After watching Alston run the Rockets last season, and seeing James play for the Rockets, I am keenly aware that, comparatively, James has a hell of a lot of value.
If we traded James and if Francis gets injure again, does that mean we are going to stuck with Rafer again?.. Ouch...
Foster's size and rebounding abilities, despite his poor offensive skills, are more valuable to the Rockets off the bench than Haslem's mediocre overall game. Plus, even if Scola starts out as a reserve, that is unlikely to last very long as his passing skills and offensive abilities will be too attractive to Adelman to have him sitting on the bench. Haslem will not be able to handle a reserve role and is too expensive for such a role. If we end up moving Haslem to the bench, his trade value will go down and his contract will become hard to move. Haslem would be a risky investment for exactly that reason. Foster, on the other hand, is slightly cheaper and has a shorter contract. He fits are current needs better than Haslem and he would be content as a reserve since he is familiar with that role. Foster is a much less risky investment and his skill set and role type will be more useful to the upgrade Rockets' roster.
Haslem is due to earn $6,050,000 next season. You are citing his salary from last season. He also has a 3-year contract, beginning next season, with no team option. He will make over $7 million in the final year. That is a lot of money to risk paying for a player that may find himself playing behind Luis Scola.
Haslem was the starting PF on an NBA championship team that, like our Rockets, had (1) the predominant post player in the NBA and (2) a premiere perimeter player. It's a very good risk. Any guaranteed salary in the NBA is a risk. Haslem is a known commodity.
I agree with your thinking Brooksball. Foster can be the PF/C on the team as well if Deke doesn't come back.
Correct, every guaranteed year on a contract has some level of risk. However, that risk level increases along with the number of guaranteed years and the amount that must be paid by the team holding that contract.
Rumor from Chinese websites: Rockets: Alston out, Abdur-Rahim in Kings: Abdur-Rahim out, Posey in Heats: Posey out, Alston in.
We'll see. But if, after last season, McHale could have gotten a better deal than Juwan Howard for Mike James (like Udonis Haslem for Mike James), one would think McHale would have taken that better deal. Like it or not, it seems GMs around the league a a bit wary of Mike's attitude.
That would be a good deal... i'm curious why the Kings would want Posey though - with Artest/Kevin Martin/Francisco Garcia at the wings, it seems Alston would be better for them
Miami Heat Kirk Snyder Salary: $2,358,433 Years Remaining: 1 Rafer Alston Salary: $4,550,000 Years Remaining: 3 Outgoing Players: Udonis Haslem Houston Rockets Incoming Players Marcus Camby Salary: $10,830,518 Years Remaining: 3 Outgoing Players: Kirk Snyder, Bob Sura, Rafer Alston Denver Nuggets Incoming Players Bob Sura Salary: $3,840,000 Years Remaining: 1 Udonis Haslem Salary: $6,050,000 Years Remaining: 3 Outgoing Players: Marcus Camby
That would be a horrible deal. We need rebounding and defense, not a Juwan Howard clone with a crappy contract.
We makeout like bandits. Miami gets raped. denver dosent need any more bigs. there stacked as it is. also losing camby for haslem is a ripoff . denver would never do it. camby is the best defensive player in the league for a reason. or atleast the best interior defender.
Abdul rahim and Scola are pretty similar players. however i think scola is a better accumelater of points. so bringing in Rahim nosense whatsoever. unless we've re-signed Hayes by then. can Rahim play Small forward? with Scola and hayes he'll need to. Francis/James Tracy/Bonzi Battier/Rahim Scola/Hayes Yao/Deke
All these ridiculous trades...like another team is going to give us their best PF for our scrubs. Rafer is a good pg but on another team, he's probably worth about 20 mpg coming off the bench at most. Snyder..well he's been bounced about hasn't he?
I think it depends how we assume Scola is going to play... He looks good but he hasn't played an NBA game yet... IMO, Shareef gives an additional offensive threat from the PF position - if Yao goes out (even Howard was useful when Yao was out)... As a complement to Yao, Foster would be the best one...
