Chron: Mutombo's dip in productivity raises questions about his fate with Rockets

Mutombo might've lost a step or two, but he's in phenomenal shape.

I think he'll definitely come back next year and depending on how it goes, I could see him maybe staying around longer and Houston wanting to keep him if the Rockets do real well.

Plus, he should to try and make all the money he can for his hospital in the Congo.

 

Can we add a poll on to this thread? "Who wants Mutombo back next year?"

I vote yes. He didn't get his proper swan song. He deserves WCF or better.

 

I love the old man. Hell yes bring him back next season!

Besides, if he goes, we wont have anyone to back him up. we're obviously going to be preoccupied with shoring up the 4 and 2 spots that if we land a back up 5 it will be almost incidental.

c'mon who's gonna back up Ming next year if we let Deke walk??

Lampe? or how about Swift ?

 

Wasn't Swift the main backup of Yao instead of Deke this season? I think Swift spent more time backing up Yao than Deke.

 

the real question is who would you rather backed up yao... deke or swift...? deke hands down!

 

If Deke had the same performance this season as last one, then yes. But he wasn't doing well this season and he is only getting older.

 

Hayjon02 pretty much answered my question.

Swift is a crank.

 

Bigger priorities than a new backup center:

Another real PG whether start or backup: maybe Sura but doubtful.

A starting 2G: Head can play 2nd string, Bogans 3rd string, Wesley I would let go. Bogans is NOT A SF!

A real SF to backup Tracy, preferably 6-9 or taller. Especially needed if TMac has back problems.

A starting PF. Hayes would be my backup PF, trade Swift & Howard any way you can. Swift is marginal, Howard is a defensive sieve, look at 82games.com - this team will improve immensely if we can dump his contract for any kind of backup PG, 2G, SF. Hayes needs to go to a John Lucas type camp and practice FT's and 8-10 foot FGs all summer.

Lampe - maybe a 3rd string SF, who knows? JVG never played him.

Cut Bowen, Frahm. Brunson is gone to Temple. Wesley turns 36 in November - he will only be older and slower next season.

So sign a new backup center only if one falls in our lap, and after we have done our best to fix the other problems.

 

Have faith fellow Clutchfans. Next year, we'll have the largest single-season INCREASE of all time.

 

It would be insane to not bring back Mutumbo.

 

Bogans cannot play SG because he can't shoot. We need shooters on this club. I would sign DWes for 2 years-$4 million before I even thought about keeping Bogans or Lame. Same goes for Frahm. Both of those guys we need on the 15 man squad as shooters off the bench. They shouldn't be playing major minutes but they should be available to come in and can a shot when we need it.

I would tell Bogans we want to bring him back but let him test the market and see what his value is. I can't see him getting much more than the minimum.....if he got an offer at all. If he got a significant offer, then consider a sign and trade for him, otherwise let him walk. If not, offer him the one year deal with an team option and see if he comes to camp with an improved jumper. Bogans is a decent defender. He's got a little bit of a tank body with shorter limbs so he's not ever going to be a defensive stopper. But he is strong and bullheaded and he does get the ball to the rim. He just doesn't finish real well or shoot the jump shot very good. For us to give him any siginficant contract, he has to prove he can hit the 3 ball consistently, 35+%.

Maybe we get lucky and get a top 3 pick and are able to bring in Gay to be our starting SG and primary backup SF. If JVG would actually let the kid start and play 30+ minutes a night, that would be the perfect swingman combination with TMac starting, and bringing Luther off the bench to spell both backcourt spots 30 mpg. Then we've got Wesley and Frahm to give spot minutes to or to bring off the bench for injuries to starters.

I want a bench full of shooters.

 

Of course you keep Mutombo... Even in short stretches, he's still one of the best defensive centers in the league. If you needed a critical stop/rebound, I'd rather have him in there than Swift any day.

 

I would keep Mutombo simply for his personality and the finger wave.
He deserves to get up 2nd on the block list for his endurance and dedication to playing over the years.

 

With the new rules on the 15 man roster, we will keep him. Even though his productive days are behind him, there is no reason to buy him out or for him to accept a buyout. He'll keep the bench nice and warm but there is no player in the NBA I'd like having do that for us more than Deke. If we keep Stro, he can be the backup C. If we trade Stro, it's not a big deal because if the "new" Yao stays healthy, the backup C is not that important any more. I'm hopeful Yao is at the point of avoiding those stretches of games where he just isn't into the game. Deke bailed us out so many times last year but we don't need that now (unless Yao gets injured again).

 

I think that is because of matchups.

There are so few true centers in the league anymore that a slower true center has a hard time matching up with an Amare, Ben Wallace or even a Brad Miller.

Stro can stay with these types much better.

Deke gets minutes against guys like Ilgauskas.

 

cept, deke can rebound, unlike Stro. We still have an option right? Just take it and let him stay. He deserves it

 

since yao's minute is increasing
i think yao can have an average of 38 minutes of action next year
so 10 minutes for deke is not too much for him to handle

 

Deke still plays good when he is on the floor but there aren't too many big men that Deke can guard anymore. When we play teams like Phoenix, even Yao's a defensive liability against Diaw, Deke isn't gonna get any minutes there. It's not Deke's fault the big men are getting faster and smaller everywhere except here and Miami. I am all for Deke staying next year but he can only play when the match-up is right for him. Since Yao can score, of course he will be on the floor even with match-up problems. But Deke can't score and has no business trying to guard the new smaller/faster center trend. He will be very useful against guys like Mourning, Ratliff, Kaman, Ostertag and other bigger/slower centers like him.

As far as his health, I won't lie. Last year I held my breath everytime he stepped on the floor but he never got injured! This year he had a freak accident with a dislocated fingure but that had nothing to do with physical injuries. This is a major plus because he has proven that with less minutes he can stay healthy much like Antonio McDysse has proven.

Please keep Deke, he deserves to be here and deserves as many minutes as match-ups will allow

 

It's nice to see that there is a player that provides zero offensive numbers, adn still gets love around here.

and I do agree, I think Deke can get the 30 or so(blocks) he needs to move into second...he deserves the chance to do it.