs, sonics, and mavericks added to give us trouble? stirring the pot is one thing but c'mon john. kwame brown on the lakers really has the west shaking.
yes those are all people, other than thomas, who can give the rockets fits but those players weren't added during this offseason like he writes. that paragraph reads as all other playoff teams are improving their roster while the rockets sit on their hands. thats simply not true.
Are we willing to take on some big contracts, to do something bold? We would somewhat help Memphis to fix their cap situation by doing this, even though, talent-wise, it would be an extremely lopsided trade: Sign-and-trade of Stromile Swift with a new contract starting at ~7M Jason Williams at 7.5M (contract runs through 2007/2008) Mike Miller at 6.75M (contract runs through 2009/2010) Total: 21.3M for a first-round draft pick and the expiring contracts of Weatherspoon at 6.35M Wesley at 4.95M Moochie at 4.2M Vin Baker at 3.9M Ward at 1.9M Total: 21.3M Basically, it would give Memphis a chance to re-build around Gasol and Battier, ridding them of two long-term contracts, of which one is a malcontent...but of course, it would mean a huge drop in talent for them for now...so not very realistic, but... We could then go on and sign Donyell Marshall for the full MLE. PG: Jason Williams, James, Head SG: Mike Miller, Sura, Head SF: T-Mac, Marshall PF: Swift, Howard C: Yao, Mutombo
